Best Time to Drive from Los Angeles to Dana Point

Right now (6:24 pm PDT): about 72 minutes via I-5 South, usually 69 at this time.

Only 2% 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 59-mile drive from Los Angeles to Dana Point (via I-5 South) usually takes as little as 51 minutes and up to 88 minutes, when leaving around 4:30 pm on Thursdays. The fastest times to leave are before 6 am or after 8:30 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 64 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 3 pm on Saturdays (69 minutes).

⇄ Reverse trip: Dana Point to Los Angeles

Freeway, about 56 miles: times follow typical and live traffic from our sensors. Surface streets, about 2 miles: 3 to 5 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 Downtown LA (City Hall) to central Dana Point 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 Los Angeles to Dana Point 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	52	60	72	75	64	59	60	61	63	65	72	79	82	71	60	55	53
Tue	52	62	80	81	68	62	61	62	63	66	75	83	85	74	64	56	53
Wed	51	62	78	80	69	63	62	63	64	68	76	83	86	74	64	57	53
Thu	52	62	78	79	69	63	64	65	66	68	78	85	86	76	65	58	54
Fri	52	60	69	70	65	63	64	65	68	75	82	84	83	78	66	60	55
Sat	52	54	55	57	59	61	64	65	66	69	69	68	67	64	59	57	54
Sun	52	52	52	53	55	57	60	62	64	65	66	65	63	60	59	59	54

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 Los Angeles to Dana Point?

On weekdays, leave before 6 am or after 8:30 pm. The drive usually takes about 51 minutes then, versus up to 88 minutes at the worst times.

How long does it take to drive from Los Angeles to Dana Point?

The 59-mile drive usually takes 51 to 88 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 64 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Los Angeles to Dana Point?

Leaving around 4:30 pm on Thursdays is usually slowest, about 88 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

Freeways on this drive

I-5 South in Orange County (41 miles) · I-5 South in Los Angeles (13 miles) · US-101 South in Los Angeles (3 miles)

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

More drives

Dana Point to Los Angeles (return trip) · Los Angeles to Santa Monica · Los Angeles to Long Beach · Los Angeles to West Covina · Los Angeles to Burbank · Los Angeles to Glendale · Los Angeles to Santa Clarita · Los Angeles to Van Nuys · Los Angeles to Torrance · Los Angeles to Hollywood · Los Angeles to Culver City · Los Angeles to El Monte

Open the live traffic map →

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	52	60	72	75	64	59	60	61	63	65	72	79	82	71	60	55	53
Tue	52	62	80	81	68	62	61	62	63	66	75	83	85	74	64	56	53
Wed	51	62	78	80	69	63	62	63	64	68	76	83	86	74	64	57	53
Thu	52	62	78	79	69	63	64	65	66	68	78	85	86	76	65	58	54
Fri	52	60	69	70	65	63	64	65	68	75	82	84	83	78	66	60	55
Sat	52	54	55	57	59	61	64	65	66	69	69	68	67	64	59	57	54
Sun	52	52	52	53	55	57	60	62	64	65	66	65	63	60	59	59	54

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	52	60	72	75	64	59	60	61	63	65	72	79	82	71	60	55	53
Tue	52	62	80	81	68	62	61	62	63	66	75	83	85	74	64	56	53
Wed	51	62	78	80	69	63	62	63	64	68	76	83	86	74	64	57	53
Thu	52	62	78	79	69	63	64	65	66	68	78	85	86	76	65	58	54
Fri	52	60	69	70	65	63	64	65	68	75	82	84	83	78	66	60	55
Sat	52	54	55	57	59	61	64	65	66	69	69	68	67	64	59	57	54
Sun	52	52	52	53	55	57	60	62	64	65	66	65	63	60	59	59	54

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	52	60	72	75	64	59	60	61	63	65	72	79	82	71	60	55	53
Tue	52	62	80	81	68	62	61	62	63	66	75	83	85	74	64	56	53
Wed	51	62	78	80	69	63	62	63	64	68	76	83	86	74	64	57	53
Thu	52	62	78	79	69	63	64	65	66	68	78	85	86	76	65	58	54
Fri	52	60	69	70	65	63	64	65	68	75	82	84	83	78	66	60	55
Sat	52	54	55	57	59	61	64	65	66	69	69	68	67	64	59	57	54
Sun	52	52	52	53	55	57	60	62	64	65	66	65	63	60	59	59	54