Best Time to Drive from Mission Viejo to El Monte

Right now (2:21 pm PST): about 56 minutes via I-5 North and I-605 North, usually 67 at this time.

Only 39% 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 Mission Viejo to El Monte 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	42	45	50	55	53	50	53	53	56	62	68	70	70	62	50	45	42
Tue	42	46	53	59	55	52	54	54	56	62	67	73	75	67	55	46	42
Wed	42	46	53	57	54	52	52	53	56	60	67	74	75	67	55	48	42
Thu	42	46	52	57	54	52	53	55	58	63	66	73	73	63	54	48	43
Fri	42	45	49	51	50	53	54	56	60	64	70	69	68	64	54	50	43
Sat	42	43	44	44	45	50	51	51	52	53	55	55	55	52	50	48	43
Sun	42	42	43	43	44	45	48	47	49	49	50	49	50	51	50	47	42

About this drive

On weekdays the 47-mile drive from Mission Viejo to El Monte (via I-5 North and I-605 North) usually takes as little as 42 minutes and up to 75 minutes, when leaving around 4:30 pm on Tuesdays. The fastest times to leave are before 6:30 am or after 8:30 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 56 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 4:30 pm on Saturdays (56 minutes).

About 44 miles of it is freeway, where times follow typical and live traffic from our sensors, and about 3 miles surface streets (4 to 7 minutes on weekdays), estimated from how jammed the freeways around them are at that time. Drive times are measured from central Mission Viejo (Chrisanta Drive) to central El Monte (Valley Boulevard) 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 Mission Viejo to El Monte?

On weekdays, leave before 6:30 am or after 8:30 pm. The drive usually takes about 42 minutes then, versus up to 75 minutes at the worst times.

How long does it take to drive from Mission Viejo to El Monte?

The 47-mile drive usually takes 42 to 75 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 56 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Mission Viejo to El Monte?

Leaving around 4:30 pm on Tuesdays is usually slowest, about 75 minutes.

Freeways on this drive

I-5 North in Orange County (35 miles) · I-605 North in Los Angeles (8 miles)

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

Mission Viejo to El Monte over Thanksgiving: when to leave →

More drives

El Monte to Mission Viejo (return trip) · Mission Viejo to Los Angeles · Mission Viejo to Santa Monica · Mission Viejo to Pasadena · Mission Viejo to Long Beach · Mission Viejo to West Covina · Mission Viejo to Burbank · Mission Viejo to Glendale · Mission Viejo to Van Nuys · Mission Viejo to Torrance · Mission Viejo to LAX · Mission Viejo to Hollywood

Open the live traffic map →

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	42	45	50	55	53	50	53	53	56	62	68	70	70	62	50	45	42
Tue	42	46	53	59	55	52	54	54	56	62	67	73	75	67	55	46	42
Wed	42	46	53	57	54	52	52	53	56	60	67	74	75	67	55	48	42
Thu	42	46	52	57	54	52	53	55	58	63	66	73	73	63	54	48	43
Fri	42	45	49	51	50	53	54	56	60	64	70	69	68	64	54	50	43
Sat	42	43	44	44	45	50	51	51	52	53	55	55	55	52	50	48	43
Sun	42	42	43	43	44	45	48	47	49	49	50	49	50	51	50	47	42

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	42	45	50	55	53	50	53	53	56	62	68	70	70	62	50	45	42
Tue	42	46	53	59	55	52	54	54	56	62	67	73	75	67	55	46	42
Wed	42	46	53	57	54	52	52	53	56	60	67	74	75	67	55	48	42
Thu	42	46	52	57	54	52	53	55	58	63	66	73	73	63	54	48	43
Fri	42	45	49	51	50	53	54	56	60	64	70	69	68	64	54	50	43
Sat	42	43	44	44	45	50	51	51	52	53	55	55	55	52	50	48	43
Sun	42	42	43	43	44	45	48	47	49	49	50	49	50	51	50	47	42

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	42	45	50	55	53	50	53	53	56	62	68	70	70	62	50	45	42
Tue	42	46	53	59	55	52	54	54	56	62	67	73	75	67	55	46	42
Wed	42	46	53	57	54	52	52	53	56	60	67	74	75	67	55	48	42
Thu	42	46	52	57	54	52	53	55	58	63	66	73	73	63	54	48	43
Fri	42	45	49	51	50	53	54	56	60	64	70	69	68	64	54	50	43
Sat	42	43	44	44	45	50	51	51	52	53	55	55	55	52	50	48	43
Sun	42	42	43	43	44	45	48	47	49	49	50	49	50	51	50	47	42