Best Time to Drive from LAX to Mission Viejo

Right now (9:03 am PDT): about 63 minutes via I-405 South, usually 59 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.

On weekdays the 53-mile drive from LAX to Mission Viejo (via I-405 South) usually takes as little as 48 minutes and up to 97 minutes, when leaving around 4 pm on Thursdays. The fastest times to leave are before 6:30 am or after 8:30 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 60 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 3 pm on Saturdays (62 minutes).

⇄ Reverse trip: Mission Viejo to LAX

Freeway, about 50 miles: times follow typical and live traffic from our sensors. Surface streets, about 3 miles: 4 to 12 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 Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to central Mission Viejo (Chrisanta Drive) 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 LAX to Mission Viejo 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	48	51	58	59	55	53	53	54	56	64	71	78	75	66	56	51	49
Tue	48	52	62	64	58	53	53	54	61	69	85	95	91	80	62	52	49
Wed	48	52	62	64	59	54	54	55	60	70	86	96	91	81	63	54	49
Thu	48	52	60	63	57	54	55	56	62	73	89	97	88	75	61	54	49
Fri	48	51	55	56	55	55	56	60	69	80	88	85	76	67	58	53	49
Sat	48	49	49	50	51	53	55	58	59	60	62	59	58	55	52	51	49
Sun	48	48	48	49	50	51	52	53	54	54	54	53	53	52	52	51	49

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 LAX to Mission Viejo?

On weekdays, leave before 6:30 am or after 8:30 pm. The drive usually takes about 48 minutes then, versus up to 97 minutes at the worst times.

How long does it take to drive from LAX to Mission Viejo?

The 53-mile drive usually takes 48 to 97 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 60 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from LAX to Mission Viejo?

Leaving around 4 pm on Thursdays is usually slowest, about 97 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

Freeways on this drive

I-405 South in Orange County (26 miles) · I-405 South in Los Angeles (19 miles) · I-5 South in Orange County (4 miles) · I-105 East in Los Angeles (1.1 miles)

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

More drives

Mission Viejo to LAX (return trip) · LAX to Los Angeles · LAX to Pasadena · LAX to Long Beach · LAX to West Covina · LAX to Burbank · LAX to Glendale · LAX to Santa Clarita · LAX to Van Nuys · LAX to El Monte · LAX to Downey · LAX to Whittier

Open the live traffic map →

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	48	51	58	59	55	53	53	54	56	64	71	78	75	66	56	51	49
Tue	48	52	62	64	58	53	53	54	61	69	85	95	91	80	62	52	49
Wed	48	52	62	64	59	54	54	55	60	70	86	96	91	81	63	54	49
Thu	48	52	60	63	57	54	55	56	62	73	89	97	88	75	61	54	49
Fri	48	51	55	56	55	55	56	60	69	80	88	85	76	67	58	53	49
Sat	48	49	49	50	51	53	55	58	59	60	62	59	58	55	52	51	49
Sun	48	48	48	49	50	51	52	53	54	54	54	53	53	52	52	51	49

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	48	51	58	59	55	53	53	54	56	64	71	78	75	66	56	51	49
Tue	48	52	62	64	58	53	53	54	61	69	85	95	91	80	62	52	49
Wed	48	52	62	64	59	54	54	55	60	70	86	96	91	81	63	54	49
Thu	48	52	60	63	57	54	55	56	62	73	89	97	88	75	61	54	49
Fri	48	51	55	56	55	55	56	60	69	80	88	85	76	67	58	53	49
Sat	48	49	49	50	51	53	55	58	59	60	62	59	58	55	52	51	49
Sun	48	48	48	49	50	51	52	53	54	54	54	53	53	52	52	51	49

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	48	51	58	59	55	53	53	54	56	64	71	78	75	66	56	51	49
Tue	48	52	62	64	58	53	53	54	61	69	85	95	91	80	62	52	49
Wed	48	52	62	64	59	54	54	55	60	70	86	96	91	81	63	54	49
Thu	48	52	60	63	57	54	55	56	62	73	89	97	88	75	61	54	49
Fri	48	51	55	56	55	55	56	60	69	80	88	85	76	67	58	53	49
Sat	48	49	49	50	51	53	55	58	59	60	62	59	58	55	52	51	49
Sun	48	48	48	49	50	51	52	53	54	54	54	53	53	52	52	51	49