Traffic Predict

Best Time to Drive from Dana Point to Los Angeles

Right now (6:24 pm PDT): about 72 minutes via I-5 North, usually 61 at this time.

Only 6% 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.

On weekdays the 60-mile drive from Dana Point to Los Angeles (via I-5 North) usually takes as little as 53 minutes and up to 80 minutes, when leaving around 4:30 pm on Fridays. The fastest times to leave are before 5:30 am or after 7:30 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 65 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 2:30 pm on Saturdays (71 minutes).

⇄ Reverse trip: Los Angeles to Dana Point

Freeway, about 57 miles: times follow typical and live traffic from our sensors. Surface streets, about 3 miles: 3 to 5 minutes on weekdays, estimated from how jammed the freeways around them are at that time (we don't have street sensors yet). Drive times are measured from central Dana Point to Downtown LA (City Hall) along the route shown. Starting or ending elsewhere in a big city can add or save several minutes.

Typical drive time by departure time

Minutes from Dana Point to Los Angeles by day and time you leave (local time)
Leave5am6am7am8am9am10am11am12pm1pm2pm3pm4pm5pm6pm7pm8pm9pm
Mon5462677165616262646670707062565553
Tue5464717468646363636671747466585553
Wed5564727469656564656875777668595754
Thu5564717268656564666873767465595653
Fri5461646463646567717680797768605753
Sat5354555759626769717070716964605854
Sun5253535457606366686868676764626053

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 Dana Point to Los Angeles?

On weekdays, leave before 5:30 am or after 7:30 pm. The drive usually takes about 53 minutes then, versus up to 80 minutes at the worst times.

How long does it take to drive from Dana Point to Los Angeles?

The 60-mile drive usually takes 53 to 80 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 65 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Dana Point to Los Angeles?

Leaving around 4:30 pm on Fridays is usually slowest, about 80 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

Freeways on this drive

I-5 North in Orange County (46 miles) · I-5 North in Los Angeles (11 miles)

Orange County traffic right now · Orange County traffic tomorrow · Los Angeles traffic right now · Los Angeles traffic tomorrow

More drives

Los Angeles to Dana Point (return trip)

Open the live traffic map →