How far is Anaheim, CA from El Centro, CA?
The driving distance from Anaheim, CA to El Centro, CA is about 195.8 miles (315.1 km), with a travel time of about 03h 53m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 153.7 miles (247.4 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 46m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
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 03h 53m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
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.
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 El Centro.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Anaheim and El Centro.
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1
Start on the route
61 m · 17 sec
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2
Turn left onto South Anaheim Boulevard
129 m · 23 sec · South Anaheim Boulevard
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3
Turn right onto East Lincoln Avenue
2.3 mi · 5 min · East Lincoln Avenue
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4
Take the ramp slight right toward CA 57 North: Pomona
1483 ft · 38 sec
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5
Merge slight left onto Orange Freeway
2344 ft · 31 sec · Orange Freeway
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6
Take the exit slight right toward CA 91 East: Riverside Freeway, Riverside
2077 ft · 36 sec
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7
Merge slight left onto Riverside Freeway
2.6 mi · 3 min · Riverside Freeway
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8
Keep slight right to continue on Riverside Freeway
31.2 mi · 36 min · Riverside Freeway
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9
Take the exit slight right toward I 215 South, CA 60 East: San Diego, Indio
1 km · 1 min
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10
Merge slight left onto Pomona Freeway
1689 ft · 22 sec · Pomona Freeway
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11
Continue on Escondido Freeway
3.9 mi · 5 min · Escondido Freeway
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12
Keep slight left to continue on Escondido Freeway
2346 ft · 31 sec · Escondido Freeway
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13
Keep slight left to continue on Moreno Valley Freeway
15.6 mi · 19 min · Moreno Valley Freeway
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14
Continue on Moreno Valley Expressway
2 mi · 2 min · Moreno Valley Expressway
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15
Continue on Moreno Valley Freeway
1 km · 42 sec · Moreno Valley Freeway
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16
Merge slight left onto Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
18.2 mi · 19 min · Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
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17
Keep slight left to continue on Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway
32.5 mi · 35 min · Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway
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18
Keep slight right to continue on CA 86 South: CA 86 South, Brawley, El Centro
70 mi · 1 hr 22 min
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19
Turn right onto South 1st Street
1999 ft · 28 sec · South 1st Street
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20
Continue on South Brawley Avenue
1.5 km · 1 min · South Brawley Avenue
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21
Turn left
99 m · 18 sec
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22
Turn right
609 ft · 46 sec
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23
At the end of the road, turn right
144 m · 24 sec
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24
Turn left
12.2 mi · 17 min
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25
Turn left onto West State Street
2101 ft · 1 min · West State Street
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26
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · West State Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Anaheim and El Centro.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
CA 86 South
Keep slight right to continue on CA 86 South: CA 86 South, Brawley, El Centro
70 mi · 01h 22m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
A longer out-and-back drive
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
Mostly Sunny leaving Anaheim and Mostly Sunny near El Centro.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Anaheim to El Centro?
The road trip is about 195.8 miles (315.1 km) and usually takes 03h 53m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Thousand Palms is a useful midpoint, sitting about 97.9 miles from Anaheim and 97.9 miles from El Centro.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 153.7 miles (247.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 42.1 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 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 9:14 AM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $39.86 one way or $79.73 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 61.4 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Anaheim and Mostly Sunny near El Centro.
Stop Ideas Near Thousand Palms
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Turtle Back Mesa Bed & Breakfast
Cimarron Golf Resort
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Golf Resort Palm Springs
Outdoor Resort Palm Springs
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Thousand Palms.
Palm Desert, CA
Palm Springs (Buses), California
Palm Springs Downtown, CA
La Quinta, CA
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Anaheim and El Centro. Straight-line distance: 153.71 mi (247.38 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 El Centro
A city in Imperial County, California.
| Population | 43,601 |
| Coordinates | 32.7920000, -115.5630500 |
| Altitude | -12 |
| Country | United States |
End: El Centro (-115.56305, 32.792)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 315 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 06h 31m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 04h 53m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 03h 54m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 03h 15m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 02h 47m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 02h 26m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $39.86 | $79.73 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $41.92 | $83.83 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $43.14 | $86.28 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $52.29 | $104.58 |
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.