How far is Imperial, CA from Santa Ana, CA?
The driving distance from Imperial, CA to Santa Ana, CA is about 196.4 miles (316.1 km), with a travel time of about 03h 13m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 146.5 miles (235.8 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 26m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 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 03h 13m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
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.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Partly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Imperial and Santa Ana.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Imperial and Santa Ana.
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1
Start on East Barioni Boulevard
31 m · 5 sec · East Barioni Boulevard
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2
Turn left onto North Imperial Avenue
9.4 mi · 12 min · North Imperial Avenue
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3
Continue on South 1st Street
1999 ft · 33 sec · South 1st Street
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4
Turn left onto West Main Street
37.6 mi · 45 min · West Main Street
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5
Continue straight
32.5 mi · 38 min
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6
Merge slight right onto Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway
32.6 mi · 35 min · Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway
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7
Continue on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
17.9 mi · 19 min · Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
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8
Take the exit slight left toward CA 60 West: Riverside
1022 ft · 13 sec
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9
Continue on Moreno Valley Freeway
2677 ft · 33 sec · Moreno Valley Freeway
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10
Continue on Moreno Valley Expressway
2 mi · 2 min · Moreno Valley Expressway
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11
Continue on Moreno Valley Freeway
16 mi · 20 min · Moreno Valley Freeway
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12
Merge slight left onto Escondido Freeway
3.9 mi · 5 min · Escondido Freeway
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13
Take the exit slight right toward CA 91 West: Riverside, Beach Cities
1.5 mi · 3 min
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14
Merge slight left onto Riverside Freeway
13.4 mi · 16 min · Riverside Freeway
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15
Take the exit slight right toward Main Street
1526 ft · 20 sec
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16
Continue straight
16.7 mi · 19 min
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17
Keep slight left to continue on Costa Mesa Freeway
6.9 mi · 8 min · Costa Mesa Freeway
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18
Take the exit slight right toward Fourth Street, Irvine Boulevard
1565 ft · 36 sec
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19
Turn right onto East 4th Street
1 km · 1 min · East 4th Street
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20
Turn left onto Mabury Street
912 ft · 22 sec · Mabury Street
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21
Turn right onto East 1st Street
1.4 mi · 3 min · East 1st Street
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22
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · West 1st Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Imperial and Santa Ana.
Interchange-aware route
The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.
West Main Street
Turn left onto West Main Street
37.6 mi · 00h 45m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
A longer out-and-back drive
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
Sunny leaving Imperial and Partly Sunny near Santa Ana.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Imperial to Santa Ana?
The road trip is about 196.4 miles (316.1 km) and usually takes 03h 13m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Thousand Palms is a useful midpoint, sitting about 97.1 miles from Imperial and 99.3 miles from Santa Ana.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 146.5 miles (235.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 49.9 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 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:34 AM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $39.98 one way or $79.96 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 61.6 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Imperial and Partly Sunny near Santa Ana.
Stop Ideas Near Thousand Palms
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Turtle Back Mesa Bed & Breakfast
Cimarron Golf Resort
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Golf Resort Palm Springs
Outdoor Resort Palm Springs
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Thousand Palms.
Palm Desert, CA
Palm Springs (Buses), California
Palm Springs Downtown, CA
La Quinta, CA
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Imperial and Santa Ana. Straight-line distance: 146.51 mi (235.79 km).
#1 Imperial
City in Imperial County, California, United States
| Population | 19,663 |
| Coordinates | 32.8475500, -115.5694400 |
| Altitude | -18 |
| 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: 316 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 06h 32m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 04h 54m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 03h 55m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 03h 16m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 02h 48m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 02h 27m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $39.98 | $79.96 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $42.04 | $84.07 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $43.26 | $86.53 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $52.44 | $104.88 |
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 · May 13, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.