How far is Anaheim, CA from Costa Mesa, CA?
The driving distance from Anaheim, CA to Costa Mesa, CA is about 17.6 miles (28.4 km), with a travel time of about 00h 24m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 13.4 miles (21.6 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 48m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM PDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This is an easy same-day return drive.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
Gas Cost Calculator
Leave and Arrive Planner
Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.
Drive time stays fixed at 00h 24m.
This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.
You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
A city in Orange County, California.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Anaheim and Costa Mesa.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Anaheim and Costa Mesa.
-
1
Start on the route
61 m · 20 sec
-
2
Turn right onto South Anaheim Boulevard
1684 ft · 58 sec · South Anaheim Boulevard
-
3
Turn right onto West Santa Ana Street
1751 ft · 52 sec · West Santa Ana Street
-
4
Turn left onto Harbor Boulevard
1.3 km · 2 min · Harbor Boulevard
-
5
Continue on Harbor Boulevard
1120 ft · 29 sec · Harbor Boulevard
-
6
Take the ramp slight right toward I 5 South: Santa Ana Freeway
1264 ft · 31 sec
-
7
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
2.8 mi · 3 min · Santa Ana Freeway
-
8
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1241 ft · 16 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
-
9
Take the exit slight right toward Broadway, Main Street, Santa Ana
1.3 km · 57 sec
-
10
Keep slight left
788 ft · 10 sec
-
11
Keep slight left to continue on I 5 South
981 ft · 13 sec
-
12
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
1.3 km · 54 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
-
13
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1.2 km · 52 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
-
14
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1.1 mi · 1 min · Santa Ana Freeway
-
15
Take the exit slight right toward CA 55 South: Newport Beach
2131 ft · 28 sec
-
16
Merge slight left onto Costa Mesa Freeway
3.7 mi · 4 min · Costa Mesa Freeway
-
17
Continue on Costa Mesa Freeway
4.3 mi · 5 min · Costa Mesa Freeway
-
18
Continue on Newport Boulevard
573 ft · 10 sec · Newport Boulevard
-
19
Turn right onto West 19th Street
680 ft · 16 sec · West 19th Street
-
20
Turn left onto Harbor Boulevard
888 ft · 36 sec · Harbor Boulevard
-
21
At the end of the road, turn straight onto Newport Boulevard
23 m · 10 sec · Newport Boulevard
-
22
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Newport Boulevard
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Anaheim and Costa Mesa.
Turn-heavy local drive
The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.
Costa Mesa Freeway
Continue on Costa Mesa Freeway
4.34 mi · 00h 05m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
A short regional drive
This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.
Mostly Sunny leaving Anaheim and Mostly Sunny near Costa Mesa.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Anaheim to Costa Mesa?
The road trip is about 17.6 miles (28.4 km) and usually takes 00h 24m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Tustin is a useful midpoint, sitting about 8.8 miles from Anaheim and 8.8 miles from Costa Mesa.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 13.4 miles (21.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 4.2 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.
When is the best time to leave for this route?
A good departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:42 PM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $3.58 one way or $7.15 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 5.5 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Anaheim and Mostly Sunny near Costa Mesa.
Stop Ideas Near Tustin
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Newport Beach Municipal Operations
City of Tustin Parks & Recreation
bamboo house
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Tustin.
Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center
Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center
Irvine Transportation Center
Fullerton Transportation Center
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Anaheim and Costa Mesa. Straight-line distance: 13.42 mi (21.59 km).
#1 Anaheim
The second most populous city in Orange County, California and the center of the Anaheim metropolitan area.
| Population | 353,676 |
| Coordinates | 33.8352900, -117.9145000 |
| Altitude | 48 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Costa Mesa
The most populous city in Orange County, California.
| Population | 112,366 |
| Coordinates | 33.6411300, -117.9186700 |
| Altitude | 30 |
| Country | United States |
End: Costa Mesa (-117.91867, 33.64113)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 28 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 00h 35m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 00h 26m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 21m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 17m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 15m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 13m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $3.58 | $7.15 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $3.76 | $7.52 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $3.87 | $7.74 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $4.69 | $9.38 |
Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.
Prices in California · Apr 23, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.