How far is Santa Ana, CA from Costa Mesa, CA?
The driving distance from Santa Ana, CA to Costa Mesa, CA is about 8.9 miles (14.3 km), with a travel time of about 00h 13m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 7.8 miles (12.5 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 27m 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 13m.
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 located in Orange County, California.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Slight Chance Rain Showers
Slight Chance Rain Showers
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Santa Ana and Costa Mesa.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Santa Ana and Costa Mesa.
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1
Start on West 1st Street
79 m · 11 sec · West 1st Street
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2
Continue on West 1st Street
109 m · 17 sec · West 1st Street
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3
Turn right onto South Main Street
3.1 mi · 6 min · South Main Street
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4
Turn left onto East MacArthur Boulevard
1548 ft · 32 sec · East MacArthur Boulevard
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5
Take the ramp slight right toward CA 55 South: Newport Beach
988 ft · 15 sec
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6
Merge slight left onto Costa Mesa Freeway
2066 ft · 27 sec · Costa Mesa Freeway
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7
Continue on Costa Mesa Freeway
4.3 mi · 5 min · Costa Mesa Freeway
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8
Continue on Newport Boulevard
573 ft · 10 sec · Newport Boulevard
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9
Turn right onto West 19th Street
680 ft · 16 sec · West 19th Street
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10
Turn left onto Harbor Boulevard
888 ft · 36 sec · Harbor Boulevard
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11
At the end of the road, turn straight onto Newport Boulevard
23 m · 10 sec · Newport Boulevard
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12
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Newport Boulevard
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Santa Ana and Costa Mesa.
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.
Costa Mesa Freeway
Continue on Costa Mesa Freeway
4.34 mi · 00h 05m
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.
Slight Chance Rain Showers leaving Santa Ana and Slight Chance Rain Showers near Costa Mesa.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Santa Ana to Costa Mesa?
The road trip is about 8.9 miles (14.3 km) and usually takes 00h 13m 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?
Irvine is a useful midpoint, sitting about 4.5 miles from Santa Ana and 4.4 miles from Costa Mesa.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 7.8 miles (12.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 1.1 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 8:02 PM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $1.79 one way or $3.58 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 2.8 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Rain Showers around Santa Ana and Slight Chance Rain Showers near Costa Mesa.
Stop Ideas Near Irvine
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Newport Beach Municipal Operations
City of Tustin Parks & Recreation
bamboo house
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Irvine.
Irvine Transportation Center
Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center
Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center
Fullerton Transportation Center
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Santa Ana and Costa Mesa. Straight-line distance: 7.79 mi (12.53 km).
#1 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 |
#2 Costa Mesa
The most populous city in Orange County, California.
| Population | 112,366 |
| Coordinates | 33.6411300, -117.9186700 |
| Altitude | 30 |
| Country | United States |
End: Costa Mesa (-117.91867, 33.64113)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 14 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 00h 17m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 00h 13m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 10m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 08m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 07m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 06m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $1.79 | $3.58 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $1.88 | $3.76 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $1.94 | $3.87 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $2.35 | $4.69 |
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 04, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.