Best Time to Drive from Anaheim to San Clemente

Right now (7:18 pm PDT): about 35 minutes via I-5 South, usually 35 at this time.

None of this drive is measured by working traffic sensors right now. The rest is estimated from nearby sensors, typical speeds and street traffic, so times can be off. Why so few sensors work.

Typical drive time by departure time

Minutes from Anaheim to San Clemente by day and time you leave (local time)
Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	34	37	44	48	46	38	37	37	37	37	38	40	44	40	36	35	35
Tue	35	39	47	51	47	41	39	39	38	38	40	41	46	41	36	35	35
Wed	34	38	46	51	47	42	39	38	38	37	40	42	47	42	36	35	35
Thu	34	38	44	48	47	41	39	39	38	37	39	41	45	41	35	35	35
Fri	34	38	44	46	44	39	39	37	37	38	40	41	40	37	36	35	35
Sat	35	35	36	37	38	39	39	39	39	39	38	37	37	36	35	35	35
Sun	34	35	35	35	36	37	37	37	37	37	37	37	36	36	36	37	35

About this drive

On weekdays the 38-mile drive from Anaheim to San Clemente (via I-5 South) usually takes as little as 34 minutes and up to 51 minutes, when leaving around 8:30 am on Tuesdays. The fastest times to leave are before 6 am or after 6:30 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 38 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 11:30 am on Saturdays (39 minutes).

About 35 miles of it is freeway, where times follow typical and live traffic from our sensors, and about 3 miles surface streets (4 to 7 minutes on weekdays), estimated from how jammed the freeways around them are at that time. Drive times are measured from Disneyland to central San Clemente along the route on the map. Starting or ending elsewhere in a big city can add or save several minutes.

Simulated from typical freeway speeds at each point of the drive for the time you would reach it, from every 5-minute reading we have recorded. We don't have sensors on surface streets yet, so the time on them is estimated from how congested the freeways around each end of the drive are at that time, in both directions: streets jam when the freeways do.

Questions

What is the best time to drive from Anaheim to San Clemente?

On weekdays, leave before 6 am or after 6:30 pm. The drive usually takes about 34 minutes then, versus up to 51 minutes at the worst times.

How long does it take to drive from Anaheim to San Clemente?

The 38-mile drive usually takes 34 to 51 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 38 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Anaheim to San Clemente?

Leaving around 8:30 am on Tuesdays is usually slowest, about 51 minutes.

Freeways on this drive

I-5 South in Orange County (31 miles) · SR-57 South in Orange County (4 miles)

Orange County traffic right now · Orange County traffic tomorrow

More drives

San Clemente to Anaheim (return trip) · Anaheim to Los Angeles · Anaheim to Santa Monica · Anaheim to Pasadena · Anaheim to Long Beach · Anaheim to West Covina · Anaheim to Burbank · Anaheim to Glendale · Anaheim to Santa Clarita · Anaheim to Van Nuys · Anaheim to Torrance · Anaheim to LAX

Open the live traffic map →

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	34	37	44	48	46	38	37	37	37	37	38	40	44	40	36	35	35
Tue	35	39	47	51	47	41	39	39	38	38	40	41	46	41	36	35	35
Wed	34	38	46	51	47	42	39	38	38	37	40	42	47	42	36	35	35
Thu	34	38	44	48	47	41	39	39	38	37	39	41	45	41	35	35	35
Fri	34	38	44	46	44	39	39	37	37	38	40	41	40	37	36	35	35
Sat	35	35	36	37	38	39	39	39	39	39	38	37	37	36	35	35	35
Sun	34	35	35	35	36	37	37	37	37	37	37	37	36	36	36	37	35

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	34	37	44	48	46	38	37	37	37	37	38	40	44	40	36	35	35
Tue	35	39	47	51	47	41	39	39	38	38	40	41	46	41	36	35	35
Wed	34	38	46	51	47	42	39	38	38	37	40	42	47	42	36	35	35
Thu	34	38	44	48	47	41	39	39	38	37	39	41	45	41	35	35	35
Fri	34	38	44	46	44	39	39	37	37	38	40	41	40	37	36	35	35
Sat	35	35	36	37	38	39	39	39	39	39	38	37	37	36	35	35	35
Sun	34	35	35	35	36	37	37	37	37	37	37	37	36	36	36	37	35

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	34	37	44	48	46	38	37	37	37	37	38	40	44	40	36	35	35
Tue	35	39	47	51	47	41	39	39	38	38	40	41	46	41	36	35	35
Wed	34	38	46	51	47	42	39	38	38	37	40	42	47	42	36	35	35
Thu	34	38	44	48	47	41	39	39	38	37	39	41	45	41	35	35	35
Fri	34	38	44	46	44	39	39	37	37	38	40	41	40	37	36	35	35
Sat	35	35	36	37	38	39	39	39	39	39	38	37	37	36	35	35	35
Sun	34	35	35	35	36	37	37	37	37	37	37	37	36	36	36	37	35