How far is Laguna Beach, CA from Santa Ana, CA?
The driving distance from Laguna Beach, CA to Santa Ana, CA is about 19.1 miles (30.8 km), with a travel time of about 00h 29m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 14.9 miles (23.9 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 58m 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 29m.
This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.
This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.
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.
Partly Sunny
Mostly Cloudy
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Laguna Beach and Santa Ana.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Laguna Beach and Santa Ana.
-
1
Start on Park Avenue
97 m · 21 sec · Park Avenue
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2
Turn left onto Glenneyre Street
61 m · 8 sec · Glenneyre Street
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3
Continue on Forest Avenue
1222 ft · 26 sec · Forest Avenue
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4
Keep slight left to continue on Forest Avenue
47 m · 6 sec · Forest Avenue
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5
Continue on Laguna Canyon Road
7.5 mi · 11 min · Laguna Canyon Road
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6
Continue on Laguna Freeway
1.5 mi · 2 min · Laguna Freeway
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7
Take the exit slight right toward I 5 North: Santa Ana
1.1 km · 47 sec
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8
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
3.8 mi · 4 min · Santa Ana Freeway
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9
Take the exit slight right toward Jamboree Road
1266 ft · 17 sec
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10
Continue straight
527 ft · 11 sec
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11
Turn right onto Jamboree Road
760 ft · 18 sec · Jamboree Road
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12
Turn left onto El Camino Real
2.2 mi · 5 min · El Camino Real
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13
Turn left onto Newport Avenue
109 m · 14 sec · Newport Avenue
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14
Take the ramp right toward I 5 North: Los Angeles
1127 ft · 17 sec
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15
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
1 mi · 1 min · Santa Ana Freeway
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16
Take the exit slight right toward First Street, Fourth Street
768 ft · 10 sec
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17
Keep slight left to continue on First Street
1147 ft · 15 sec
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18
Turn straight onto Mabury Street
88 m · 10 sec · Mabury Street
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19
Turn right onto East 1st Street
1.4 mi · 3 min · East 1st Street
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20
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · West 1st Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Laguna Beach 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.
Laguna Canyon Road
Continue on Laguna Canyon Road
7.49 mi · 00h 11m
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.
Partly Sunny leaving Laguna Beach and Mostly Cloudy near Santa Ana.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Laguna Beach to Santa Ana?
The road trip is about 19.1 miles (30.8 km) and usually takes 00h 29m 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?
Lake Forest is a useful midpoint, sitting about 9.8 miles from Laguna Beach and 9.3 miles from Santa Ana.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 14.9 miles (23.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 4.2 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 7:32 PM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $3.87 one way or $7.73 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 6 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Laguna Beach and Mostly Cloudy near Santa Ana.
Stop Ideas Near Lake Forest
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Miraval Life in Balance Spa at Monarch Beach Resort
Newport Beach Municipal Operations
City of Lake Forest
City of Tustin Parks & Recreation
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Lake Forest.
Irvine Transportation Center
San Juan Capistrano
Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center
Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Laguna Beach and Santa Ana. Straight-line distance: 14.87 mi (23.93 km).
#1 Laguna Beach
City in California
| Population | 22,687 |
| Coordinates | 33.5422500, -117.7831100 |
| Altitude | 6 |
| 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: 31 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 00h 38m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 00h 28m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 22m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 19m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 16m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 14m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $3.87 | $7.73 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $4.06 | $8.13 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $4.18 | $8.37 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $5.07 | $10.14 |
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 26, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.