How far is Bell, CA from Santa Ana, CA?

The driving distance from Bell, CA to Santa Ana, CA is about 26.4 miles (42.5 km), with a travel time of about 00h 36m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 24.4 miles (39.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 13m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM PDT.
Trip Tools

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.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
26.4 mi
00h 36m
Flight
24.33 mi
39.16 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Bell.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
24.33 mi
Kilometers
39.16 km
Flight Time
00h 02m

Driving Distance

Road route
26.4 mi
Kilometers
42.49 km
Drive Time
00h 36m

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 36m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Santa Ana
Thu, Apr 23, 1:04 AM PDT
Return by in Bell
Thu, Apr 23, 1:41 AM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Bell
2026-04-23T00:28
Arrive Santa Ana
Thu, Apr 23, 1:04 AM PDT
Route Timing
00h 36m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM PDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:37 AM to 7:37 PM PDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:16 PM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Bell
10:00 PM PDT
Flexible departure

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.

Mid-route stop
Buena Park
CA

A city in Orange County, California.

From Bell
13.2 mi
00h 18m
To Santa Ana
13.2 mi
00h 18m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
76°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph S
Destination
74°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph S

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Bell and Santa Ana.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bell and Santa Ana.

  1. 1

    Start on Atlantic Avenue

    56 m · 9 sec · Atlantic Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right onto East Gage Avenue

    3.6 mi · 7 min · East Gage Avenue

  3. 3

    Continue on I 5 South: Santa Ana

    54 m · 4 sec

  4. 4

    Continue on I 5 South: Santa Ana

    808 ft · 22 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway

    19.7 mi · 23 min · Santa Ana Freeway

  6. 6

    Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway

    1241 ft · 16 sec · Santa Ana Freeway

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward Broadway, Main Street, Santa Ana

    1.3 km · 57 sec

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on Main Street North, Broadway

    1656 ft · 22 sec

  9. 9

    Turn straight onto North Broadway

    2613 ft · 58 sec · North Broadway

  10. 10

    Turn left onto West 17th Street

    684 ft · 26 sec · West 17th Street

  11. 11

    Turn right onto North Main Street

    1.6 km · 2 min · North Main Street

  12. 12

    Turn right onto West 1st Street

    16 m · 1 sec · West 1st Street

  13. 13

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West 1st Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Bell and Santa Ana.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

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.

Directions
13 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
2
1 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
49.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Santa Ana Freeway
19.9 mi · 75%
East Gage Avenue
3.58 mi · 14%
North Main Street
0.99 mi · 4%
Broadway
0.82 mi · 3%
North Broadway
0.5 mi · 2%
Main Street North
0.31 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Santa Ana Freeway

Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway

19.7 mi · 00h 23m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
00h 36m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 14m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+2 mi
24.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Buena Park
00h 18m from Bell
Leave By
7:16 PM PDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Bell 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 Bell to Santa Ana?

The road trip is about 26.4 miles (42.5 km) and usually takes 00h 36m 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?

Buena Park is a useful midpoint, sitting about 13.2 miles from Bell and 13.2 miles from Santa Ana.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 24.4 miles (39.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 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 7:16 PM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $5.37 one way or $10.73 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 8.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Bell and Mostly Sunny near Santa Ana.

Stop Ideas Near Buena Park

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Buena Park and the surrounding midpoint area.
Bell Gardens Inn Los Angeles
Stay option 10.8 mi away

Bell Gardens Inn Los Angeles

Bell Gardens , CA
6328 S Eastern Ave, Bell Gardens, CA 90201, United States
Rating 5.0/5 2 reviews Motel
City of South El Monte City Hall
Scenic stop 11.7 mi away

City of South El Monte City Hall

South El Monte , CA
1415 Santa Anita Ave, South El Monte, CA 91733, United States
Rating 5.0/5 1 reviews Park,City or town hall
City of Tustin Parks & Recreation
Meeting point 14.6 mi away

City of Tustin Parks & Recreation

Tustin , CA
300 Centennial Way, Tustin, CA 92780, United States
Rating 5.0/5 4 reviews City government office
The City of Orange
Nearby stop 11.4 mi away

The City of Orange

Orange , CA
300 E Chapman Ave, Orange, CA 92866, United States
Rating 5.0/5 15 reviews Business center

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Buena Park.

RAIL

Fullerton Transportation Center

7 mi away
120 East Santa Fe Avenue
RAIL

Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center

13 mi away
2150 East Katella Avenue
RAIL

Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center

18 mi away
1000 East Santa Ana Boulevard
BUS

Long Beach, California

20 mi away
601 North Long Beach Blvd.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Bell and Santa Ana. Straight-line distance: 24.33 mi (39.16 km).

Bell

#1 Bell

City in California

Population34,734
Coordinates33.9775100, -118.1870200
Altitude43
CountryUnited States
Santa Ana

#2 Santa Ana

The most populous city in Orange County, California and the center of the Santa Ana metropolitan area.

Population331,301
Coordinates33.7455700, -117.8678300
Altitude35
CountryUnited States
Start: Atlantic Avenue (-118.187005, 33.977508)
End: West 1st Street (-117.86783, 33.745553)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 42 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 52m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 39m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 31m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 26m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 22m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 19m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.93 gal
3.53 L · about $5.37
Round trip
$10.73
1.86 gal · 7.06 L
Estimated CO2
8.3 kg one way
Round trip: 16.5 kg / 36 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $5.37 $10.73
Mid-grade $6.07 $5.64 $11.28
Premium $6.24 $5.81 $11.61
Diesel $7.57 $7.04 $14.07

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

There is no time difference between Bell and Santa Ana. The current time is 00:28:15.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.