How far is Arcata, CA from Santa Ana, CA?
The driving distance from Arcata, CA to Santa Ana, CA is about 685.3 miles (1102.9 km), with a travel time of about 11h 08m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 598.6 miles (963.3 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 22h 16m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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 11h 08m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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.
The most populous city in San Joaquin County, California.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Chance Light Rain then Partly Sunny
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Arcata and Santa Ana.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arcata and Santa Ana.
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1
Start on the route
90 m · 7 sec
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2
Merge slight left onto Redwood Highway
701 ft · 9 sec · Redwood Highway
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3
Take the exit slight right toward 14th Street
1152 ft · 34 sec
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4
Turn left onto 14th Street
144 m · 20 sec · 14th Street
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5
Take the ramp sharp left
1066 ft · 26 sec
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6
Merge slight left onto Redwood Highway
6.7 mi · 9 min · Redwood Highway
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7
Continue on 4th Street
1.5 mi · 4 min · 4th Street
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8
Turn left onto Broadway Street
3 mi · 6 min · Broadway Street
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9
Continue on Redwood Highway
128.9 mi · 2 hr 38 min · Redwood Highway
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10
Continue on Willits Bypass
5.4 mi · 6 min · Willits Bypass
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11
Continue on Redwood Highway
116.2 mi · 2 hr 18 min · Redwood Highway
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12
Keep slight right to continue on John T. Knox Freeway
13.6 mi · 17 min · John T. Knox Freeway
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13
Merge slight left onto Eastshore Freeway
3.8 mi · 5 min · Eastshore Freeway
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14
Keep slight left to continue on Interstate Highway 80
1321 ft · 21 sec · Interstate Highway 80
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15
Keep slight left to continue on MacArthur Freeway
16.4 mi · 19 min · MacArthur Freeway
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16
Merge slight left onto Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
11.5 mi · 13 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
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17
Keep slight right to continue on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
17.8 mi · 21 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
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18
Keep slight right to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
11.1 mi · 12 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
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19
Keep slight left to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
5.9 mi · 6 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
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20
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
224.4 mi · 4 hr · Westside Freeway
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21
Keep slight right
58.4 mi · 1 hr 7 min
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22
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
4.1 mi · 5 min · Golden State Freeway
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23
Keep slight right to continue on I 405 South
1354 ft · 18 sec
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24
Keep slight left
24.7 mi · 29 min
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25
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
1.3 mi · 2 min · Golden State Freeway
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26
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
25.7 mi · 30 min · Santa Ana Freeway
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27
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1241 ft · 16 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
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28
Take the exit slight right toward Broadway, Main Street, Santa Ana
1.3 km · 57 sec
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29
Keep slight right to continue on Main Street North, Broadway
1656 ft · 22 sec
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30
Turn straight onto North Broadway
1.3 mi · 3 min · North Broadway
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31
Turn left onto West 5th Street
639 ft · 17 sec · West 5th Street
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32
Turn right onto North Main Street
1209 ft · 31 sec · North Main Street
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33
Turn right onto West 1st Street
16 m · 1 sec · West 1st Street
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34
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · West 1st Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Arcata and Santa Ana.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Westside Freeway
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
224 mi · 04h 00m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
Better with a longer stop
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
Chance Light Rain then Partly Sunny leaving Arcata and Mostly Sunny near Santa Ana.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Arcata to Santa Ana?
The road trip is about 685.3 miles (1102.9 km) and usually takes 11h 08m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Tracy is a useful midpoint, sitting about 342.3 miles from Arcata and 343 miles from Santa Ana.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 598.6 miles (963.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 86.7 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 7:30 AM PDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $139.49 one way or $278.99 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 214.9 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Chance Light Rain then Partly Sunny around Arcata and Mostly Sunny near Santa Ana.
Stop Ideas Near Tracy
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Tracy.
Tracy, California
Tracy, CA
Manteca, CA
Stockton – San Joaquin Street
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Arcata and Santa Ana. Straight-line distance: 598.57 mi (963.3 km).
#1 Arcata
City in California
| Population | 18,044 |
| Coordinates | 40.8665200, -124.0828400 |
| Altitude | 7 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Santa Ana
The most populous city in Orange County, California and the center of the Santa Ana metropolitan area.
| Population | 331,301 |
| Coordinates | 33.7455700, -117.8678300 |
| Altitude | 35 |
| Country | United States |
End: West 1st Street (-117.86783, 33.745553)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 1103 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 22h 50m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 17h 08m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 13h 42m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 11h 25m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 09h 47m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 08h 32m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $139.49 | $278.99 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $146.68 | $293.35 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $150.96 | $301.91 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $182.97 | $365.94 |
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 · May 14, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.