I-5 North Traffic in Orange County

As of 3:45 pm PDT, I-5 North in Orange County is averaging 58 mph across 80 sensors, about normal for this time. The slowest stretch is near 1st at 17 mph (usually 19 mph). 3 sensors report stop-and-go traffic under 30 mph.

Open the live map of I-5 North →

Incidents on I-5 North right now

Traffic Hazard: I5 N / Carmenita Rd

Is I-5 North moving right now?

Slow stretches as of 3:45 pm PDT, and why:

Near 1st: 17 mph, likely the usual rush-hour slowdown here (usually 19 mph at this time).
Near Chapman 2: 28 mph, likely the usual rush-hour slowdown here (usually 29 mph at this time).
Near Las Rambles: 30 mph, likely the usual rush-hour slowdown here (usually 34 mph at this time).
Near Anaheim 2: 34 mph, likely the usual rush-hour slowdown here (usually 36 mph at this time).

Earlier in the last 24 hours

3:30 pm: Hit and Run No Injuries, I5 N / Sr55
1:30 pm: Traffic Hazard, I5 N / 4th St
1:30 pm: Traffic Hazard, I5 N / 4th St
10:45 am: Traffic Hazard, I5 N / El Toro Rd
10:45 am: Traffic Hazard, I5 N / El Toro Rd
10:40 am: Traffic Hazard, I5 N / Alton Pkwy
10:40 am: Traffic Hazard, I5 N / Alton Pkwy
9:40 am: Traffic Hazard, I5 N / Jamboree Rd

Best time to drive I-5 North ("the 5")

Traffic is usually worst on Friday around 3 pm (about 55 mph). On weekdays the morning slowdown peaks around 8 am (60 mph on Tuesdays) and the evening slowdown around 3 pm (55 mph on Fridays). Midday (10 am to 2 pm) averages 61 mph. On weekends it is slowest on Saturdays around 1 pm (58 mph).

Typical average speed (mph) on I-5 North in Orange County, by day and hour (local time)
Day	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	70	68	65	61	62	64	63	62	60	59	57	57	57	61	65	66	69
Tue	70	68	64	60	61	61	61	61	60	59	57	56	56	59	63	66	69
Wed	70	68	64	60	61	61	60	60	60	59	56	55	56	58	62	65	69
Thu	70	68	64	61	61	61	60	60	59	59	57	56	56	59	62	65	68
Fri	70	68	66	64	63	61	60	60	58	56	55	55	56	59	63	65	68
Sat	69	69	68	67	65	63	60	59	58	59	59	59	60	62	64	64	69
Sun	70	69	69	68	66	64	62	61	60	60	59	59	60	61	62	62	69

Averages of every 5-minute reading we have recorded at this time of the week. Colors match the live map.

Questions

Why is I-5 North slow right now?

Near 1st: 17 mph, likely the usual rush-hour slowdown here (usually 19 mph at this time). Near Chapman 2: 28 mph, likely the usual rush-hour slowdown here (usually 29 mph at this time). Near Las Rambles: 30 mph, likely the usual rush-hour slowdown here (usually 34 mph at this time). Near Anaheim 2: 34 mph, likely the usual rush-hour slowdown here (usually 36 mph at this time).

When is traffic worst on I-5 North in Orange County?

Traffic on I-5 North is usually worst on Friday around 3 pm (about 55 mph).

What is the best time to drive I-5 North in Orange County?

On weekdays, avoid around 8 am (60 mph on Tuesdays) and around 3 pm (55 mph on Fridays). Midday (10 am to 2 pm) averages 61 mph, and early mornings and late evenings are fastest.

Is I-5 North busy right now?

Drives that use I-5 North

Best times to leave for these trips, from typical traffic on I-5 North and the roads around it:

Chula Vista to Universal City · Bonita to Universal City · San Diego to Los Angeles · Oceanside to Downey · Oceanside to Whittier · San Clemente to Los Angeles · Dana Point to Los Angeles · Oceanside to Buena Park · San Juan Capistrano to Los Angeles · Rancho Penasquitos to Anaheim

Plan ahead: Orange County traffic tomorrow · Christmas traffic · Fourth Of July traffic · Labor Day traffic · Memorial Day traffic · Is Orange County traffic getting worse? · Traffic estimator

Other freeways in Orange County

SR-1 North · SR-1 South · I-5 South · I-15 North · I-15 South · SR-22 East · SR-22 West · SR-55 North · SR-55 South · SR-57 North · SR-57 South · SR-71 North · SR-71 South · SR-73 North · SR-73 South · SR-74 East · SR-91 East · SR-91 West · SR-133 North · SR-133 South · SR-142 East · SR-142 West · SR-241 North · SR-241 South · SR-261 North · SR-261 South · I-405 North · I-405 South · I-605 North · I-605 South

Day	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	70	68	65	61	62	64	63	62	60	59	57	57	57	61	65	66	69
Tue	70	68	64	60	61	61	61	61	60	59	57	56	56	59	63	66	69
Wed	70	68	64	60	61	61	60	60	60	59	56	55	56	58	62	65	69
Thu	70	68	64	61	61	61	60	60	59	59	57	56	56	59	62	65	68
Fri	70	68	66	64	63	61	60	60	58	56	55	55	56	59	63	65	68
Sat	69	69	68	67	65	63	60	59	58	59	59	59	60	62	64	64	69
Sun	70	69	69	68	66	64	62	61	60	60	59	59	60	61	62	62	69

Day	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	70	68	65	61	62	64	63	62	60	59	57	57	57	61	65	66	69
Tue	70	68	64	60	61	61	61	61	60	59	57	56	56	59	63	66	69
Wed	70	68	64	60	61	61	60	60	60	59	56	55	56	58	62	65	69
Thu	70	68	64	61	61	61	60	60	59	59	57	56	56	59	62	65	68
Fri	70	68	66	64	63	61	60	60	58	56	55	55	56	59	63	65	68
Sat	69	69	68	67	65	63	60	59	58	59	59	59	60	62	64	64	69
Sun	70	69	69	68	66	64	62	61	60	60	59	59	60	61	62	62	69

Day	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	70	68	65	61	62	64	63	62	60	59	57	57	57	61	65	66	69
Tue	70	68	64	60	61	61	61	61	60	59	57	56	56	59	63	66	69
Wed	70	68	64	60	61	61	60	60	60	59	56	55	56	58	62	65	69
Thu	70	68	64	61	61	61	60	60	59	59	57	56	56	59	62	65	68
Fri	70	68	66	64	63	61	60	60	58	56	55	55	56	59	63	65	68
Sat	69	69	68	67	65	63	60	59	58	59	59	59	60	62	64	64	69
Sun	70	69	69	68	66	64	62	61	60	60	59	59	60	61	62	62	69