How far is Hidden Valley Lake, CA from Santa Ana, CA?

The driving distance from Hidden Valley Lake, CA to Santa Ana, CA is about 485.3 miles (781 km), with a travel time of about 08h 35m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 436.5 miles (702.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 17h 11m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM PDT.
Trip Tools

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.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
485.3 mi
08h 35m
Flight
436.43 mi
702.37 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Hidden Valley Lake.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
436.43 mi
Kilometers
702.37 km
Flight Time
00h 52m

Driving Distance

Road route
485.3 mi
Kilometers
781.01 km
Drive Time
08h 35m

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 08h 35m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Santa Ana
Sun, Apr 19, 6:12 AM PDT
Return by in Hidden Valley Lake
Sun, Apr 19, 2:47 PM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Hidden Valley Lake
2026-04-18T21:36
Arrive Santa Ana
Sun, Apr 19, 6:12 AM PDT
Route Timing
08h 35m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM PDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
2:36 PM to 4:06 PM PDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
6:48 PM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Hidden Valley Lake
8:00 PM PDT
Overnight-style route

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
Coalinga
CA

City in Fresno County, California, United States

From Hidden Valley Lake
240 mi
04h 17m
To Santa Ana
245.3 mi
04h 17m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
72°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
1 to 7 mph SE
Destination
80°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Hidden Valley Lake and Santa Ana.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Hidden Valley Lake and Santa Ana.

  1. 1

    Start on Deer Hill Road

    2105 ft · 2 min · Deer Hill Road

  2. 2

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Hidden Valley Road

    1.3 km · 3 min · Hidden Valley Road

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn left

    1.2 mi · 2 min

  4. 4

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward the route

    15 m · 1 sec

  5. 5

    Exit the roundabout

    21.6 mi · 32 min

  6. 6

    Turn left onto Saint Helena Highway

    6.8 mi · 8 min · Saint Helena Highway

  7. 7

    Continue on Main Street

    2.4 mi · 3 min · Main Street

  8. 8

    Continue on Saint Helena Highway South

    21.7 mi · 26 min · Saint Helena Highway South

  9. 9

    Continue on Napa–Vallejo Highway

    1.3 mi · 1 min · Napa–Vallejo Highway

  10. 10

    Continue on Broadway Street

    4 mi · 5 min · Broadway Street

  11. 11

    Continue on Sonoma Boulevard

    1.8 mi · 2 min · Sonoma Boulevard

  12. 12

    Continue on Sonoma Boulevard

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Sonoma Boulevard

  13. 13

    Turn left onto Redwood Street

    1786 ft · 45 sec · Redwood Street

  14. 14

    Turn right onto Broadway Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Broadway Street

  15. 15

    Turn slight left onto Alameda Street

    1.1 km · 2 min · Alameda Street

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Curtola Parkway

    7.1 mi · 9 min · Curtola Parkway

  17. 17

    Keep slight left to continue on I 680 South: Martinez, San Jose

    1.1 km · 47 sec

  18. 18

    Continue on Benicia-Martinez Bridge

    8 mi · 9 min · Benicia-Martinez Bridge

  19. 19

    Keep slight right to continue on Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway

    4.8 mi · 6 min · Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway

  20. 20

    Continue on Donald D Doyle Highway

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Donald D Doyle Highway

  21. 21

    Keep slight right to continue on Donald D Doyle Highway

    13.4 mi · 16 min · Donald D Doyle Highway

  22. 22

    Take the exit slight right toward I 580 East: Livermore, Stockton

    1362 ft · 33 sec

  23. 23

    Keep slight left to continue on I 580 East: Livermore, Stockton

    1.1 km · 1 min

  24. 24

    Keep slight left to continue on I 580: Stockton

    1581 ft · 39 sec

  25. 25

    Merge slight left onto Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway

  26. 26

    Keep slight right to continue on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway

    17.8 mi · 21 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway

  27. 27

    Keep slight right to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway

    11.1 mi · 12 min · William Elton Brown Freeway

  28. 28

    Keep slight left to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway

    5.9 mi · 6 min · William Elton Brown Freeway

  29. 29

    Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway

    224.4 mi · 4 hr · Westside Freeway

  30. 30

    Keep slight right

    58.4 mi · 1 hr 7 min

  31. 31

    Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway

    4.1 mi · 5 min · Golden State Freeway

  32. 32

    Keep slight right to continue on I 405 South

    1354 ft · 18 sec

  33. 33

    Keep slight left

    24.7 mi · 29 min

  34. 34

    Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Golden State Freeway

  35. 35

    Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway

    25.7 mi · 30 min · Santa Ana Freeway

  36. 36

    Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway

    1241 ft · 16 sec · Santa Ana Freeway

  37. 37

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

    1.3 km · 57 sec

  38. 38

    Keep slight right to continue on Main Street North, Broadway

    1656 ft · 22 sec

  39. 39

    Turn straight onto North Broadway

    1.3 mi · 3 min · North Broadway

  40. 40

    Turn left onto West 5th Street

    639 ft · 17 sec · West 5th Street

  41. 41

    Turn right onto North Main Street

    1209 ft · 31 sec · North Main Street

  42. 42

    Turn right onto West 1st Street

    16 m · 1 sec · West 1st Street

  43. 43

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West 1st Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Hidden Valley Lake and Santa Ana.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
43 steps
13 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Westside Freeway
283 mi · 58%
Santa Ana Freeway
26 mi · 5%
I 405 South
25 mi · 5%
Hidden Valley Road
22.4 mi · 5%
Saint Helena Highway South
21.7 mi · 4%
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
19.2 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

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.

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
08h 35m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
17h 12m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+48.8 mi
436.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Coalinga
04h 17m from Hidden Valley Lake
Leave By
6:48 PM PDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Hidden Valley Lake 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 Hidden Valley Lake to Santa Ana?

The road trip is about 485.3 miles (781 km) and usually takes 08h 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?

Coalinga is a useful midpoint, sitting about 240 miles from Hidden Valley Lake and 245.3 miles from Santa Ana.

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

The direct path is about 436.5 miles (702.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 48.8 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 $98.77 one way or $197.53 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 152.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Hidden Valley Lake and Mostly Sunny near Santa Ana.

Stop Ideas Near Coalinga

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Coalinga, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Coalinga.

BUS

Kettleman City, California

40 mi away
3300 Hubert Way
BUS

Lemoore (Naval Air Station), California

49 mi away
25th Ave and Highway 198
BUS

Lemoore, California

53 mi away
300 E Street
RAIL

Paso Robles station

65 mi away
800 Pine Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Hidden Valley Lake and Santa Ana. Straight-line distance: 436.43 mi (702.37 km).

Hidden Valley Lake

#1 Hidden Valley Lake

Census-designated place in Lake County, California

Population5,579
Coordinates38.8079600, -122.5583200
Altitude363
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: Deer Hill Road (-122.558392, 38.808)
End: West 1st Street (-117.86783, 33.745553)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 781 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)16h 10m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)12h 07m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)09h 42m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)08h 05m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)06h 55m
80 mph (129 km/h)06h 03m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
17.12 gal
64.82 L · about $98.77
Round trip
$197.53
34.24 gal · 129.64 L
Estimated CO2
152.1 kg one way
Round trip: 304.3 kg / 671 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $98.77 $197.53
Mid-grade $6.07 $103.85 $207.70
Premium $6.24 $106.88 $213.76
Diesel $7.57 $129.55 $259.09

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

There is no time difference between Hidden Valley Lake and Santa Ana. The current time is 21:36:32.

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.