How far is Waterford, CA from Santa Ana, CA?
The driving distance from Waterford, CA to Santa Ana, CA is about 343.1 miles (552.1 km), with a travel time of about 06h 01m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 314.3 miles (505.8 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 02m 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 06h 01m.
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.
City in Kern County, California, United States
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 Waterford and Santa Ana.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waterford and Santa Ana.
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1
Start on E Street
14 m · 4 sec · E Street
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2
Turn right onto Bentley Street
116 m · 19 sec · Bentley Street
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3
Turn left onto F Street
1017 ft · 21 sec · F Street
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4
Continue on Hickman Road
10.1 mi · 18 min · Hickman Road
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5
At the end of the road, turn right onto East Avenue
1254 ft · 29 sec · East Avenue
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6
Turn sharp left onto Santa Fe Avenue
1701 ft · 29 sec · Santa Fe Avenue
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7
Continue on Santa Fe Drive
12.1 mi · 18 min · Santa Fe Drive
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8
Turn right onto Shaffer Road
2.3 mi · 4 min · Shaffer Road
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9
Turn left onto Atwater Boulevard
1 km · 1 min · Atwater Boulevard
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10
Take the ramp straight
907 ft · 22 sec
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11
Merge slight left
61.5 mi · 1 hr 10 min
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12
Keep slight left
41 mi · 44 min
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13
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Highway
58.6 mi · 1 hr 3 min · Golden State Highway
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14
Continue on Golden State Freeway
5.2 mi · 6 min · Golden State Freeway
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15
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
27.4 mi · 30 min · Golden State Freeway
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16
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
58.2 mi · 1 hr 7 min · Golden State Freeway
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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 Waterford and Santa Ana.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Atwater Boulevard
Merge slight left
61.5 mi · 01h 10m
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 Waterford 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 Waterford to Santa Ana?
The road trip is about 343.1 miles (552.1 km) and usually takes 06h 01m 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?
McFarland is a useful midpoint, sitting about 168.6 miles from Waterford and 174.4 miles from Santa Ana.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 314.3 miles (505.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 28.8 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 $69.80 one way or $139.61 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 107.5 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Waterford and Mostly Sunny near Santa Ana.
Stop Ideas Near McFarland
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 McFarland.
Wasco station
Bakersfield
Corcoran station
Visalia, California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Waterford and Santa Ana. Straight-line distance: 314.28 mi (505.79 km).
#1 Waterford
City in Stanislaus County, California, United States
| Population | 8,944 |
| Coordinates | 37.6413200, -120.7604800 |
| Altitude | 52 |
| 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: 552 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 11h 25m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 08h 34m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 51m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 43m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 54m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 16m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $69.80 | $139.61 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $73.40 | $146.80 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $75.54 | $151.08 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $91.56 | $183.12 |
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 19, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.