How far is Santa Ana, CA from Thermalito, CA?
The driving distance from Santa Ana, CA to Thermalito, CA is about 484 miles (778.9 km), with a travel time of about 09h 01m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 448.4 miles (721.7 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 18h 03m 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 09h 01m.
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
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 Thermalito.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Santa Ana and Thermalito.
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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 right to continue on Golden State Highway
7.5 mi · 9 min · Golden State Highway
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16
Continue on Bernie Richter Memorial Highway
5 mi · 6 min · Bernie Richter Memorial Highway
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17
Keep slight right to continue on CA 70 North: Marysville, Oroville
21.7 mi · 26 min
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18
Turn right onto 5th Street
1272 ft · 39 sec · 5th Street
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19
Turn left onto B Street
1.5 mi · 3 min · B Street
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20
Continue straight
25.4 mi · 30 min
-
21
Take the exit slight right toward Nelson Road
1070 ft · 21 sec
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22
Turn left onto Grand Avenue
1.5 km · 2 min · Grand Avenue
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23
Turn left onto 10th Street
934 ft · 41 sec · 10th Street
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24
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · 10th Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Santa Ana and Thermalito.
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.
Partly Sunny leaving Santa Ana and Sunny near Thermalito.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Santa Ana to Thermalito?
The road trip is about 484 miles (778.9 km) and usually takes 09h 01m 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?
San Joaquin is a useful midpoint, sitting about 242.1 miles from Santa Ana and 241.8 miles from Thermalito.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 448.4 miles (721.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 35.6 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 $98.53 one way or $197.07 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 151.8 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Santa Ana and Sunny near Thermalito.
Stop Ideas Near San Joaquin
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 San Joaquin.
Lemoore (Naval Air Station), California
Fresno station
Madera
Lemoore, California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Santa Ana and Thermalito. Straight-line distance: 448.47 mi (721.74 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 Thermalito
Census-designated place in Butte County, California
| Population | 6,646 |
| Coordinates | 39.5112800, -121.5869200 |
| Altitude | 68 |
| Country | United States |
End: Thermalito (-121.58692, 39.51128)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 779 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 16h 07m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 12h 06m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 09h 40m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 08h 04m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 06h 54m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 06h 02m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $98.53 | $197.07 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $103.61 | $207.21 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $106.63 | $213.26 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $129.24 | $258.49 |
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.