How far is Brea, CA from Santa Ana, CA?
The driving distance from Brea, CA to Santa Ana, CA is about 13 miles (21 km), with a travel time of about 00h 20m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 12 miles (19.3 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 40m 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 20m.
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.
The second most populous city in Orange County, California and the center of the Anaheim metropolitan area.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Brea and Santa Ana.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Brea and Santa Ana.
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1
Start on South Brea Boulevard
562 ft · 14 sec · South Brea Boulevard
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2
Continue on South Brea Boulevard
747 ft · 33 sec · South Brea Boulevard
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3
Turn left onto East Imperial Highway
1.4 km · 2 min · East Imperial Highway
-
4
Take the ramp slight right toward CA 57 South: Santa Ana
2284 ft · 46 sec
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5
Merge slight left onto Orange Freeway
8.6 mi · 10 min · Orange Freeway
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6
Keep slight left to continue on I 5 South: Santa Ana
1.1 mi · 1 min
-
7
Keep slight right to continue on Main Street North, Broadway
1656 ft · 22 sec
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8
Turn straight onto North Broadway
2613 ft · 58 sec · North Broadway
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9
Turn left onto West 17th Street
684 ft · 26 sec · West 17th Street
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10
Turn right onto North Main Street
1.6 km · 2 min · North Main Street
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11
Turn right onto West 1st Street
16 m · 1 sec · West 1st Street
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12
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · West 1st Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Brea and Santa Ana.
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.
Orange Freeway
Merge slight left onto Orange Freeway
8.58 mi · 00h 10m
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 Brea 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 Brea to Santa Ana?
The road trip is about 13 miles (21 km) and usually takes 00h 20m 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?
Anaheim is a useful midpoint, sitting about 6.6 miles from Brea and 6.5 miles from Santa Ana.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 12 miles (19.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:50 PM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $2.65 one way or $5.31 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 4.1 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Brea and Mostly Sunny near Santa Ana.
Stop Ideas Near Anaheim
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 Anaheim.
Fullerton Transportation Center
Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center
Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center
Irvine Transportation Center
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Brea and Santa Ana. Straight-line distance: 11.97 mi (19.26 km).
#1 Brea
A city in Orange County, California.
| Population | 44,484 |
| Coordinates | 33.9166800, -117.9000600 |
| Altitude | 110 |
| 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: 21 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 00h 26m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 00h 19m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 15m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 13m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 11m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 09m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $2.65 | $5.31 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $2.79 | $5.58 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $2.87 | $5.74 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $3.48 | $6.96 |
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 19, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.