Best Time to Drive from Los Angeles to SNA

Right now (10:01 am PDT): about 36 minutes via I-5 South, usually 38 at this time.

On weekdays the 39-mile drive from Los Angeles to SNA (via I-5 South) usually takes as little as 33 minutes and up to 67 minutes, when leaving around 5 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 44 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 3:30 pm on Saturdays (50 minutes).

⇄ Reverse trip: SNA to Los Angeles

Drive times are measured from Downtown LA (City Hall) (West 1st Street) 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 Los Angeles 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	34	39	51	55	45	40	40	40	42	45	51	56	59	49	40	36	35
Tue	34	40	56	60	49	42	41	41	42	45	53	61	64	54	44	37	35
Wed	33	40	55	59	49	43	42	42	43	48	57	64	67	56	45	38	35
Thu	34	40	54	58	50	44	44	44	46	49	58	64	67	58	46	38	35
Fri	34	39	48	51	44	43	43	46	50	58	65	67	64	57	44	38	36
Sat	35	35	36	37	38	39	42	44	46	47	48	49	47	42	37	37	36
Sun	34	34	34	35	36	38	39	40	41	41	42	41	40	38	38	38	36

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. Surface streets at each end are estimated.

Questions

What is the best time to drive from Los Angeles to SNA?

On weekdays, leave before 6 am or after 8:30 pm. The drive usually takes about 33 minutes then, versus up to 67 minutes at the worst times.

How long does it take to drive from Los Angeles to SNA?

The 39-mile drive usually takes 33 to 67 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 44 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Los Angeles to SNA?

Leaving around 5 pm on Thursdays is usually slowest, about 67 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

SNA 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	34	39	51	55	45	40	40	40	42	45	51	56	59	49	40	36	35
Tue	34	40	56	60	49	42	41	41	42	45	53	61	64	54	44	37	35
Wed	33	40	55	59	49	43	42	42	43	48	57	64	67	56	45	38	35
Thu	34	40	54	58	50	44	44	44	46	49	58	64	67	58	46	38	35
Fri	34	39	48	51	44	43	43	46	50	58	65	67	64	57	44	38	36
Sat	35	35	36	37	38	39	42	44	46	47	48	49	47	42	37	37	36
Sun	34	34	34	35	36	38	39	40	41	41	42	41	40	38	38	38	36

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	34	39	51	55	45	40	40	40	42	45	51	56	59	49	40	36	35
Tue	34	40	56	60	49	42	41	41	42	45	53	61	64	54	44	37	35
Wed	33	40	55	59	49	43	42	42	43	48	57	64	67	56	45	38	35
Thu	34	40	54	58	50	44	44	44	46	49	58	64	67	58	46	38	35
Fri	34	39	48	51	44	43	43	46	50	58	65	67	64	57	44	38	36
Sat	35	35	36	37	38	39	42	44	46	47	48	49	47	42	37	37	36
Sun	34	34	34	35	36	38	39	40	41	41	42	41	40	38	38	38	36

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	34	39	51	55	45	40	40	40	42	45	51	56	59	49	40	36	35
Tue	34	40	56	60	49	42	41	41	42	45	53	61	64	54	44	37	35
Wed	33	40	55	59	49	43	42	42	43	48	57	64	67	56	45	38	35
Thu	34	40	54	58	50	44	44	44	46	49	58	64	67	58	46	38	35
Fri	34	39	48	51	44	43	43	46	50	58	65	67	64	57	44	38	36
Sat	35	35	36	37	38	39	42	44	46	47	48	49	47	42	37	37	36
Sun	34	34	34	35	36	38	39	40	41	41	42	41	40	38	38	38	36