How far is Lucerne, CA from Santa Ana, CA?
The driving distance from Lucerne, CA to Santa Ana, CA is about 232 miles (373.4 km), with a travel time of about 04h 14m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 208.5 miles (335.5 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 28m 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 04h 14m.
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.
City in California, United States of America
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 Lucerne and Santa Ana.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lucerne and Santa Ana.
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1
Start on Elder Avenue
2801 ft · 2 min · Elder Avenue
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2
Turn right onto North 11th Avenue
1 mi · 3 min · North 11th Avenue
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3
Turn left onto Flint Avenue
1 mi · 2 min · Flint Avenue
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4
Turn right onto Central Valley Highway
3.9 mi · 6 min · Central Valley Highway
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5
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Central Valley Highway
41 m · 3 sec · Central Valley Highway
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6
Exit the roundabout onto Central Valley Highway
1657 ft · 30 sec · Central Valley Highway
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7
Take the ramp slight right
1188 ft · 29 sec
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8
Merge slight left onto George Alan Ingalls Memorial Highway
1 mi · 1 min · George Alan Ingalls Memorial Highway
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9
Continue on Lacey Boulevard
6 mi · 7 min · Lacey Boulevard
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10
Continue on Avenue 296
3.4 mi · 4 min · Avenue 296
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11
Take the exit slight right toward CA 99: Los Angeles, Sacramento
904 ft · 22 sec
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12
Keep slight right to continue on CA 99 South: Los Angeles
2612 ft · 1 min
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13
Merge slight left onto Golden State Highway
5.1 mi · 5 min · Golden State Highway
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14
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Highway
58.6 mi · 1 hr 3 min · Golden State Highway
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15
Continue on Golden State Freeway
5.2 mi · 6 min · Golden State Freeway
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16
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
27.4 mi · 30 min · Golden State Freeway
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17
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
58.2 mi · 1 hr 7 min · Golden State Freeway
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18
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
4.1 mi · 5 min · Golden State Freeway
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19
Keep slight right to continue on I 405 South
1354 ft · 18 sec
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20
Keep slight left
24.7 mi · 29 min
-
21
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
1.3 mi · 2 min · Golden State Freeway
-
22
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
25.7 mi · 30 min · Santa Ana Freeway
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23
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1241 ft · 16 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
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24
Take the exit slight right toward Broadway, Main Street, Santa Ana
1.3 km · 57 sec
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25
Keep slight right to continue on Main Street North, Broadway
1656 ft · 22 sec
-
26
Turn straight onto North Broadway
1.3 mi · 3 min · North Broadway
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27
Turn left onto West 5th Street
639 ft · 17 sec · West 5th Street
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28
Turn right onto North Main Street
1209 ft · 31 sec · North Main Street
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29
Turn right onto West 1st Street
16 m · 1 sec · West 1st Street
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30
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · West 1st Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Lucerne and Santa Ana.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
Golden State Highway
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Highway
58.6 mi · 01h 03m
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.
Mostly Sunny leaving Lucerne 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 Lucerne to Santa Ana?
The road trip is about 232 miles (373.4 km) and usually takes 04h 14m 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?
Lebec is a useful midpoint, sitting about 115.9 miles from Lucerne and 116.1 miles from Santa Ana.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 208.5 miles (335.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 23.5 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 8:32 AM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $47.25 one way or $94.50 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 72.8 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Lucerne and Mostly Sunny near Santa Ana.
Stop Ideas Near Lebec
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 Lebec.
Fillmore, California
Tehachapi, California
Santa Paula, California
Santa Clarita-Newhall, California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Lucerne and Santa Ana. Straight-line distance: 208.49 mi (335.53 km).
#1 Lucerne
Census-designated place in Lake County, California
| Population | 3,443 |
| Coordinates | 36.3807800, -119.6643000 |
| Altitude | 79 |
| 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: 373 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 07h 43m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 05h 48m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 04h 38m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 03h 51m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 03h 18m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 02h 53m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $47.25 | $94.50 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $49.68 | $99.36 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $51.13 | $102.26 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $61.97 | $123.95 |
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 23, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.