Getting Around, Santa Ana Travel and Transport
(Santa Ana, California - CA, USA)
Being located on the southern side of California means that Santa Ana is within comfortable driving distance of several hugely popular tourist destinations. Renting a car is therefore the most convenient mode of transport for many holidaymakers looking to travel around.
Santa Ana is conveniently sited near a number of major freeways and interstates, such as the I-5, the I-405, the Costa Mesa Freeway (US-55) and the Garden Grove Freeway (Highway US-22).
Amtrak trains stop in the city of Santa Ana seven days a week, providing convenient rail transport for commuters Monday to Friday, and a more limited service on Saturdays and Sundays. For short hops between attractions, you may like to make use of a local taxi cab to meet your travel needs, although many sights in the city center are within easy walking distance of each other.
John Wayne Airport (SNA) / Arriving by Air
Address: 18601 Airport Way, Santa Ana, California (CA), 92707, USA
Tel: +1 949 252 5200
The John Wayne Airport is located roughly 8 miles / 13 km to the south of downtown Santa Ana. This facility lies just off Interstate I-405 (San Diego Freeway) and serves the whole of Orange County. Reached via the MacArthur Boulevard, this busy airport currently enjoys annual passenger figures in the region of nine million, with its three terminals (A, B and C) being home to airlines such as AirTran, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta, Frontier, Interjet, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, United Express, US Airways and WestJet.
Ground transport at the airport includes OCTA buses (Orange County Transportation Authority), Irving iShuttles, the Disneyland Resort Express shuttle (headed for
Anaheim) and onsite car rental counters within the garages (areas A2 and B2).
Of note, both the Lyon Air Museum and the Irvine Museum lie around the boundaries of this airport.
Car Rental
Anaheim is just a 20-minute drive away and to the north-northwest of downtown Santa Ana, being most easily reached by following the I-5. Head past Anaheim and you will soon reach Buena Park, Norwalk, Downey and
Los Angeles, all of which line the I-5. Further afield and also reached by taking the I-5,
San Diego lies to the far southeast and is under 90 miles / 145 km away. To the south, both Costa Mesa and Newport Beach are also close by and easy to travel to if you have opted for a rental car.
Buses
Public transit bus transport is available in Santa Ana and provided by the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA). There are also Greyhound buses on hand, should you wish to travel longer distances around California and the USA. Those intending to travel southwards, across the Mexican border, will be able to make use of the Crucero and Intercalifornias buses.
Trains
Popular Amtrak train routes stopping at the Santa Ana station include the lengthy Pacific Surfliner, which travels all the way between San Diego (south) and San Luis Obispo (north), stopping off at Los Angeles on the way. A further Metrolink route named the Orange County Line runs between the Oceanside Transit Center and Union Station in Los Angeles, while the Inland Empire-Orange County Line travels between the Californian cities of San Juan Capistrano and San Bernardino.
Taxis
Taxi transport in Santa Ana is really best suited to short journeys only, since if you are planning to travel longer distances, the costs can prove to be expensive. However, fixed-rate fares between downtown hotels and the John Wayne Airport can be arranged and if you are able to share your ride with other passengers, you may be able to also share the cost of the journey and save yourself some money, whilst still enjoying the convenience of a taxi.
- Google+
