How far is Santa Ana, CA from Ceres, CA?

The driving distance from Santa Ana, CA to Ceres, CA is about 339.7 miles (546.7 km), with a travel time of about 06h 23m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 317.5 miles (510.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 47m 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
339.71 mi
06h 23m
Flight
317.47 mi
510.92 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Santa Ana.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
317.47 mi
Kilometers
510.92 km
Flight Time
00h 38m

Driving Distance

Road route
339.71 mi
Kilometers
546.71 km
Drive Time
06h 23m

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 06h 23m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Ceres
Tue, May 5, 2:37 AM PDT
Return by in Santa Ana
Tue, May 5, 9:01 AM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Santa Ana
2026-05-04T20:13
Arrive Ceres
Tue, May 5, 2:37 AM PDT
Route Timing
06h 23m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM PDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
12:24 PM to 1:54 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
11:12 PM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Santa Ana
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
McFarland
CA

City in Kern County, California, United States

From Santa Ana
169.9 mi
03h 11m
To Ceres
169.8 mi
03h 11m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
69°F
Monday

Slight Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Mon, May 4 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph W
Destination
68°F
Monday

Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Light Rain

Starts
Mon, May 4 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
2 to 7 mph N

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Santa Ana and Ceres.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Santa Ana and Ceres.

  1. 1

    Start on West 1st Street

    576 ft · 16 sec · West 1st Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto North Broadway

    1.5 mi · 3 min · North Broadway

  3. 3

    Turn right onto West Santa Clara Avenue

    615 ft · 14 sec · West Santa Clara Avenue

  4. 4

    Continue on I 5 North: Los Angeles

    1787 ft · 27 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway

    8.9 mi · 10 min · Santa Ana Freeway

  6. 6

    Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway

    18 mi · 21 min · Santa Ana Freeway

  7. 7

    Keep slight right to continue on Golden State Freeway

    25.5 mi · 30 min · Golden State Freeway

  8. 8

    Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway

    2.2 mi · 3 min · Golden State Freeway

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck

    1.5 mi · 2 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight left

    36.1 mi · 42 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway

    22.3 mi · 25 min · Golden State Freeway

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway

    27.4 mi · 30 min · Golden State Freeway

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway

    6 mi · 7 min · Golden State Freeway

  14. 14

    Continue on Golden State Highway

    111.4 mi · 2 hr · Golden State Highway

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward Avenue 7

    2522 ft · 31 sec

  16. 16

    Merge slight left

    21.4 mi · 24 min

  17. 17

    Keep slight right to continue on Northbound California State Route 99

    56.3 mi · 1 hr 6 min · Northbound California State Route 99

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward Whitmore Avenue

    1035 ft · 29 sec

  19. 19

    Turn right onto East Whitmore Avenue

    42 m · 3 sec · East Whitmore Avenue

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Whitmore Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Santa Ana and Ceres.

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
20 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
5.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Golden State Highway
111 mi · 33%
Golden State Freeway
83.3 mi · 25%
Northbound California State Route 99
56.3 mi · 17%
I 5 Truck North
37.7 mi · 11%
Santa Ana Freeway
26.9 mi · 8%
Avenue 7
21.9 mi · 6%
Longest Stretch

Golden State Highway

Continue on Golden State Highway

111 mi · 02h 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
06h 23m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
12h 48m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+22.2 mi
317.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
McFarland
03h 11m from Santa Ana
Leave By
11:12 PM PDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Rain Showers leaving Santa Ana and Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Light Rain near Ceres.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Santa Ana to Ceres?

The road trip is about 339.7 miles (546.7 km) and usually takes 06h 23m 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?

McFarland is a useful midpoint, sitting about 169.9 miles from Santa Ana and 169.8 miles from Ceres.

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

The direct path is about 317.5 miles (510.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 22.2 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 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 $69.17 one way or $138.34 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 106.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Rain Showers around Santa Ana and Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Light Rain near Ceres.

Stop Ideas Near McFarland

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around McFarland, 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 McFarland.

RAIL

Wasco station

13 mi away
700 G Street
RAIL

Bakersfield

39 mi away
601 Truxtun Ave
RAIL

Corcoran station

55 mi away
1099 Otis Ave.
BUS

Visalia, California

72 mi away
425 E. Oak Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Santa Ana and Ceres. Straight-line distance: 317.47 mi (510.92 km).

Santa Ana

#1 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
Ceres

#2 Ceres

A city in Stanislaus County, California.

Population48,603
Coordinates37.5949300, -120.9577100
Altitude28
CountryUnited States
Start: Santa Ana (-117.86783, 33.74557)
End: Ceres (-120.95771, 37.59493)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 547 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)11h 19m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 29m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 47m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 39m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 51m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 14m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
11.99 gal
45.38 L · about $69.17
Round trip
$138.34
23.98 gal · 90.76 L
Estimated CO2
106.6 kg one way
Round trip: 213.1 kg / 470 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $69.17 $138.34
Mid-grade $6.07 $72.73 $145.46
Premium $6.24 $74.85 $149.71
Diesel $7.57 $90.73 $181.46

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 05, 2026

There is no time difference between Santa Ana and Ceres. The current time is 20:13:19.

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.