How far is South San Francisco, CA from Santa Ana, CA?
The driving distance from South San Francisco, CA to Santa Ana, CA is about 415.5 miles (668.7 km), with a travel time of about 07h 00m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 371.1 miles (597.3 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 14h 00m 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 07h 00m.
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.
Census-designated place in Kings County, California
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between South San Francisco and Santa Ana.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South San Francisco and Santa Ana.
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1
Start on Airport Boulevard
112 m · 16 sec · Airport Boulevard
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2
Turn left onto Miller Avenue
75 m · 12 sec · Miller Avenue
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3
Turn right onto Cypress Avenue
111 m · 17 sec · Cypress Avenue
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4
Turn right onto Lux Avenue
65 m · 12 sec · Lux Avenue
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5
Turn right onto Airport Boulevard
2662 ft · 59 sec · Airport Boulevard
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6
Continue on Produce Avenue
1386 ft · 27 sec · Produce Avenue
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7
Take the ramp straight toward US 101 South: San Jose
802 ft · 22 sec
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8
Merge slight left onto Bayshore Freeway
2286 ft · 30 sec · Bayshore Freeway
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9
Keep slight left to continue on Bayshore Freeway
25 mi · 29 min · Bayshore Freeway
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10
Keep slight left to continue on Bayshore Freeway
42.4 mi · 49 min · Bayshore Freeway
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11
Take the exit slight right toward CA 152 East: 10th Street, Pacheco Pass Road
1539 ft · 40 sec
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12
Turn left onto East 10th Street
108 m · 13 sec · East 10th Street
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13
Continue on Pacheco Pass Highway
40.6 mi · 50 min · Pacheco Pass Highway
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14
Take the exit slight right toward I 5: Los Angeles
3148 ft · 1 min
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15
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
181.1 mi · 3 hr 14 min · Westside Freeway
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16
Keep slight right
58.4 mi · 1 hr 7 min
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17
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
4.1 mi · 5 min · Golden State Freeway
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18
Keep slight right to continue on I 405 South
1354 ft · 18 sec
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19
Keep slight left
24.7 mi · 29 min
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20
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
1.3 mi · 2 min · Golden State Freeway
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21
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
25.7 mi · 30 min · Santa Ana Freeway
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22
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1241 ft · 16 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
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23
Take the exit slight right toward Broadway, Main Street, Santa Ana
1.3 km · 57 sec
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24
Keep slight right to continue on Main Street North, Broadway
1656 ft · 22 sec
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25
Turn straight onto North Broadway
1.3 mi · 3 min · North Broadway
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26
Turn left onto West 5th Street
639 ft · 17 sec · West 5th Street
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27
Turn right onto North Main Street
1209 ft · 31 sec · North Main Street
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28
Turn right onto West 1st Street
16 m · 1 sec · West 1st Street
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29
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · West 1st Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between South San Francisco 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
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.
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.
Mostly Sunny leaving South San Francisco 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 South San Francisco to Santa Ana?
The road trip is about 415.5 miles (668.7 km) and usually takes 07h 00m 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?
Kettleman City is a useful midpoint, sitting about 204.6 miles from South San Francisco and 211 miles from Santa Ana.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 371.1 miles (597.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 44.4 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 $84.57 one way or $169.15 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 130.3 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around South San Francisco and Mostly Sunny near Santa Ana.
Stop Ideas Near Kettleman City
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 Kettleman City.
Kettleman City, California
Lemoore, California
Corcoran station
Lemoore (Naval Air Station), California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between South San Francisco and Santa Ana. Straight-line distance: 371.16 mi (597.33 km).
#1 South San Francisco
The most populous city in San Mateo County, California.
| Population | 66,558 |
| Coordinates | 37.6546600, -122.4077500 |
| Altitude | 4 |
| 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: 669 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 13h 50m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 10h 23m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 08h 18m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 06h 55m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 05h 56m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 05h 11m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $84.57 | $169.15 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $88.93 | $177.86 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $91.52 | $183.04 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $110.93 | $221.86 |
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 · Apr 18, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.