How far is East Los Angeles, CA from Santa Ana, CA?
The driving distance from East Los Angeles, CA to Santa Ana, CA is about 28.9 miles (46.5 km), with a travel time of about 00h 42m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 26 miles (41.8 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 25m 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 42m.
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.
A city in Orange County, California.
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 East Los Angeles and Santa Ana.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between East Los Angeles and Santa Ana.
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1
Start on Burger Avenue
41 m · 9 sec · Burger Avenue
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2
Turn right onto Whittier Boulevard
593 ft · 27 sec · Whittier Boulevard
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3
Turn left onto South Eastern Avenue
2363 ft · 1 min · South Eastern Avenue
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4
Turn left onto Telegraph Road
1.6 km · 2 min · Telegraph Road
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5
Turn right onto South Atlantic Boulevard
795 ft · 23 sec · South Atlantic Boulevard
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6
Keep slight left to continue on South Eastern Avenue
92 m · 12 sec · South Eastern Avenue
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7
Turn left onto Stevens Place
15 m · 1 sec · Stevens Place
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8
Take the ramp right toward I 5 South: Santa Ana
977 ft · 26 sec
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9
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
22.5 mi · 26 min · Santa Ana Freeway
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10
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1241 ft · 16 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
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11
Take the exit slight right toward Broadway, Main Street, Santa Ana
1.3 km · 57 sec
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12
Keep slight right to continue on Main Street North, Broadway
1656 ft · 22 sec
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13
Turn straight onto North Broadway
1.3 mi · 3 min · North Broadway
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14
Turn left onto West 5th Street
639 ft · 17 sec · West 5th Street
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15
Turn right onto North Main Street
1209 ft · 31 sec · North Main Street
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16
Turn right onto West 1st Street
16 m · 1 sec · West 1st Street
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17
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · West 1st Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between East Los Angeles 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.
Santa Ana Freeway
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
22.5 mi · 00h 26m
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 East Los Angeles 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 East Los Angeles to Santa Ana?
The road trip is about 28.9 miles (46.5 km) and usually takes 00h 42m 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 13.7 miles from East Los Angeles and 15.2 miles from Santa Ana.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 26 miles (41.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 2.9 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 7:04 PM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $5.88 one way or $11.77 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 9.1 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around East Los Angeles 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.
Bell Gardens Inn Los Angeles
City of South El Monte City Hall
Anaheim City Clerk
The City of Orange
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Buena Park.
Fullerton Transportation Center
Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center
Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center
Long Beach, California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between East Los Angeles and Santa Ana. Straight-line distance: 25.97 mi (41.79 km).
#1 East Los Angeles
Census-designated place in Los Angeles County, California, United States
| Population | 126,496 |
| Coordinates | 34.0239000, -118.1720200 |
| Altitude | 61 |
| 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: 47 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 00h 57m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 00h 43m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 34m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 28m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 24m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 21m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $5.88 | $11.77 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $6.19 | $12.37 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $6.37 | $12.74 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $7.72 | $15.44 |
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.