How far is Riverside, CA from Santa Ana, CA?
The driving distance from Riverside, CA to Santa Ana, CA is about 38 miles (61.1 km), with a travel time of about 00h 43m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 30.6 miles (49.3 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 26m 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 43m.
This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.
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.
The second most populous city in Riverside County, California.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Riverside and Santa Ana.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Riverside and Santa Ana.
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1
Start on the route
27 m · 8 sec
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2
Turn slight right onto Central Avenue
1 km · 1 min · Central Avenue
-
3
Take the ramp slight right toward CA 91 West: Beach Cities
1486 ft · 38 sec
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4
Merge slight left onto Riverside Freeway
10.7 mi · 12 min · Riverside Freeway
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5
Take the exit slight right toward Main Street
1526 ft · 20 sec
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6
Continue straight
16.7 mi · 19 min
-
7
Keep slight left to continue on Costa Mesa Freeway
6.9 mi · 8 min · Costa Mesa Freeway
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8
Take the exit slight right toward Fourth Street, Irvine Boulevard
1565 ft · 36 sec
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9
Turn right onto East 4th Street
1 km · 1 min · East 4th Street
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10
Turn left onto Mabury Street
912 ft · 22 sec · Mabury Street
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11
Turn right onto East 1st Street
1.4 mi · 3 min · East 1st Street
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12
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · West 1st Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Riverside 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.
Main Street
Continue straight
16.7 mi · 00h 19m
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.
Sunny leaving Riverside 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 Riverside to Santa Ana?
The road trip is about 38 miles (61.1 km) and usually takes 00h 43m 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?
Corona is a useful midpoint, sitting about 19 miles from Riverside and 19 miles from Santa Ana.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 30.6 miles (49.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 7.4 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 7:04 PM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $7.73 one way or $15.46 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 11.9 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Riverside and Sunny near Santa Ana.
Stop Ideas Near Corona
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Courtyard by Marriott Anaheim Theme Park Entrance
City of Lake Forest
Chino City Hall
Anaheim Downtown Community Center
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Corona.
Riverside–Downtown
Ontario
Moreno Valley, California
Pomona station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Riverside and Santa Ana. Straight-line distance: 30.64 mi (49.31 km).
#1 Riverside
The most populous city in Riverside County, California and the center of the Riverside metropolitan area.
| Population | 330,786 |
| Coordinates | 33.9533500, -117.3961600 |
| Altitude | 252 |
| 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: 61 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 01h 15m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 00h 56m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 45m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 37m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 32m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 28m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $7.73 | $15.46 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $8.13 | $16.26 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $8.37 | $16.73 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $10.14 | $20.28 |
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 02, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.