Origin
Sunland, CA
Late night in Sunland on Friday
Local time
12:11 AM
PDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sunland, CA to Anaheim, CA
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
1h
Distance
44.3 mi
71 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 55m
★
6 AM
1h 0m
8 AM
1h 10m
10 AM
1h 4m
12 PM
1h 3m
3 PM
1h 4m
5 PM
1h 10m
8 PM
0h 57m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sunland, CA
Dominik Gryzbon
Trip Overview
This 44.3-mile drive from Sunland, CA to Anaheim, CA is a straightforward trip, easily completed in about 1 hour. Designed as a single-day adventure, the route primarily utilizes major freeways, making it a convenient option for a quick journey within the Pacific Coast region. With an estimated fuel cost of $10, this drive is quite economical. The majority of this trip is on the highway, offering a direct path between these two California locations. You'll spend most of your time on the Santa Ana Freeway, Glendale Freeway, and Golden State Freeway, experiencing a consistent driving pace.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h. Total distance: 44.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience for 81% of this 44.3-mile journey. The character of the drive is largely defined by its freeway segments, with the longest uninterrupted stretch covering 20.7 miles on the Santa Ana Freeway. This means you'll maintain a steady speed for significant portions of the trip, with minimal interruptions. The route is designed for efficient travel rather than scenic detours, so the focus is on getting you from point A to point B smoothly and directly.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Santa Ana Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 20.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Santa Ana Freeway and Glendale Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 6.5 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 44.3 miles you will encounter 18 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 6.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 18 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
6.5 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Take the exit toward CA 2 South: Los Angeles
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 19
Toward CA 2 South: Los Angeles
7
14.6 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Take the exit toward I 5: Golden State Freeway, Los Angeles, Sacramento
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 5: Golden State Freeway, Los Angeles,...
8
14.7 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 5 South: Golden State Freeway, Los Angeles
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 5 South: Golden State Freeway, Los Ang...
7
15.1 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 5 South: Los Angeles
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 5 South: Los Angeles
8
20.5 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
I 5 / Golden State Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 / Golden State Freeway toward CA 60 East, I 5 South: Pomona, Soto Street, Santa Ana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Toward CA 60 East, I 5 South: Pomona, Soto Stre...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Sunland, CA and Anaheim, CA, road signs point toward Los Angeles, Sacramento and Santa Ana.
Los Angeles
14.6 mi in
|
~22m
Sacramento
14.6 mi in
|
~22m
Santa Ana
20.5 mi in
|
~29m
|
via I 5
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Ana Freeway | 20.7 mi | 24m |
| Glendale Freeway | 7 mi | 8m |
| Golden State Freeway | 6 mi | 7m |
| Foothill Boulevard | 2.5 mi | 5m |
| Foothill Freeway | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| West Lincoln Avenue | 1.3 mi | 3m |
| Lowell Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Mount Gleason Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Santa Ana Freeway
— 20.7 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sunland, CA and Anaheim, CA.
1
Start on Wentworth Street
117 ft
·
10 sec
·
Wentworth Street
2
Turn left onto Mount Gleason Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Mount Gleason Avenue
3
Turn left onto Foothill Boulevard
2.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Foothill Boulevard
4
Turn right onto Lowell Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Lowell Avenue
5
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 210 East: Pasadena
6
Merge onto I 210
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Exit 19
Toward CA 2 South: Los Angeles
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto Hillard Avenue
0.2 mi
·
11 sec
·
Hillard Avenue
Toward CA 2 South
9
Merge onto CA 2
7.0 mi
·
8 min
·
Glendale Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
8 sec
Toward I 5: Golden State Freeway, Los Angeles, Sacramento
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
27 sec
Toward I 5 South: Golden State Freeway, Los Angeles
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
30 sec
Toward I 5 South: Los Angeles
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
17 sec
Toward I 5 South: Los Angeles
Use the slight left lane.
14
Merge onto I 5
4.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Toward CA 60 East, I 5 South: Pomona, Soto Street, Santa Ana
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
16
Merge onto I 5
21 mi
·
24 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 111
Toward Lincoln Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Turn left onto West Lincoln Avenue
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
West Lincoln Avenue
Use the left lane.
19
Turn right onto South Anaheim Boulevard
370 ft
·
14 sec
·
South Anaheim Boulevard
20
Turn right
200 ft
·
14 sec
21
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 22.2 mi from Sunland, CA · 31m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.2 miles from Sunland, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Anaheim, CA
The final approach into Anaheim, CA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.18 one way
$20.36 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $10.49 | $20.98 |
| premium | $6.18 | $10.77 | $21.55 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.78 | $19.56 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.3 | 0 | $4.65 | $2.13 |
| Efficient EV | 11.1 | 0 | $3.88 | $1.77 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.7 | 0 | $6.20 | $2.84 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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.
Destination
Anaheim, CA
Late night in Anaheim on Friday
Local time
12:11 AM
PDT
Current temp
74°F
Partly Sunny
SW 0 to 10 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 16 at 8:38AM PDT until April 16 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS Eureka CA
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 16 at 8:38AM PDT until April 16 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS Eureka CA
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
24 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Sunland, CA to Anaheim, CA covers 44.3 miles and takes about 1h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Santa Ana Freeway, Glendale Freeway, Golden State Freeway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 22.2 miles from Sunland, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $10.18 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 44.3 miles you will encounter 18 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 6.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Sunland, CA and Anaheim, CA, road signs point toward Los Angeles, Sacramento and Santa Ana.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.
Data sources
The figures on this page are computed from open government and mapping datasets, not crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. National park proximity is from the NPS API. Full methodology, refresh cadence, and limitations are documented on the methodology page.
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