How far is Santa Ana, CA from Grass Valley, CA?
The driving distance from Santa Ana, CA to Grass Valley, CA is about 473 miles (761.2 km), with a travel time of about 08h 50m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 417.6 miles (672.1 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 17h 41m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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 08h 50m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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 Fresno County, California, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Santa Ana and Grass Valley.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Santa Ana and Grass Valley.
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1
Start on West 1st Street
576 ft · 16 sec · West 1st Street
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2
Turn right onto North Broadway
1.5 mi · 3 min · North Broadway
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3
Turn right onto West Santa Clara Avenue
615 ft · 14 sec · West Santa Clara Avenue
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4
Continue on I 5 North: Los Angeles
1787 ft · 27 sec
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5
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
8.9 mi · 10 min · Santa Ana Freeway
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6
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
18 mi · 21 min · Santa Ana Freeway
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7
Keep slight right to continue on Golden State Freeway
25.5 mi · 30 min · Golden State Freeway
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8
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
2.2 mi · 3 min · Golden State Freeway
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9
Keep slight right to continue on I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
1.5 mi · 2 min
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10
Keep slight left
36.1 mi · 42 min
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11
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
22.3 mi · 25 min · Golden State Freeway
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12
Keep slight right to continue on Westside Freeway
225.6 mi · 4 hr 2 min · Westside Freeway
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13
Keep slight right to continue on Westside Freeway
25.5 mi · 28 min · Westside Freeway
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14
Keep left to continue on Westside Freeway
46 mi · 51 min · Westside Freeway
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15
Take the exit slight right toward US 50, I 80 East: San Francisco, South Lake Tahoe
975 ft · 13 sec
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16
Keep slight right to continue on US 50 East, I 80 Business East: South Lake Tahoe, Broadway
809 ft · 13 sec
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17
Keep slight left to continue on US 50 East, I 80 East: South Lake Tahoe
1.1 km · 1 min
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18
Merge slight left onto Capital City Freeway
1.2 mi · 1 min · Capital City Freeway
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19
Keep slight right to continue on Capital City Freeway
9.4 mi · 10 min · Capital City Freeway
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20
Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
7 mi · 8 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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21
Continue on Alan S. Hart Freeway
16.9 mi · 19 min · Alan S. Hart Freeway
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22
Take the exit slight right toward CA 49 North: Grass Valley, Placerville
943 ft · 31 sec
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23
Turn left onto Grass Valley Highway
5.8 mi · 9 min · Grass Valley Highway
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24
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Grass Valley Highway
36 m · 3 sec · Grass Valley Highway
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25
Exit the roundabout onto Grass Valley Highway
1.3 mi · 2 min · Grass Valley Highway
-
26
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Grass Valley Highway
36 m · 3 sec · Grass Valley Highway
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27
Exit the roundabout onto Grass Valley Highway
1.1 mi · 1 min · Grass Valley Highway
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28
Continue on State Highway 49
14.8 mi · 20 min · State Highway 49
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29
Take the exit slight right toward CA 174
993 ft · 14 sec
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30
Keep slight left to continue on CA 174
51 m · 5 sec
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31
Turn left onto South Auburn Street
1297 ft · 33 sec · South Auburn Street
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32
Turn right onto East Main Street
104 m · 10 sec · East Main Street
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33
Turn right onto Stewart Street
36 m · 5 sec · Stewart Street
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34
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Stewart Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Santa Ana and Grass Valley.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Westside Freeway
Keep slight right to continue on Westside Freeway
226 mi · 04h 02m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Mostly Sunny leaving Santa Ana and Sunny near Grass Valley.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Santa Ana to Grass Valley?
The road trip is about 473 miles (761.2 km) and usually takes 08h 50m 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?
Coalinga is a useful midpoint, sitting about 236.7 miles from Santa Ana and 236.4 miles from Grass Valley.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 417.6 miles (672.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 55.4 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 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 $96.28 one way or $192.57 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 148.3 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Santa Ana and Sunny near Grass Valley.
Stop Ideas Near Coalinga
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 Coalinga.
Kettleman City, California
Lemoore (Naval Air Station), California
Lemoore, California
Paso Robles station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Santa Ana and Grass Valley. Straight-line distance: 417.64 mi (672.13 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 Grass Valley
City in Nevada County, California, United States
| Population | 12,763 |
| Coordinates | 39.2190600, -121.0610600 |
| Altitude | 735 |
| Country | United States |
End: Grass Valley (-121.06106, 39.21906)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 761 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 15h 45m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 11h 49m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 09h 27m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 07h 53m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 06h 45m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 05h 54m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $96.28 | $192.57 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $101.24 | $202.48 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $104.20 | $208.39 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $126.29 | $252.59 |
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.