How far is Santa Clara, CA from Santa Ana, CA?

The driving distance from Santa Clara, CA to Santa Ana, CA is about 377.2 miles (607.1 km), with a travel time of about 06h 08m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 339 miles (545.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 17m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM PDT.
Trip Tools

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.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
377.23 mi
06h 08m
Flight
338.98 mi
545.54 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Santa Clara.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
338.98 mi
Kilometers
545.54 km
Flight Time
00h 40m

Driving Distance

Road route
377.23 mi
Kilometers
607.09 km
Drive Time
06h 08m

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 06h 08m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Santa Ana
Fri, May 22, 6:48 PM PDT
Return by in Santa Clara
Sat, May 23, 12:57 AM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Santa Clara
2026-05-22T12:40
Arrive Santa Ana
Fri, May 22, 6:48 PM PDT
Route Timing
06h 08m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM PDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
12:09 PM to 1:39 PM PDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
11:42 PM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Santa Clara
8:00 PM PDT
Overnight-style route

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.

Mid-route stop
Lost Hills
CA

Census-designated place in Kern County, California

From Santa Clara
188.4 mi
03h 04m
To Santa Ana
188.8 mi
03h 04m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
84°F
Friday

Sunny

Starts
Fri, May 22 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
3 to 9 mph WSW
Destination
74°F
Friday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Fri, May 22 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Santa Clara and Santa Ana.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Santa Clara and Santa Ana.

  1. 1

    Start on Lincoln Street

    638 ft · 20 sec · Lincoln Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto El Camino Real

    2617 ft · 1 min · El Camino Real

  3. 3

    Turn slight right

    46 m · 7 sec

  4. 4

    Turn slight right onto Lafayette Street

    3205 ft · 1 min · Lafayette Street

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Market Street

    925 ft · 29 sec · Market Street

  6. 6

    Continue on The Alameda

    1708 ft · 39 sec · The Alameda

  7. 7

    Continue on The Alameda

    2579 ft · 1 min · The Alameda

  8. 8

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 880 North: Oakland

    820 ft · 22 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left

    1.8 mi · 2 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit right toward US 101 South: Los Angeles

    1515 ft · 39 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto Bayshore Freeway

    32.1 mi · 37 min · Bayshore Freeway

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward CA 152 East: 10th Street, Pacheco Pass Road

    1539 ft · 40 sec

  13. 13

    Turn left onto East 10th Street

    108 m · 13 sec · East 10th Street

  14. 14

    Continue on Pacheco Pass Highway

    40.6 mi · 50 min · Pacheco Pass Highway

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward I 5: Los Angeles

    3148 ft · 1 min

  16. 16

    Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway

    181.1 mi · 3 hr 14 min · Westside Freeway

  17. 17

    Keep slight right

    58.4 mi · 1 hr 7 min

  18. 18

    Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway

    4.1 mi · 5 min · Golden State Freeway

  19. 19

    Keep slight right to continue on I 405 South

    1354 ft · 18 sec

  20. 20

    Keep slight left

    24.7 mi · 29 min

  21. 21

    Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Golden State Freeway

  22. 22

    Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway

    25.7 mi · 30 min · Santa Ana Freeway

  23. 23

    Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway

    1241 ft · 16 sec · Santa Ana Freeway

  24. 24

    Take the exit slight right toward Broadway, Main Street, Santa Ana

    1.3 km · 57 sec

  25. 25

    Keep slight right to continue on Main Street North, Broadway

    1656 ft · 22 sec

  26. 26

    Turn straight onto North Broadway

    1.3 mi · 3 min · North Broadway

  27. 27

    Turn left onto West 5th Street

    639 ft · 17 sec · West 5th Street

  28. 28

    Turn right onto North Main Street

    1209 ft · 31 sec · North Main Street

  29. 29

    Turn right onto West 1st Street

    16 m · 1 sec · West 1st Street

  30. 30

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West 1st Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Santa Clara and Santa Ana.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
30 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
4 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Westside Freeway
239 mi · 63%
Pacheco Pass Highway
40.6 mi · 11%
Bayshore Freeway
32.1 mi · 9%
Santa Ana Freeway
26 mi · 7%
I 405 South
25 mi · 7%
Golden State Freeway
5.33 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Westside Freeway

Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway

181 mi · 03h 14m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
06h 08m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
12h 18m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+38.2 mi
339 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Lost Hills
03h 04m from Santa Clara
Leave By
11:42 PM PDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Santa Clara and Mostly Sunny near Santa Ana.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Santa Clara to Santa Ana?

The road trip is about 377.2 miles (607.1 km) and usually takes 06h 08m 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?

Lost Hills is a useful midpoint, sitting about 188.4 miles from Santa Clara and 188.8 miles from Santa Ana.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 339 miles (545.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 38.2 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 $76.79 one way or $153.57 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 118.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Santa Clara and Mostly Sunny near Santa Ana.

Stop Ideas Near Lost Hills

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Lost Hills, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Lost Hills.

RAIL

Wasco station

33 mi away
700 G Street
BUS

Kettleman City, California

47 mi away
3300 Hubert Way
RAIL

Corcoran station

55 mi away
1099 Otis Ave.
RAIL

Bakersfield

67 mi away
601 Truxtun Ave

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Santa Clara and Santa Ana. Straight-line distance: 338.98 mi (545.54 km).

Santa Clara

#1 Santa Clara

The third most populous city in Santa Clara County, California.

Population131,055
Coordinates37.3541100, -121.9552400
Altitude23
CountryUnited States
Santa Ana

#2 Santa Ana

The most populous city in Orange County, California and the center of the Santa Ana metropolitan area.

Population331,301
Coordinates33.7455700, -117.8678300
Altitude35
CountryUnited States
Start: Lincoln Street (-121.955481, 37.354053)
End: West 1st Street (-117.86783, 33.745553)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 607 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)12h 34m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)09h 25m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)07h 32m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)06h 17m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)05h 23m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 42m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
13.31 gal
50.39 L · about $76.79
Round trip
$153.57
26.62 gal · 100.78 L
Estimated CO2
118.3 kg one way
Round trip: 236.6 kg / 522 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $76.79 $153.57
Mid-grade $6.07 $80.74 $161.48
Premium $6.24 $83.09 $166.19
Diesel $7.57 $100.72 $201.43

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 22, 2026

There is no time difference between Santa Clara and Santa Ana. The current time is 12:40:12.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.