Grand Junction to Santa Maria: Road Trip Guide & Distance

713.9 miles 1148.9 km · straight line
856.7 miles estimated 1378.7 km · driving distance
17h 14min estimated drive time
$82 - $101 estimated fuel cost
~1h 56min flight time
250° WSW bearing direction

How far is Grand Junction from Santa Maria?

The distance from Grand Junction to Santa Maria is 713.9 miles (1148.9 km) as the crow flies. Santa Maria is located WSW of Grand Junction. By car, the driving distance is approximately 856.7 miles, taking about 17h 14min. A direct flight would take roughly 1h 56min. Both are located in United States — Grand Junction 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 Grand Junction and Santa Maria. The driving distance is estimated from straight-line distance with a road-factor model, so confirm the route in your navigation app. Fuel, flight, bus, and train values are planning estimates and can change by date, provider, road closures, and border rules.

How to Get from Grand Junction to Santa Maria

Method Time Est. Cost Best For
Drive 17h 14min $82 - $101 Flexible stops
Fly ~1h 56min $80–200* Speed
Bus ~20h 41min $69–$129* Budget
Train ~22h 24min $103–$300* Comfort

Suggested Stops Between Grand Junction & Santa Maria

Quick Facts

Grand Junction
39.06°N, 108.55°W
America/Denver
1400m 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 238 hours of non-stop walking
  • By bicycle at 12 mph, the journey would take roughly 59 hours
  • You could travel this distance about 34.9 times to circle the Earth's equator
Data Sources & Estimate Notes GeoNames · OpenStreetMap · Driving distance estimated using road factor coefficients