Origin
Susanville, CA
Afternoon in Susanville on Sunday
Local time
12:28 PM
PDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Susanville, CA to Anaheim, CA
Drive Time
11h 33m
Distance
596.8 mi
960 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$138
one way
Susanville, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Trip Overview
The drive from Susanville, CA to Anaheim, CA covers 596.8 miles and takes about 11h 33m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on Westside Freeway, I 5 Truck, CA 32 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-distance drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 303.7 miles on Westside Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $138.20 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
3 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
298.4 miles from Susanville, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 6h 1m into the drive .
Drive Character
At 596.8 miles and 11h 33m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are Westside Freeway and I 5 Truck.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 33 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 303.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and I 5 Truck. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 100 miles in.
Route Complexity
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 596.8 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 100 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 110.2 miles (CA 149): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 548 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 24 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
100 mi into trip
|
~2h 16m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
110.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 28m in
|
CA 149
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 149 toward Oroville, Marysville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward Oroville, Marysville
8
548 mi into trip
|
~10h 33m in
|
I 5 Truck
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck toward I 405 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 158
Toward I 405 South
8
573 mi into trip
|
~11h 2m 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...
7
595 mi into trip
|
~11h 28m in
Take the exit toward Lincoln Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 111
Toward Lincoln Avenue
Towns Along This Route
Between Susanville, CA and Anaheim, CA, road signs point toward Oroville and Marysville.
Oroville
110.2 mi in
|
~2h 28m
|
via CA 149
Marysville
110.2 mi in
|
~2h 28m
|
via CA 149
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Westside Freeway | 303.7 mi | 5h 28m |
| I 5 Truck | 83.3 mi | 1h 36m |
| CA 32 | 52.4 mi | 1h 10m |
| CA 70 | 49.2 mi | 58m |
| Hillcrest Road | 28.8 mi | 38m |
| Santa Ana Freeway | 20.7 mi | 24m |
| CA 36 | 18.1 mi | 26m |
| CA 99 | 9.9 mi | 11m |
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 303.7 mi, about 5h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Susanville, CA and Anaheim, CA.
1
Start on Foss Street
61 ft
·
11 sec
·
Foss Street
2
Turn left onto CA 36
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
3
Continue on CA 36
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
·
South Pine Street
Use the straight lane.
4
Continue on CA 36
29 mi
·
38 min
·
Hillcrest Road
5
Enter roundabout onto CA 36
138 ft
·
9 sec
·
CA 36
6
Continue on CA 36
18 mi
·
26 min
·
CA 36
7
Turn left onto CA 32
52 mi
·
1 hr 10 min
·
CA 32
Use the left lane.
8
Turn left
361 ft
·
10 sec
Use the left lane.
9
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
12 sec
Use the straight lane.
10
Merge onto CA 99
9.9 mi
·
11 min
·
CA 99
Use the none lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 149
5.5 mi
·
6 min
·
CA 149
Toward Oroville, Marysville
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto CA 70
19 mi
·
22 min
·
CA 70
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on CA 70
11 mi
·
12 min
·
CA 70
Use the none lane.
14
Continue on CA 70
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
CA 70
Use the none lane.
15
Turn right onto 5th Street
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
5th Street
16
Turn left onto CA 70
4.2 mi
·
5 min
·
E Street
17
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 70
18 mi
·
20 min
·
CA 70
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
18
Merge onto CA 99
4.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Bernie Richter Memorial Highway
Use the none lane.
19
Continue on CA 99
7.7 mi
·
8 min
·
Golden State Highway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
20
Merge onto I 5
66 mi
·
1 hr 13 min
·
Westside Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
0.8 mi
·
48 sec
·
Westside Freeway
22
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
237 mi
·
4 hr 13 min
·
Westside Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
58 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
·
I 5 Truck
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
24
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the none lane.
25
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
0.3 mi
·
17 sec
·
I 5 Truck
Exit 158
Toward I 405 South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck
25 mi
·
29 min
·
I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
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.
28
Merge onto I 5
21 mi
·
24 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
29
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 111
Toward Lincoln Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Turn left onto West Lincoln Avenue
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
West Lincoln Avenue
Use the left lane.
31
Turn right onto South Anaheim Boulevard
370 ft
·
14 sec
·
South Anaheim Boulevard
32
Turn right
200 ft
·
14 sec
Use the none lane.
33
Arrive at destination
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.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 3 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 298.4 miles from Susanville, CA, or about 6h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 303.7 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 131 miles or 2h 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 298.4 miles or 6h 1m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 298.4 miles or 6h 1m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 10h 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Anaheim, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Susanville, 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.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Susanville, CA
Aim for roughly 298 miles and 5.8 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Anaheim, CA
Aim for roughly 298 miles and 5.8 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 131 miles from Susanville, CA.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 3 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Westside Freeway for about 303.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 298.4 mi from Susanville, CA · 6h 1m into the drive
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
197 mi into the route
Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch
This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.
Second major stop
Overnight candidate
394 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Manteca, CAOvernight Options
Night 1
298 mi · about 5.8h in
A practical overnight split lands near Roseville, CA after about 298 miles or 5.8 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 131 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 298.4 miles from Susanville, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Westside Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 303.7 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 298 miles or 5.8 hours on the road.
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.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Anaheim, CA.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Anaheim, CA with some flexibility left in the schedule.
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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$138.20 one way
$276.41 round trip
$5.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
209 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $142.53 | $285.05 |
| premium | $6.24 | $146.69 | $293.37 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $132.59 | $265.18 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$138
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$268–$378
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 208.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $63 in charging · 2 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 179 | 2 | $62.66 | $28.65 |
| Efficient EV | 149.2 | 1 | $52.22 | $23.87 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 238.7 | 2 | $83.55 | $38.20 |
Gas CO2
209 kg
EV CO2
70 kg (67% less)
Plan for 2 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Afternoon in Anaheim on Sunday
Local time
12:28 PM
PDT
Current temp
76°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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
13 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
11h 33m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Susanville, CA to Anaheim, CA covers 596.8 miles and takes about 11h 33m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Westside Freeway, I 5 Truck, CA 32. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 298 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 298.4 miles from Susanville, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $138.20 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 3 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 24 significant decision points across 596.8 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 100 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 110.2 miles (CA 149): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 548 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Susanville, CA and Anaheim, CA, road signs point toward Oroville and Marysville.
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