Santa Ana travel guide

About Santa Ana

Santa Ana is a city in and the county seat of Orange County, California, United States. Located in the Greater Los Angeles region of Southern California, the city's population was 310,227 at the 2020 census. As of 2023, Santa Ana is the third most populous city in Orange County, the 14th-most populous city in California, and the 65th most populous city in the United States. Santa Ana is a major regional economic and cultural hub for the Orange Coast.

Places to visit in Santa Ana

1. 

   Bowers Museum

   Museum · 2 mi from centre

   A Spanish Colonial Revival museum with collections from around the world and hosting major traveling exhibitions on ancient civilizations and world cultures. Its courtyard cafe is pleasant.

2. 

   Disneyland Resort

   Entertainment · 5 mi from centre

   In neighboring Anaheim, Walt Disney's original park and Disney California Adventure, along with the Downtown Disney district, make for a classic theme park trip. Plan at least two days.

3. 

   Discovery Cube Orange County

   Museum · 2 mi from centre

   A family science center with hands-on exhibits on earth science, conservation and space, recognizable by its large tilted cube building. Interactive displays make it a good choice for families with school-age kids, especially on hot or rainy days.

4. Santa Ana Zoo

   Zoo · 2 mi from centre

   A small zoo focused on animals from Central and South America, especially monkeys, ideal for a short family visit. Its compact size and shady paths suit families with toddlers, and a small train adds to the fun.

5. Downtown Santa Ana

   Neighborhood

   Fourth Street and the Artists Village combine historic buildings, Latin American shops, galleries and a food hall, giving the city's center a vibrant character. Art walks are popular.

6. Old Orange County Courthouse

   Historic

   A red sandstone Romanesque courthouse in the civic center, now home to a history museum about the county. Its restored courtroom and grand staircase can be seen inside, and the building is a distinctive landmark of the civic center.

7. 

   Crystal Cove State Park

   Beach · 12 mi from centre

   Coastline between Newport Beach and Laguna Beach with tide pools, preserved historic beach cottages and backcountry trails in the hills. Low tide is the best time to explore the rocky pools, and the beach is a calm spot for an afternoon walk.

Best time to visit Santa Ana

Based on recent weather records, the most comfortable time to visit Santa Ana is April to July and October to November, when average daytime highs are around 72–83°F and rain falls on about 2 days a month.

Average daily low and high temperatures and days with at least 1 mm of rain, from recent weather records. Highlighted months are the most comfortable for sightseeing.

Santa Ana weather forecast

• Wed 21 Oct 74° 62° 69%
• Thu 22 Oct 71° 65° 91%
• Fri 23 Oct 75° 65° 6%
• Sat 24 Oct 82° 67° 0%
• Sun 25 Oct 85° 70° 0%
• Mon 26 Oct 84° 71° 2%

Know before you go

Currency

United States dollar (USD)

Language

English

Calling code

+1

Driving

On the right

Time zone

America/Los_AngelesUTC−7

Capital

Washington, D.C.

Upcoming public holidays in United States

• Wed 11 NovVeterans Day
• Thu 26 NovThanksgiving Day
• Fri 25 DecChristmas Day
• Fri 1 JanNew Year's Day
• Mon 18 JanMartin Luther King, Jr. Day
• Mon 15 FebPresidents DayWashington's Birthday

Banks, offices and some attractions may close on public holidays, and flights and hotels often fill up early around them.

Getting to Santa Ana

These are the airports closest to central Santa Ana. Compare fares into each one, as a slightly longer transfer can sometimes mean a much cheaper flight.

• SNA John Wayne Airport5 mi (7 km) from the city centre

Getting around Santa Ana

The buses of the Orange County Transportation Authority can get you around Santa Ana or most places in Orange County for $5 a day.

Santa Ana travel FAQ