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

The driving distance from Selma, CA to Santa Ana, CA is about 235.3 miles (378.7 km), with a travel time of about 03h 55m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 218.7 miles (351.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 51m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 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
235.33 mi
03h 55m
Flight
218.65 mi
351.88 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Selma.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
218.65 mi
Kilometers
351.88 km
Flight Time
00h 26m

Driving Distance

Road route
235.33 mi
Kilometers
378.72 km
Drive Time
03h 55m

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 03h 55m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Santa Ana
Mon, May 4, 4:54 AM PDT
Return by in Selma
Mon, May 4, 8:50 AM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Selma
2026-05-04T00:58
Arrive Santa Ana
Mon, May 4, 4:54 AM PDT
Route Timing
03h 55m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:56 AM to 11:56 AM PDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
9:08 AM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Selma
9:00 PM PDT
Early departure recommended

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
Lebec
CA

City in California, United States of America

From Selma
117.6 mi
01h 57m
To Santa Ana
117.7 mi
01h 57m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
67°F
Monday

Chance Light Rain

Starts
Mon, May 4 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
5 mph NNW
Destination
69°F
Monday

Slight Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Mon, May 4 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Arrants Street

    120 m · 19 sec · Arrants Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto McCall Avenue

    1085 ft · 22 sec · McCall Avenue

  3. 3

    Continue on 2nd Street

    2199 ft · 53 sec · 2nd Street

  4. 4

    Turn left onto CA 99 South

    1823 ft · 44 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left

    25.5 mi · 27 min

  6. 6

    Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Highway

    58.6 mi · 1 hr 3 min · Golden State Highway

  7. 7

    Continue on Golden State Freeway

    5.2 mi · 6 min · Golden State Freeway

  8. 8

    Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway

    27.4 mi · 30 min · Golden State Freeway

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway

    58.2 mi · 1 hr 7 min · Golden State Freeway

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway

    4.1 mi · 5 min · Golden State Freeway

  11. 11

    Keep slight right to continue on I 405 South

    1354 ft · 18 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight left

    24.7 mi · 29 min

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Golden State Freeway

  14. 14

    Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway

    25.7 mi · 30 min · Santa Ana Freeway

  15. 15

    Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway

    1241 ft · 16 sec · Santa Ana Freeway

  16. 16

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

    1.3 km · 57 sec

  17. 17

    Keep slight right to continue on Main Street North, Broadway

    1656 ft · 22 sec

  18. 18

    Turn straight onto North Broadway

    1.3 mi · 3 min · North Broadway

  19. 19

    Turn left onto West 5th Street

    639 ft · 17 sec · West 5th Street

  20. 20

    Turn right onto North Main Street

    1209 ft · 31 sec · North Main Street

  21. 21

    Turn right onto West 1st Street

    16 m · 1 sec · West 1st Street

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West 1st Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
22 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
2 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Golden State Freeway
96.1 mi · 41%
Golden State Highway
58.6 mi · 25%
Santa Ana Freeway
26 mi · 11%
CA 99 South
25.9 mi · 11%
I 405 South
25 mi · 11%
North Broadway
1.27 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Golden State Highway

Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Highway

58.6 mi · 01h 03m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 55m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 52m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+16.6 mi
218.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Lebec
01h 57m from Selma
Leave By
9:08 AM PDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Light Rain leaving Selma and Slight Chance Rain Showers near Santa Ana.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 235.3 miles (378.7 km) and usually takes 03h 55m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Lebec is a useful midpoint, sitting about 117.6 miles from Selma and 117.7 miles from Santa Ana.

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

The direct path is about 218.7 miles (351.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 16.6 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 8:00 AM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 9:08 AM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $47.88 one way or $95.77 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 73.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Light Rain around Selma and Slight Chance Rain Showers near Santa Ana.

Stop Ideas Near Lebec

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Lebec, 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 Lebec.

BUS

Fillmore, California

50 mi away
718 West Ventura St.
BUS

Tehachapi, California

50 mi away
Westside of Mullbery Street
BUS

Santa Paula, California

58 mi away
245 South Palm Avenue
RAIL

Santa Clarita-Newhall, California

60 mi away
24300 Railroad Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Selma and Santa Ana. Straight-line distance: 218.65 mi (351.88 km).

Selma

#1 Selma

City in and county seat of Dallas County, Alabama, United States

Population24,370
Coordinates36.5707800, -119.6120800
Altitude94
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: Arrants Street (-119.612078, 36.570697)
End: West 1st Street (-117.86783, 33.745553)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 379 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 50m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 53m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 42m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 55m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 21m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 56m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.3 gal
31.43 L · about $47.88
Round trip
$95.77
16.6 gal · 62.86 L
Estimated CO2
73.8 kg one way
Round trip: 147.5 kg / 325 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $47.88 $95.77
Mid-grade $6.07 $50.35 $100.70
Premium $6.24 $51.82 $103.63
Diesel $7.57 $62.81 $125.61

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 04, 2026

There is no time difference between Selma and Santa Ana. The current time is 00:58:20.

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.