Best Time to Drive from LAX to SNA

Right now (8:49 pm PDT): about 39 minutes via I-405 South, usually 39 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.

About this drive

On weekdays the 40-mile drive from LAX to SNA (via I-405 South) usually takes as little as 38 minutes and up to 41 minutes, when leaving around 5 pm on Tuesdays. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 40 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 4 pm on Saturdays (40 minutes).

About 36 miles of it is freeway, where times follow typical and live traffic from our sensors, and about 4 miles surface streets (5 to 7 minutes on weekdays), estimated from how jammed the freeways around them are at that time. Drive times are measured from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to John Wayne Airport, Orange County (SNA) (Paularino Avenue) 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 LAX to SNA?

On weekdays, leave early in the morning or late in the evening. The drive usually takes about 38 minutes then, versus up to 41 minutes at the worst times.

How long does it take to drive from LAX to SNA?

The 40-mile drive usually takes 38 to 41 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 40 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from LAX to SNA?

Leaving around 5 pm on Tuesdays is usually slowest, about 41 minutes.

Freeways on this drive

I-405 South in Los Angeles (19 miles) · I-405 South in Orange County (16 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

SNA 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

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