How far is Santa Ana, CA from Rio Linda, CA?
The driving distance from Santa Ana, CA to Rio Linda, CA is about 426.5 miles (686.4 km), with a travel time of about 07h 56m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 395.6 miles (636.7 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 15h 52m 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 07h 56m.
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 Kings County, California, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Santa Ana and Rio Linda.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Santa Ana and Rio Linda.
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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
-
10
Keep slight left
36.1 mi · 42 min
-
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
50.4 mi · 56 min · Westside Freeway
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15
Take the exit slight right toward I 80 West, I 80 East: San Francisco, Reno
1034 ft · 25 sec
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16
Keep slight right to continue on I 80 East: Reno
1.3 km · 2 min
-
17
Merge slight left onto North Sacramento Beltline Freeway
2.7 mi · 3 min · North Sacramento Beltline Freeway
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18
Take the exit slight right toward Norwood Avenue
1097 ft · 27 sec
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19
Keep slight left
54 m · 12 sec
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20
Turn left onto Norwood Avenue
2537 ft · 53 sec · Norwood Avenue
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21
Turn right onto Bell Avenue
2611 ft · 1 min · Bell Avenue
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22
Turn left onto Rio Linda Boulevard
3.1 mi · 6 min · Rio Linda Boulevard
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23
Turn right
38 m · 7 sec
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24
Turn slight right onto M Street
2287 ft · 1 min · M Street
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25
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · M Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Santa Ana and Rio Linda.
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 Mostly Sunny near Rio Linda.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Santa Ana to Rio Linda?
The road trip is about 426.5 miles (686.4 km) and usually takes 07h 56m 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?
Avenal is a useful midpoint, sitting about 213.4 miles from Santa Ana and 213.1 miles from Rio Linda.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 395.6 miles (636.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 30.9 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 $86.82 one way or $173.65 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 133.7 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Santa Ana and Mostly Sunny near Rio Linda.
Stop Ideas Near Avenal
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 Avenal.
Kettleman City, California
Lemoore, California
Lemoore (Naval Air Station), California
Corcoran station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Santa Ana and Rio Linda. Straight-line distance: 395.63 mi (636.71 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 Rio Linda
Census-designated place in Sacramento County, California
| Population | 15,106 |
| Coordinates | 38.6910100, -121.4485700 |
| Altitude | 17 |
| Country | United States |
End: Rio Linda (-121.44857, 38.69101)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 686 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 14h 12m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 10h 39m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 08h 31m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 07h 06m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 06h 05m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 05h 19m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $86.82 | $173.65 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $91.29 | $182.59 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $93.96 | $187.91 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $113.88 | $227.77 |
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 18, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.