Best Time to Drive from Irvine to Santa Monica

Right now (9:01 am PDT): about 49 minutes via I-405 North, usually 51 at this time.

On weekdays the 52-mile drive from Irvine to Santa Monica (via I-405 North) usually takes as little as 46 minutes and up to 69 minutes, when leaving around 7:30 am on Wednesdays. The fastest times to leave are before 6 am or after 7 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 57 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 1 pm on Saturdays (59 minutes).

Typical drive time by departure time

Minutes from Irvine to Santa Monica 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	46	55	63	63	60	57	55	54	54	54	54	55	57	53	49	48	47
Tue	46	58	67	68	64	61	58	56	54	55	57	59	63	57	50	48	47
Wed	46	58	67	69	65	61	59	57	55	56	57	60	65	59	50	48	47
Thu	46	57	67	68	64	61	58	57	56	58	59	63	67	59	51	48	47
Fri	46	56	63	63	60	59	60	59	60	62	61	61	62	56	50	48	47
Sat	47	47	48	49	51	55	57	57	59	59	57	56	53	51	50	49	47
Sun	47	47	47	47	48	50	53	55	57	57	55	53	52	50	50	51	47

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. Surface streets at each end are estimated.

Questions

What is the best time to drive from Irvine to Santa Monica?

On weekdays, leave before 6 am or after 7 pm. The drive usually takes about 46 minutes then, versus up to 69 minutes at the worst times.

How long does it take to drive from Irvine to Santa Monica?

The 52-mile drive usually takes 46 to 69 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 57 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Irvine to Santa Monica?

Leaving around 7:30 am on Wednesdays is usually slowest, about 69 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

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

Open the live traffic map →

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	46	55	63	63	60	57	55	54	54	54	54	55	57	53	49	48	47
Tue	46	58	67	68	64	61	58	56	54	55	57	59	63	57	50	48	47
Wed	46	58	67	69	65	61	59	57	55	56	57	60	65	59	50	48	47
Thu	46	57	67	68	64	61	58	57	56	58	59	63	67	59	51	48	47
Fri	46	56	63	63	60	59	60	59	60	62	61	61	62	56	50	48	47
Sat	47	47	48	49	51	55	57	57	59	59	57	56	53	51	50	49	47
Sun	47	47	47	47	48	50	53	55	57	57	55	53	52	50	50	51	47

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	46	55	63	63	60	57	55	54	54	54	54	55	57	53	49	48	47
Tue	46	58	67	68	64	61	58	56	54	55	57	59	63	57	50	48	47
Wed	46	58	67	69	65	61	59	57	55	56	57	60	65	59	50	48	47
Thu	46	57	67	68	64	61	58	57	56	58	59	63	67	59	51	48	47
Fri	46	56	63	63	60	59	60	59	60	62	61	61	62	56	50	48	47
Sat	47	47	48	49	51	55	57	57	59	59	57	56	53	51	50	49	47
Sun	47	47	47	47	48	50	53	55	57	57	55	53	52	50	50	51	47

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	46	55	63	63	60	57	55	54	54	54	54	55	57	53	49	48	47
Tue	46	58	67	68	64	61	58	56	54	55	57	59	63	57	50	48	47
Wed	46	58	67	69	65	61	59	57	55	56	57	60	65	59	50	48	47
Thu	46	57	67	68	64	61	58	57	56	58	59	63	67	59	51	48	47
Fri	46	56	63	63	60	59	60	59	60	62	61	61	62	56	50	48	47
Sat	47	47	48	49	51	55	57	57	59	59	57	56	53	51	50	49	47
Sun	47	47	47	47	48	50	53	55	57	57	55	53	52	50	50	51	47