Denver to Santa Maria: Road Trip Guide & Distance

909.1 miles 1463 km · straight line
1144.9 miles actual route 1842.6 km · driving distance
20h 32min estimated drive time
$110 - $136 estimated fuel cost
~2h 20min flight time
254° WSW bearing direction

How far is Denver from Santa Maria?

The distance from Denver to Santa Maria is 909.1 miles (1463 km) as the crow flies. Santa Maria is located WSW of Denver. By car, the driving distance is approximately 1144.9 miles, taking about 20h 32min. A direct flight would take roughly 2h 20min. Both are located in United States — Denver in Colorado and Santa Maria in California.

This is a serious multi-day road trip! We strongly recommend breaking this journey up with an overnight stay to ensure you arrive safely and refreshed. Since you'll be heading mostly West, pack a good pair of sunglasses if you plan to drive during the late afternoon to avoid the harsh sun glare. For a trip of this distance, flying is significantly faster. However, driving offers the flexibility to explore stops along the way.

Coordinates come from public place data for Denver and Santa Maria. The driving distance uses an OSRM road-route result when route data is available. Fuel, flight, bus, and train values are planning estimates and can change by date, provider, road closures, and border rules.

How to Get from Denver to Santa Maria

Method Time Est. Cost Best For
Drive 20h 32min $110 - $136 Flexible stops
Fly ~2h 20min $80–200* Speed
Bus ~24h 38min $92–$172* Budget
Train ~26h 42min $137–$401* Comfort

Suggested Stops Between Denver & Santa Maria

Quick Facts

Denver
39.74°N, 104.99°W
America/Denver
1609m elevation
Santa Maria
34.95°N, 120.44°W
America/Los_Angeles
67m elevation
Explore more routes from Santa Maria

Did You Know?

  • At walking speed (3 mph), it would take about 303 hours of non-stop walking
  • By bicycle at 12 mph, the journey would take roughly 76 hours
  • You could travel this distance about 27.4 times to circle the Earth's equator
Data Sources & Estimate Notes GeoNames · OpenStreetMap · OSRM