How far is Santa Ana, CA from Imperial, CA?
The driving distance from Santa Ana, CA to Imperial, CA is about 194.6 miles (313.1 km), with a travel time of about 03h 48m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 146.5 miles (235.8 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 36m 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 03h 48m.
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.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Partly Sunny
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Santa Ana and Imperial.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Santa Ana and Imperial.
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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
1.6 km · 2 min · West 1st Street
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3
Turn left onto Grand Avenue
977 ft · 23 sec · Grand Avenue
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4
Turn right onto East 4th Street
1.1 mi · 2 min · East 4th Street
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5
Continue on Irvine Boulevard
124 m · 13 sec · Irvine Boulevard
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6
Turn left onto CA 55 North
1420 ft · 23 sec
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7
Merge slight left onto Costa Mesa Freeway
1.4 mi · 2 min · Costa Mesa Freeway
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8
Keep slight left to continue on Costa Mesa Freeway
5.3 mi · 6 min · Costa Mesa Freeway
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9
Merge slight left onto Riverside Freeway
30.9 mi · 36 min · Riverside Freeway
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10
Take the exit slight right toward I 215 South, CA 60 East: San Diego, Indio
1 km · 1 min
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11
Merge slight left onto Pomona Freeway
1689 ft · 22 sec · Pomona Freeway
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12
Continue on Escondido Freeway
3.9 mi · 5 min · Escondido Freeway
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13
Keep slight left to continue on Escondido Freeway
2346 ft · 31 sec · Escondido Freeway
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14
Keep slight left to continue on Moreno Valley Freeway
15.6 mi · 19 min · Moreno Valley Freeway
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15
Continue on Moreno Valley Expressway
2 mi · 2 min · Moreno Valley Expressway
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16
Continue on Moreno Valley Freeway
1 km · 42 sec · Moreno Valley Freeway
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17
Merge slight left onto Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
18.2 mi · 19 min · Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
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18
Keep slight left to continue on Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway
32.5 mi · 35 min · Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway
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19
Keep slight right to continue on CA 86 South: CA 86 South, Brawley, El Centro
70 mi · 1 hr 22 min
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20
Turn right onto South 1st Street
1999 ft · 28 sec · South 1st Street
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21
Continue on South Brawley Avenue
1.5 km · 1 min · South Brawley Avenue
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22
Turn left
99 m · 18 sec
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23
Turn right
609 ft · 46 sec
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24
At the end of the road, turn right
144 m · 24 sec
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25
Turn left
8.4 mi · 10 min
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26
Turn right onto East Barioni Boulevard
31 m · 3 sec · East Barioni Boulevard
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27
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · East Barioni Boulevard
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Santa Ana and Imperial.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
CA 86 South
Keep slight right to continue on CA 86 South: CA 86 South, Brawley, El Centro
70 mi · 01h 22m
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.
Partly Sunny leaving Santa Ana and Sunny near Imperial.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Santa Ana to Imperial?
The road trip is about 194.6 miles (313.1 km) and usually takes 03h 48m 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?
Thousand Palms is a useful midpoint, sitting about 97.2 miles from Santa Ana and 97.3 miles from Imperial.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 146.5 miles (235.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 48.1 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 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 9:24 AM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $39.58 one way or $79.15 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 61 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Santa Ana and Sunny near Imperial.
Stop Ideas Near Thousand Palms
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Turtle Back Mesa Bed & Breakfast
Cimarron Golf Resort
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Golf Resort Palm Springs
Outdoor Resort Palm Springs
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Thousand Palms.
Palm Desert, CA
Palm Springs (Buses), California
Palm Springs Downtown, CA
La Quinta, CA
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Santa Ana and Imperial. Straight-line distance: 146.51 mi (235.79 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 Imperial
City in Imperial County, California, United States
| Population | 19,663 |
| Coordinates | 32.8475500, -115.5694400 |
| Altitude | -18 |
| Country | United States |
End: Imperial (-115.56944, 32.84755)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 313 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 06h 28m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 04h 51m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 03h 53m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 03h 14m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 02h 46m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 02h 25m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $39.58 | $79.15 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $41.61 | $83.23 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $42.83 | $85.65 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $51.91 | $103.82 |
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 13, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.