How far is Santa Ana, CA from McKinleyville, CA?
The driving distance from Santa Ana, CA to McKinleyville, CA is about 715.7 miles (1151.8 km), with a travel time of about 13h 21m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 603.5 miles (971.3 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 26h 42m 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 13h 21m.
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 California
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Chance Light Rain
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Santa Ana and McKinleyville.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Santa Ana and McKinleyville.
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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
53.8 mi · 1 hr · Westside Freeway
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15
Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway
120.9 mi · 2 hr 10 min · Westside Freeway
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16
Continue on Cascade Wonderland Highway
31.6 mi · 34 min · Cascade Wonderland Highway
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17
Take the exit slight right toward CA 44: Eureka, Susanville
915 ft · 16 sec
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18
Keep slight left to continue on CA 44 West: Eureka, Whiskeytown National Recreation Area
1.5 km · 1 min
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19
Merge slight left
1.2 mi · 2 min
-
20
Turn right onto Pine Street
149 m · 18 sec · Pine Street
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21
Turn left onto Eureka Way
25 mi · 30 min · Eureka Way
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22
Continue straight
109.8 mi · 2 hr 9 min
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23
Take the exit slight right
3133 ft · 1 min
-
24
Keep slight left to continue on North Bank Road
1.8 mi · 3 min · North Bank Road
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25
Turn right onto Central Avenue
2 mi · 4 min · Central Avenue
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26
Turn right
26 m · 9 sec
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27
Turn right
17 m · 9 sec
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28
Turn left
4 m · 1 sec
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29
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Santa Ana and McKinleyville.
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 Chance Light Rain near McKinleyville.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Santa Ana to McKinleyville?
The road trip is about 715.7 miles (1151.8 km) and usually takes 13h 21m 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?
Lathrop is a useful midpoint, sitting about 358 miles from Santa Ana and 357.7 miles from McKinleyville.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 603.5 miles (971.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 112.2 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 $145.67 one way or $291.33 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 224.4 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Santa Ana and Chance Light Rain near McKinleyville.
Stop Ideas Near Lathrop
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 Lathrop.
Manteca, CA
Stockton – San Joaquin Street
Tracy, California
Robert J. Cabral Station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Santa Ana and McKinleyville. Straight-line distance: 603.56 mi (971.34 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 McKinleyville
Census-designated place in Humboldt County, California
| Population | 15,177 |
| Coordinates | 40.9465200, -124.1006200 |
| Altitude | 44 |
| Country | United States |
End: McKinleyville (-124.10062, 40.94652)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 1152 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 23h 50m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 17h 53m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 14h 18m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 11h 55m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 10h 13m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 08h 55m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $145.67 | $291.33 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $153.17 | $306.33 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $157.64 | $315.27 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $191.07 | $382.13 |
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.