How far is Shasta Lake, CA from Santa Ana, CA?
The driving distance from Shasta Lake, CA to Santa Ana, CA is about 583.3 miles (938.7 km), with a travel time of about 09h 13m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 539.2 miles (867.8 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 18h 27m 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 13m.
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.
The county seat of Merced County, California.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Shasta Lake and Santa Ana.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Shasta Lake and Santa Ana.
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1
Start on the route
28 m · 12 sec
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2
Turn left
18 m · 10 sec
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3
Turn left onto Montana Avenue
70 m · 14 sec · Montana Avenue
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4
Turn right onto Shasta Dam Boulevard
1.1 mi · 2 min · Shasta Dam Boulevard
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5
Take the ramp straight
26 m · 2 sec
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6
Keep slight right
1311 ft · 32 sec
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7
Merge slight left onto Cascade Wonderland Highway
3.2 mi · 4 min · Cascade Wonderland Highway
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8
Keep slight left to continue on Cascade Wonderland Highway
35.5 mi · 39 min · Cascade Wonderland Highway
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9
Continue on Westside Freeway
93 mi · 1 hr 40 min · Westside Freeway
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10
Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway
15.7 mi · 17 min · Westside Freeway
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11
Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway
78.8 mi · 1 hr 28 min · Westside Freeway
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12
Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway
1.2 km · 49 sec · Westside Freeway
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13
Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway
236.6 mi · 4 hr 14 min · Westside Freeway
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14
Keep slight right
58.4 mi · 1 hr 7 min
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15
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
4.1 mi · 5 min · Golden State Freeway
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16
Keep slight right to continue on I 405 South
1354 ft · 18 sec
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17
Keep slight left
24.7 mi · 29 min
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18
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
1.3 mi · 2 min · Golden State Freeway
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19
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
25.7 mi · 30 min · Santa Ana Freeway
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20
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1241 ft · 16 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
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21
Take the exit slight right toward Broadway, Main Street, Santa Ana
1.3 km · 57 sec
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22
Keep slight right to continue on Main Street North, Broadway
1656 ft · 22 sec
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23
Turn straight onto North Broadway
1.3 mi · 3 min · North Broadway
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24
Turn left onto West 5th Street
639 ft · 17 sec · West 5th Street
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25
Turn right onto North Main Street
1209 ft · 31 sec · North Main Street
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26
Turn right onto West 1st Street
16 m · 1 sec · West 1st Street
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27
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · West 1st Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Shasta Lake and Santa Ana.
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 left to continue on Westside Freeway
237 mi · 04h 14m
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.
Sunny leaving Shasta Lake and Sunny near Santa Ana.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Shasta Lake to Santa Ana?
The road trip is about 583.3 miles (938.7 km) and usually takes 09h 13m 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?
Los Banos is a useful midpoint, sitting about 291.4 miles from Shasta Lake and 291.9 miles from Santa Ana.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 539.2 miles (867.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 44.1 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 $118.73 one way or $237.45 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 182.9 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Shasta Lake and Sunny near Santa Ana.
Stop Ideas Near Los Banos
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 Los Banos.
Merced station
Denair station
Gilroy, California
Modesto station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Shasta Lake and Santa Ana. Straight-line distance: 539.23 mi (867.8 km).
#1 Shasta Lake
City located in Shasta County, California
| Population | 10,379 |
| Coordinates | 40.6804300, -122.3708400 |
| Altitude | 246 |
| Country | United States |
#2 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 |
End: West 1st Street (-117.86783, 33.745553)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 939 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 19h 26m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 14h 34m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 11h 39m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 09h 43m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 08h 19m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 07h 16m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $118.73 | $237.45 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $124.84 | $249.68 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $128.48 | $256.96 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $155.73 | $311.46 |
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 31, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.