How far is El Cerrito, CA from Santa Ana, CA?
The driving distance from El Cerrito, CA to Santa Ana, CA is about 411.5 miles (662.3 km), with a travel time of about 06h 35m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 380.7 miles (612.6 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 13h 10m 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 06h 35m.
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 Kings County, California
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between El Cerrito and Santa Ana.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between El Cerrito and Santa Ana.
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1
Start on Manila Avenue
4 m · 7 sec · Manila Avenue
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2
Turn left onto San Pablo Avenue
2053 ft · 41 sec · San Pablo Avenue
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3
Turn left onto Potrero Avenue
724 ft · 28 sec · Potrero Avenue
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4
Turn left onto I 80 West: Oakland
1525 ft · 39 sec
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5
Merge slight left onto Eastshore Freeway
6 mi · 7 min · Eastshore Freeway
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6
Keep slight left to continue on Interstate Highway 80
1321 ft · 21 sec · Interstate Highway 80
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7
Keep slight left to continue on MacArthur Freeway
16.4 mi · 19 min · MacArthur Freeway
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8
Merge slight left onto Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
11.5 mi · 13 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
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9
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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10
Keep slight right to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
11.1 mi · 12 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
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11
Keep slight left to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
5.9 mi · 6 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
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12
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
224.4 mi · 4 hr · Westside Freeway
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13
Keep slight right
58.4 mi · 1 hr 7 min
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14
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
4.1 mi · 5 min · Golden State Freeway
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15
Keep slight right to continue on I 405 South
1354 ft · 18 sec
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16
Keep slight left
24.7 mi · 29 min
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17
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
1.3 mi · 2 min · Golden State Freeway
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18
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
25.7 mi · 30 min · Santa Ana Freeway
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19
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1241 ft · 16 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
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20
Take the exit slight right toward Broadway, Main Street, Santa Ana
1.3 km · 57 sec
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21
Keep slight right to continue on Main Street North, Broadway
1656 ft · 22 sec
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22
Turn straight onto North Broadway
2613 ft · 58 sec · North Broadway
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23
Turn left onto West 17th Street
684 ft · 26 sec · West 17th Street
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24
Turn right onto North Main Street
1.6 km · 2 min · North Main Street
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25
Turn right onto West 1st Street
16 m · 1 sec · West 1st Street
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26
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · West 1st Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between El Cerrito 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.
Sunny leaving El Cerrito 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 El Cerrito to Santa Ana?
The road trip is about 411.5 miles (662.3 km) and usually takes 06h 35m 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?
Kettleman City is a useful midpoint, sitting about 205.9 miles from El Cerrito and 205.7 miles from Santa Ana.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 380.7 miles (612.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 30.8 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 $83.77 one way or $167.53 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 129 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around El Cerrito and Sunny near Santa Ana.
Stop Ideas Near Kettleman City
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 Kettleman City.
Kettleman City, California
Lemoore, California
Corcoran station
Lemoore (Naval Air Station), California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between El Cerrito and Santa Ana. Straight-line distance: 380.66 mi (612.62 km).
#1 El Cerrito
City in Contra Costa County, California, United States
| Population | 25,403 |
| Coordinates | 37.9157600, -122.3116400 |
| Altitude | 21 |
| 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: 662 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 13h 42m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 10h 17m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 08h 13m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 06h 51m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 05h 52m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 05h 08m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $83.77 | $167.53 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $88.08 | $176.16 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $90.65 | $181.30 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $109.87 | $219.75 |
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 · Jun 01, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.