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Trip from Santa Ana, CA to Rio Vista, CA

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

7h 26m

Distance

398.9 mi

642 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$92

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 31 min
4 AM
7h 16m ★
6 AM
7h 27m
8 AM
7h 47m
10 AM
7h 34m
12 PM
7h 32m
3 PM
7h 35m
5 PM
7h 46m
8 PM
7h 20m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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county seat and city of Orange County, California, United States

Santa Ana, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Rio Vista, CA, CA

Rio Vista, CA

Fernando Silva

Trip Overview

The drive from Santa Ana, CA to Rio Vista, CA covers 398.9 miles and takes about 7h 26m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Westside Freeway, Golden State Freeway, I 5 Truck for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 264.7 miles on Westside Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $91.68 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

2 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

199.4 miles from Santa Ana, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 44m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 26m. Total distance: 398.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

7h 26m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Drive Character

This is a 7h 26m highway drive covering 398.9 miles, with most of the trip on Westside Freeway and Golden State Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 264.7 miles on Westside Freeway.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Westside Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 264.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and Golden State Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near North Broadway.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 398.9 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (North Broadway): Lane positioning matters here; at 11 miles (I 5 / Santa Ana Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 28.9 miles (I 5 / Golden State Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 18 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

6
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | North Broadway

Turn right onto North Broadway

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
6
11 mi into trip | ~14m in | I 5 / Santa Ana Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 / Santa Ana Freeway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
28.9 mi into trip | ~34m in | I 5 / Golden State Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 / Golden State Freeway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
56.6 mi into trip | ~1h 7m in | I 5 Truck

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 161A Toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
7
116.6 mi into trip | ~2h 16m in | I 5 / Westside Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 / Westside Freeway toward I 5 North

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 5 North

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Westside Freeway 264.7 mi 4h 44m
Golden State Freeway 50 mi 57m
I 5 Truck 37.7 mi 43m
Santa Ana Freeway 26.9 mi 31m
CA 12 17.1 mi 24m
North Broadway 1.5 mi 2m
Hillside Terrace 0.3 mi 1m
West Santa Clara Avenue 0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Westside Freeway — 264.7 mi, about 4h 44m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Santa Ana, CA and Rio Vista, CA.

1

Start on West 1st Street

0.1 mi · 15 sec · West 1st Street
2

Turn right onto North Broadway

1.5 mi · 2 min · North Broadway
Use the straight / right lanes.
3

Turn right onto West Santa Clara Avenue

0.1 mi · 14 sec · West Santa Clara Avenue
4

Continue on this road

0.3 mi · 26 sec · this road
Toward I 5 North: Los Angeles Use the left / straight / right lanes.
5

Merge onto I 5

8.9 mi · 10 min · Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5

18 mi · 20 min · Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5

25 mi · 29 min · Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

2.2 mi · 2 min · Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck

1.5 mi · 1 min · I 5 Truck
Exit 161A Toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck

36 mi · 41 min · I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

22 mi · 25 min · Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5

226 mi · 4 hr 1 min · Westside Freeway
Toward I 5 North Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5

26 mi · 27 min · Westside Freeway
14

Keep left at fork onto I 5

14 mi · 15 min · Westside Freeway
15

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 33 sec
Toward CA 12: Lodi, Fairfield
16

Keep slight left at fork

227 ft · 7 sec
17

Turn left onto CA 12

17 mi · 24 min · CA 12
Use the straight / left lanes.
18

Turn right onto Hillside Terrace

0.3 mi · 1 min · Hillside Terrace
19

Turn right onto Hill Court

175 ft · 7 sec · Hill Court
20

Arrive at destination

Hill Court

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Evening Departure

This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 199.4 miles from Santa Ana, CA, or about 3h 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 264.7 miles.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 88 miles or 1h 43m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 199.4 miles or 3h 44m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 6h 14m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Rio Vista, CA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Santa Ana, CA so your first major turns are already loaded.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

+

Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Santa Ana, CA

This is one driving day of about 398.9 miles and 7h 26m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 88 miles from Santa Ana, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Westside Freeway for about 264.7 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 199.4 mi from Santa Ana, CA · 3h 44m into the drive

city in Los Angeles County, California, USA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Santa Clarita, CA

199 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Santa Clarita, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 88 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Avenal, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 199.4 miles from Santa Ana, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Westside Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 264.7 miles.

Arriving in Rio Vista, CA

The final approach into Rio Vista, CA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Rio Vista, CA.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial

Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial

National Memorial

On July 17, 1944, a massive explosion jolted the San Francisco East Bay area, shattering windows and lighting up the night sky. At Port Chicago Naval Magazine, 320 men were killed instantly when two s...

20 mi from route ~49 min detour Free near mile 398.9
View on nps.gov
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

National Recreation Area

The Santa Monica Mountains offer easy access to surprisingly wild places. Experience the famous beaches of Malibu or explore more than 500 miles of trails. The park abounds with historical and cultura...

22 mi from route ~55 min detour Free near mile 55
View on nps.gov
César E. Chávez National Monument

César E. Chávez National Monument

National Monument

Yes, we can! Widely recognized as the most important Latino leader in the United States during the twentieth century, Cesar Chavez led farm workers and supporters in the establishment of the country's...

28 mi from route ~70 min detour Free near mile 123.8
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$91.68 one way

$183.37 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 140 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $94.48 $188.96
premium $6.18 $97.01 $194.02
diesel $5.61 $88.07 $176.14

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$92

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$117–$142

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 139.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $42 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 119.7 1 $41.88 $19.15
Efficient EV 99.7 1 $34.90 $15.96
EV Truck/SUV 159.6 1 $55.85 $25.53

Gas CO2

140 kg

EV CO2

47 kg (66% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Santa Ana, CA

Afternoon in Santa Ana on Thursday

Local time

4:05 PM

PDT

Current temp

72°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Rio Vista, CA

Afternoon in Rio Vista on Thursday

Local time

4:05 PM

PDT

Current temp

67°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

Time zone

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

5 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

7h 26m on the road

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Santa Ana, CA to Rio Vista, CA covers 398.9 miles and takes about 7h 26m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Westside Freeway, Golden State Freeway, I 5 Truck. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 199.4 miles from Santa Ana, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $91.68 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 398.9 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (North Broadway): Lane positioning matters here; at 11 miles (I 5 / Santa Ana Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 28.9 miles (I 5 / Golden State Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Santa Ana, CA to Rio Vista, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial, Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and César E. Chávez National Monument.

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Return Trip

Rio Vista, CA to Santa Ana, CA

Plan the drive back the other way.

398.6 mi 7h 27m

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