How far is Santa Ana, CA from Windsor, CA?
The driving distance from Santa Ana, CA to Windsor, CA is about 469.5 miles (755.6 km), with a travel time of about 08h 47m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 431.5 miles (694.4 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 17h 34m 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 08h 47m.
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.
Small city in Fresno County, California
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny
Partly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Santa Ana and Windsor.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Santa Ana and Windsor.
-
1
Start on West 1st Street
576 ft · 16 sec · West 1st Street
-
2
Turn right onto North Broadway
1.5 mi · 3 min · North Broadway
-
3
Turn right onto West Santa Clara Avenue
615 ft · 14 sec · West Santa Clara Avenue
-
4
Continue on I 5 North: Los Angeles
1787 ft · 27 sec
-
5
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
8.9 mi · 10 min · Santa Ana Freeway
-
6
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
18 mi · 21 min · Santa Ana Freeway
-
7
Keep slight right to continue on Golden State Freeway
25.5 mi · 30 min · Golden State Freeway
-
8
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
2.2 mi · 3 min · Golden State Freeway
-
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
-
12
Keep slight right to continue on Westside Freeway
225.6 mi · 4 hr 2 min · Westside Freeway
-
13
Keep slight left to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
15.9 mi · 17 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
-
14
Keep slight right to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
1.1 mi · 1 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
-
15
Merge slight left onto Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
18 mi · 21 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
-
16
Keep slight right to continue on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
11.6 mi · 13 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
-
17
Keep slight right to continue on MacArthur Freeway
8.3 mi · 10 min · MacArthur Freeway
-
18
Keep slight left to continue on MacArthur Freeway
8.3 mi · 10 min · MacArthur Freeway
-
19
Continue on Eastshore Freeway
3.3 mi · 4 min · Eastshore Freeway
-
20
Keep slight right to continue on John T. Knox Freeway
12.9 mi · 17 min · John T. Knox Freeway
-
21
Keep slight left to continue on US 101 North: San Rafeal
1.1 km · 54 sec
-
22
Merge slight left onto Redwood Highway
46.4 mi · 54 min · Redwood Highway
-
23
Take the exit slight right toward Old Redwood Highway, Central Windsor
1121 ft · 29 sec
-
24
Turn left onto Old Redwood Highway
1292 ft · 35 sec · Old Redwood Highway
-
25
Continue on Windsor River Road
1647 ft · 33 sec · Windsor River Road
-
26
Enter the roundabout and take exit 4 toward Windsor River Road
89 m · 6 sec · Windsor River Road
-
27
Exit the roundabout onto Windsor River Road
27 m · 2 sec · Windsor River Road
-
28
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Windsor River Road
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Santa Ana and Windsor.
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.
Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny leaving Santa Ana and Partly Sunny near Windsor.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Santa Ana to Windsor?
The road trip is about 469.5 miles (755.6 km) and usually takes 08h 47m 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?
Huron is a useful midpoint, sitting about 234.8 miles from Santa Ana and 234.7 miles from Windsor.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 431.5 miles (694.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 38 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 $95.59 one way or $191.18 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 147.3 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny around Santa Ana and Partly Sunny near Windsor.
Stop Ideas Near Huron
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 Huron.
Lemoore (Naval Air Station), California
Kettleman City, California
Lemoore, California
Hanford station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Santa Ana and Windsor. Straight-line distance: 431.46 mi (694.37 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 Windsor
City in California
| Population | 27,322 |
| Coordinates | 38.5471300, -122.8163800 |
| Altitude | 36 |
| Country | United States |
End: Windsor (-122.81638, 38.54713)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 756 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 15h 38m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 11h 44m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 09h 23m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 07h 49m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 06h 42m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 05h 51m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $95.59 | $191.18 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $100.51 | $201.03 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $103.45 | $206.89 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $125.39 | $250.77 |
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 · May 05, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.