How far is Santa Ana, CA from Salton City, CA?
The driving distance from Santa Ana, CA to Salton City, CA is about 150.2 miles (241.7 km), with a travel time of about 02h 56m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 114.3 miles (184 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 52m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.
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 02h 56m.
A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.
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.
Census-designated place in Riverside 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 Salton City.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Santa Ana and Salton City.
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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
33.9 mi · 39 min
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20
Turn left onto Sunrise Drive
137 m · 14 sec · Sunrise Drive
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21
Turn right onto Azure Avenue
1575 ft · 43 sec · Azure Avenue
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22
Continue on Harbor Drive
1577 ft · 49 sec · Harbor Drive
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23
At the end of the road, turn left onto Marina Drive
27 m · 5 sec · Marina Drive
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24
Turn right onto Harbor Drive
2223 ft · 1 min · Harbor Drive
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25
Turn left onto Marlin Drive
2824 ft · 1 min · Marlin Drive
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26
Turn left onto Shore Vista Avenue
92 m · 13 sec · Shore Vista Avenue
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27
Continue on Shore Gem Avenue
114 m · 16 sec · Shore Gem Avenue
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28
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Shore Gem Avenue
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Santa Ana and Salton City.
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
33.9 mi · 00h 39m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
A comfortable day-trip route
This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.
Mostly Sunny leaving Santa Ana and Sunny near Salton City.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Santa Ana to Salton City?
The road trip is about 150.2 miles (241.7 km) and usually takes 02h 56m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Cabazon is a useful midpoint, sitting about 75.1 miles from Santa Ana and 75.1 miles from Salton City.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 114.3 miles (184 km), while the road route adds roughly 35.9 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 12:38 PM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $30.58 one way or $61.15 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 47.1 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Santa Ana and Sunny near Salton City.
Stop Ideas Near Cabazon
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Khyra Beaucrest Ranch
Highland Springs Ranch & Inn
Hampton Inn & Suites Banning-Beaumont
Cherry Valley Lakes RV Resort
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Cabazon.
Cabazon, CA
Palm Springs
Palm Springs Downtown, CA
Palm Springs (Buses), California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Santa Ana and Salton City. Straight-line distance: 114.36 mi (184.05 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 Salton City
Census-designated place in Imperial County, California
| Population | 3,763 |
| Coordinates | 33.2986500, -115.9561100 |
| Altitude | -38 |
| Country | United States |
End: Salton City (-115.95611, 33.29865)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 242 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 05h 00m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 03h 45m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 03h 00m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 02h 30m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 02h 08m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 01h 52m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $30.58 | $61.15 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $32.15 | $64.30 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $33.09 | $66.18 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $40.11 | $80.21 |
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 19, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.