Best Time to Drive from LAX to SNA

Right now (9:35 am PDT): about 46 minutes via I-405 South, usually 43 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 40-mile drive from LAX to SNA (via I-405 South) usually takes as little as 37 minutes and up to 82 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 48 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 3 pm on Saturdays (50 minutes).

⇄ Reverse trip: SNA to LAX

Freeway, about 36 miles: times follow typical and live traffic from our sensors. Surface streets, about 4 miles: 5 to 13 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 John Wayne Airport, Orange County (SNA) (Paularino Avenue) 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 SNA 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	37	39	45	46	42	41	41	42	44	52	59	63	61	54	44	39	38
Tue	37	40	49	51	45	41	41	42	48	57	71	79	77	67	50	41	38
Wed	37	40	49	50	45	42	41	42	48	57	72	80	78	68	51	42	38
Thu	37	40	47	50	44	41	42	43	49	60	75	82	74	63	49	43	38
Fri	37	39	43	44	42	42	44	47	57	67	75	71	63	55	46	42	38
Sat	37	37	38	39	39	41	43	46	47	48	50	47	46	44	41	40	38
Sun	37	37	37	38	38	39	40	41	42	42	42	41	41	41	40	40	38

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 before 6:30 am or after 8:30 pm. The drive usually takes about 37 minutes then, versus up to 82 minutes at the worst times.

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

The 40-mile drive usually takes 37 to 82 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 48 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from LAX to SNA?

Leaving around 4 pm on Thursdays is usually slowest, about 82 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

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

Open the live traffic map →

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	37	39	45	46	42	41	41	42	44	52	59	63	61	54	44	39	38
Tue	37	40	49	51	45	41	41	42	48	57	71	79	77	67	50	41	38
Wed	37	40	49	50	45	42	41	42	48	57	72	80	78	68	51	42	38
Thu	37	40	47	50	44	41	42	43	49	60	75	82	74	63	49	43	38
Fri	37	39	43	44	42	42	44	47	57	67	75	71	63	55	46	42	38
Sat	37	37	38	39	39	41	43	46	47	48	50	47	46	44	41	40	38
Sun	37	37	37	38	38	39	40	41	42	42	42	41	41	41	40	40	38

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	37	39	45	46	42	41	41	42	44	52	59	63	61	54	44	39	38
Tue	37	40	49	51	45	41	41	42	48	57	71	79	77	67	50	41	38
Wed	37	40	49	50	45	42	41	42	48	57	72	80	78	68	51	42	38
Thu	37	40	47	50	44	41	42	43	49	60	75	82	74	63	49	43	38
Fri	37	39	43	44	42	42	44	47	57	67	75	71	63	55	46	42	38
Sat	37	37	38	39	39	41	43	46	47	48	50	47	46	44	41	40	38
Sun	37	37	37	38	38	39	40	41	42	42	42	41	41	41	40	40	38

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	37	39	45	46	42	41	41	42	44	52	59	63	61	54	44	39	38
Tue	37	40	49	51	45	41	41	42	48	57	71	79	77	67	50	41	38
Wed	37	40	49	50	45	42	41	42	48	57	72	80	78	68	51	42	38
Thu	37	40	47	50	44	41	42	43	49	60	75	82	74	63	49	43	38
Fri	37	39	43	44	42	42	44	47	57	67	75	71	63	55	46	42	38
Sat	37	37	38	39	39	41	43	46	47	48	50	47	46	44	41	40	38
Sun	37	37	37	38	38	39	40	41	42	42	42	41	41	41	40	40	38