How far is Cottonwood, CA from Santa Ana, CA?
The driving distance from Cottonwood, CA to Santa Ana, CA is about 560.8 miles (902.5 km), with a travel time of about 09h 21m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 519.2 miles (835.5 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 18h 42m 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 09h 21m.
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.
Census-designated place in Merced County, California
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Cottonwood and Santa Ana.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cottonwood and Santa Ana.
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1
Start on 1st Street
19 m · 2 sec · 1st Street
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2
Turn left onto Main Street
1.3 mi · 2 min · Main Street
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3
Continue on Bowman Road
922 ft · 25 sec · Bowman Road
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4
Take the ramp left
1263 ft · 31 sec
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5
Merge slight left onto Cascade Wonderland Highway
15.9 mi · 17 min · Cascade Wonderland Highway
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6
Continue on Westside Freeway
93 mi · 1 hr 40 min · Westside Freeway
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7
Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway
15.7 mi · 17 min · Westside Freeway
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8
Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway
78.8 mi · 1 hr 28 min · Westside Freeway
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9
Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway
1.2 km · 49 sec · Westside Freeway
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10
Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway
236.6 mi · 4 hr 14 min · Westside Freeway
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11
Keep slight right
58.4 mi · 1 hr 7 min
-
12
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
4.1 mi · 5 min · Golden State Freeway
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13
Keep slight right to continue on I 405 South
1354 ft · 18 sec
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14
Keep slight left
24.7 mi · 29 min
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15
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
1.3 mi · 2 min · Golden State Freeway
-
16
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
25.7 mi · 30 min · Santa Ana Freeway
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17
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1241 ft · 16 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
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18
Take the exit slight right toward Broadway, Main Street, Santa Ana
1.3 km · 57 sec
-
19
Keep slight right to continue on Main Street North, Broadway
1656 ft · 22 sec
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20
Turn straight onto North Broadway
1.3 mi · 3 min · North Broadway
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21
Turn left onto West 5th Street
639 ft · 17 sec · West 5th Street
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22
Turn right onto North Main Street
1209 ft · 31 sec · North Main Street
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23
Turn right onto West 1st Street
16 m · 1 sec · West 1st Street
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24
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · West 1st Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Cottonwood 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
Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway
237 mi · 04h 14m
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.
Sunny leaving Cottonwood and Sunny near Santa Ana.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Cottonwood to Santa Ana?
The road trip is about 560.8 miles (902.5 km) and usually takes 09h 21m 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?
South Dos Palos is a useful midpoint, sitting about 280 miles from Cottonwood and 280.8 miles from Santa Ana.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 519.2 miles (835.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 41.6 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 $123.91 one way or $247.81 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 175.9 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Cottonwood and Sunny near Santa Ana.
Stop Ideas Near South Dos Palos
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 South Dos Palos.
Merced station
Madera
Denair station
Fresno station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Cottonwood and Santa Ana. Straight-line distance: 519.12 mi (835.45 km).
#1 Cottonwood
Located in Shasta County at an elevation of 433 feet, this Northern California census-designated place is situated in the northern Sacramento Valley near where Cottonwood Creek meets the Sacramento River.
| Population | 0 |
| Coordinates | 40.3857100, -122.2808400 |
| Altitude | 132 |
| 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: 903 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 18h 41m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 14h 01m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 11h 12m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 09h 20m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 08h 00m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 06h 59m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $6.26 | $123.91 | $247.81 |
| Mid-grade | $6.50 | $128.62 | $257.23 |
| Premium | $6.69 | $132.38 | $264.75 |
| Diesel | $8.41 | $166.49 | $332.99 |
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 · Oct 15, 2026