Traffic Predict
Best Time to Drive from Costa Mesa to Irvine
Right now (7:03 pm PDT): about 7 minutes via SR-55 North and I-405 South, usually 7 at this time.
Only 55% 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
| Leave | 5am | 6am | 7am | 8am | 9am | 10am | 11am | 12pm | 1pm | 2pm | 3pm | 4pm | 5pm | 6pm | 7pm | 8pm | 9pm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| Tue | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| Wed | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| Thu | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| Fri | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| Sat | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 |
| Sun | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
About this drive
On weekdays the 7-mile drive from Costa Mesa to Irvine (via SR-55 North and I-405 South) usually takes as little as 6 minutes and up to 13 minutes, when leaving around 5:30 pm on Tuesdays. The fastest times to leave are before 7:30 am or after 7 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 7 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 3:30 pm on Saturdays (7 minutes).
Drive times are measured from central Costa Mesa to central Irvine 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 Costa Mesa to Irvine?
On weekdays, leave before 7:30 am or after 7 pm. The drive usually takes about 6 minutes then, versus up to 13 minutes at the worst times.
How long does it take to drive from Costa Mesa to Irvine?
The 7-mile drive usually takes 6 to 13 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 7 minutes midday.
When is traffic worst from Costa Mesa to Irvine?
Leaving around 5:30 pm on Tuesdays is usually slowest, about 13 minutes.
Freeways on this drive
SR-55 North in Orange County (4 miles) · I-405 South in Orange County (3 miles)
Orange County traffic right now · Orange County traffic tomorrow
More drives
Irvine to Costa Mesa (return trip) · Costa Mesa to Los Angeles · Costa Mesa to Anaheim · Costa Mesa to Riverside · Costa Mesa to Santa Ana