Best Time to Drive from Irvine to Simi Valley

Right now (5:03 pm PDT): about 114 minutes via I-5 North and SR-118 West, usually 104 at this time.

Only 1% 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 80-mile drive from Irvine to Simi Valley (via I-5 North and SR-118 West) usually takes as little as 73 minutes and up to 108 minutes, when leaving around 3:30 pm on Fridays. The fastest times to leave are before 6 am or after 7:30 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 90 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 1:30 pm on Saturdays (93 minutes).

⇄ Reverse trip: Simi Valley to Irvine

Freeway, about 76 miles: times follow typical and live traffic from our sensors. Surface streets, about 4 miles: 6 to 11 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 Irvine (Harvard Avenue) to central Simi Valley (3rd Street) 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 Irvine to Simi Valley 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	74	88	101	104	98	91	88	88	88	92	99	101	100	91	78	75	73
Tue	74	90	104	106	99	92	88	86	88	90	99	105	104	94	82	76	73
Wed	74	90	104	105	100	92	88	87	87	92	102	106	105	96	83	78	73
Thu	74	90	104	105	100	93	90	88	88	93	102	108	104	94	85	77	73
Fri	74	86	96	98	95	93	91	92	95	101	108	107	105	96	85	79	74
Sat	73	75	76	77	82	86	89	91	93	93	93	92	89	86	83	79	74
Sun	73	73	73	74	76	80	84	86	90	90	90	86	85	84	83	82	74

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 Irvine to Simi Valley?

On weekdays, leave before 6 am or after 7:30 pm. The drive usually takes about 73 minutes then, versus up to 108 minutes at the worst times.

How long does it take to drive from Irvine to Simi Valley?

The 80-mile drive usually takes 73 to 108 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 90 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Irvine to Simi Valley?

Leaving around 3:30 pm on Fridays is usually slowest, about 108 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

Simi Valley to Irvine (return trip) · Irvine to Los Angeles · Irvine to Santa Monica · 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

Open the live traffic map →

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	74	88	101	104	98	91	88	88	88	92	99	101	100	91	78	75	73
Tue	74	90	104	106	99	92	88	86	88	90	99	105	104	94	82	76	73
Wed	74	90	104	105	100	92	88	87	87	92	102	106	105	96	83	78	73
Thu	74	90	104	105	100	93	90	88	88	93	102	108	104	94	85	77	73
Fri	74	86	96	98	95	93	91	92	95	101	108	107	105	96	85	79	74
Sat	73	75	76	77	82	86	89	91	93	93	93	92	89	86	83	79	74
Sun	73	73	73	74	76	80	84	86	90	90	90	86	85	84	83	82	74

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	74	88	101	104	98	91	88	88	88	92	99	101	100	91	78	75	73
Tue	74	90	104	106	99	92	88	86	88	90	99	105	104	94	82	76	73
Wed	74	90	104	105	100	92	88	87	87	92	102	106	105	96	83	78	73
Thu	74	90	104	105	100	93	90	88	88	93	102	108	104	94	85	77	73
Fri	74	86	96	98	95	93	91	92	95	101	108	107	105	96	85	79	74
Sat	73	75	76	77	82	86	89	91	93	93	93	92	89	86	83	79	74
Sun	73	73	73	74	76	80	84	86	90	90	90	86	85	84	83	82	74

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	74	88	101	104	98	91	88	88	88	92	99	101	100	91	78	75	73
Tue	74	90	104	106	99	92	88	86	88	90	99	105	104	94	82	76	73
Wed	74	90	104	105	100	92	88	87	87	92	102	106	105	96	83	78	73
Thu	74	90	104	105	100	93	90	88	88	93	102	108	104	94	85	77	73
Fri	74	86	96	98	95	93	91	92	95	101	108	107	105	96	85	79	74
Sat	73	75	76	77	82	86	89	91	93	93	93	92	89	86	83	79	74
Sun	73	73	73	74	76	80	84	86	90	90	90	86	85	84	83	82	74