I-5 North Traffic in Orange County

As of 7:45 pm PST, I-5 North in Orange County is averaging 59 mph across 102 sensors, about normal for this time. The slowest stretch is near Katella, at 32 mph.

Open the live map of I-5 North →

Incidents on I-5 North right now

CZP-Assist with Construction: I5 N / Basilone
Hit and Run No Injuries: I5 N / Red Hill Ave Rh

Is I-5 North moving right now?

Slow stretches as of 7:45 pm PST, and why:

Near Katella: 32 mph, likely heavy traffic.
Near 17th 2: 34 mph, likely heavier traffic than usual for this time (usually 45 mph).
Near Concord: 38 mph, likely heavier traffic than usual for this time (usually 52 mph).

Earlier in the last 24 hours

6:26 pm: Hit and Run No Injuries, I5 N / Culver Dr
5:41 pm: Trfc Collision-Unkn Inj, I5 N / Barranca Pkwy
5:41 pm: Trfc Collision-1141Enrt, I5 N / Barranca Pkwy
4:41 pm: Trfc Collision-Unkn Inj, I5 N / Sr57
4:41 pm: Trfc Collision-Unkn Inj, I5 N / Sr57
4:25 pm: Trfc Collision-Unkn Inj, I5 N / Pch
3:31 pm: Traffic Hazard, I5 N / ARTESIA BLVD
3:31 pm: Traffic Hazard, I5 N / Artesia

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

Traffic is usually worst on Friday around 3 pm (about 54 mph). On weekdays the morning slowdown peaks around 8 am (60 mph on Tuesdays) and the evening slowdown around 3 pm (54 mph on Fridays). Midday (10 am to 2 pm) averages 60 mph. On weekends it is slowest on Saturdays around 1 pm (59 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	64	61	62	63	62	61	60	59	57	57	57	60	64	66	69
Tue	70	68	64	60	61	61	60	60	60	59	56	56	56	58	62	66	69
Wed	70	68	64	60	61	61	60	60	60	58	56	56	56	57	61	65	69
Thu	70	68	64	61	61	61	60	60	59	58	56	55	56	58	61	65	68
Fri	70	68	66	63	63	61	60	59	58	56	54	55	56	59	62	64	68
Sat	69	69	68	67	65	63	60	59	59	59	59	59	60	62	63	64	69
Sun	70	69	69	68	67	65	63	61	60	60	59	60	60	61	62	63	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 Katella: 32 mph, likely heavy traffic. Near 17th 2: 34 mph, likely heavier traffic than usual for this time (usually 45 mph). Near Concord: 38 mph, likely heavier traffic than usual for this time (usually 52 mph).

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 54 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 (54 mph on Fridays). Midday (10 am to 2 pm) averages 60 mph, and early mornings and late evenings are fastest.

Is I-5 North busy right now?

As of 7:45 pm PST, I-5 North in Orange County is averaging 59 mph across 102 sensors, about normal for this time. The slowest stretch is near Katella, at 32 mph.

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 Glendale · San Diego to Hollywood · San Diego to Los Angeles · Oceanside to Downey · Oceanside to Pico Rivera · Ramona to Universal City · San Marcos to Oxnard · Carlsbad to Whittier

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	64	61	62	63	62	61	60	59	57	57	57	60	64	66	69
Tue	70	68	64	60	61	61	60	60	60	59	56	56	56	58	62	66	69
Wed	70	68	64	60	61	61	60	60	60	58	56	56	56	57	61	65	69
Thu	70	68	64	61	61	61	60	60	59	58	56	55	56	58	61	65	68
Fri	70	68	66	63	63	61	60	59	58	56	54	55	56	59	62	64	68
Sat	69	69	68	67	65	63	60	59	59	59	59	59	60	62	63	64	69
Sun	70	69	69	68	67	65	63	61	60	60	59	60	60	61	62	63	69

Day	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	70	68	64	61	62	63	62	61	60	59	57	57	57	60	64	66	69
Tue	70	68	64	60	61	61	60	60	60	59	56	56	56	58	62	66	69
Wed	70	68	64	60	61	61	60	60	60	58	56	56	56	57	61	65	69
Thu	70	68	64	61	61	61	60	60	59	58	56	55	56	58	61	65	68
Fri	70	68	66	63	63	61	60	59	58	56	54	55	56	59	62	64	68
Sat	69	69	68	67	65	63	60	59	59	59	59	59	60	62	63	64	69
Sun	70	69	69	68	67	65	63	61	60	60	59	60	60	61	62	63	69

Day	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	70	68	64	61	62	63	62	61	60	59	57	57	57	60	64	66	69
Tue	70	68	64	60	61	61	60	60	60	59	56	56	56	58	62	66	69
Wed	70	68	64	60	61	61	60	60	60	58	56	56	56	57	61	65	69
Thu	70	68	64	61	61	61	60	60	59	58	56	55	56	58	61	65	68
Fri	70	68	66	63	63	61	60	59	58	56	54	55	56	59	62	64	68
Sat	69	69	68	67	65	63	60	59	59	59	59	59	60	62	63	64	69
Sun	70	69	69	68	67	65	63	61	60	60	59	60	60	61	62	63	69