Best Time to Drive from LAX to SNA

Right now (8:21 am PST): about 39 minutes via I-405 South, usually 38 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.

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	38	39	50	49	42	40	41	41	45	57	64	66	63	60	46	40	39
Tue	38	39	46	58	51	42	42	42	75	90	118	132	126	92	56	40	38
Wed	38	39	49	53	48	42	40	42	66	102	135	129	113	94	61	44	39
Thu	38	39	45	53	45	40	41	44	58	99	122	99	79	60	48	45	38
Fri	38	38	41	48	41	40	40	50	88	96	86	62	42	45	41	41	38
Sat	38	38	37	38	38	39	40	45	47	49	55	46	45	39	39	40	38
Sun	38	38	38	39	39	39	40	40	41	43	43	40	42	40	39	39	38

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 141 minutes, when leaving around 3:30 pm on Wednesdays. The fastest times to leave are before 7 am or after 8:30 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 59 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 3 pm on Saturdays (55 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 10 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 before 7 am or after 8:30 pm. The drive usually takes about 38 minutes then, versus up to 141 minutes at the worst times.

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

The 40-mile drive usually takes 38 to 141 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 59 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from LAX to SNA?

Leaving around 3:30 pm on Wednesdays is usually slowest, about 141 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

LAX to SNA over Thanksgiving: when to leave →

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	38	39	50	49	42	40	41	41	45	57	64	66	63	60	46	40	39
Tue	38	39	46	58	51	42	42	42	75	90	118	132	126	92	56	40	38
Wed	38	39	49	53	48	42	40	42	66	102	135	129	113	94	61	44	39
Thu	38	39	45	53	45	40	41	44	58	99	122	99	79	60	48	45	38
Fri	38	38	41	48	41	40	40	50	88	96	86	62	42	45	41	41	38
Sat	38	38	37	38	38	39	40	45	47	49	55	46	45	39	39	40	38
Sun	38	38	38	39	39	39	40	40	41	43	43	40	42	40	39	39	38

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	38	39	50	49	42	40	41	41	45	57	64	66	63	60	46	40	39
Tue	38	39	46	58	51	42	42	42	75	90	118	132	126	92	56	40	38
Wed	38	39	49	53	48	42	40	42	66	102	135	129	113	94	61	44	39
Thu	38	39	45	53	45	40	41	44	58	99	122	99	79	60	48	45	38
Fri	38	38	41	48	41	40	40	50	88	96	86	62	42	45	41	41	38
Sat	38	38	37	38	38	39	40	45	47	49	55	46	45	39	39	40	38
Sun	38	38	38	39	39	39	40	40	41	43	43	40	42	40	39	39	38

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	38	39	50	49	42	40	41	41	45	57	64	66	63	60	46	40	39
Tue	38	39	46	58	51	42	42	42	75	90	118	132	126	92	56	40	38
Wed	38	39	49	53	48	42	40	42	66	102	135	129	113	94	61	44	39
Thu	38	39	45	53	45	40	41	44	58	99	122	99	79	60	48	45	38
Fri	38	38	41	48	41	40	40	50	88	96	86	62	42	45	41	41	38
Sat	38	38	37	38	38	39	40	45	47	49	55	46	45	39	39	40	38
Sun	38	38	38	39	39	39	40	40	41	43	43	40	42	40	39	39	38