Best Time to Drive from San Diego to Anaheim

Right now (5:15 pm PDT): about 100 minutes via I-5 North, usually 92 at this time.

On weekdays the 96-mile drive from San Diego to Anaheim (via I-5 North) usually takes as little as 87 minutes and up to 116 minutes, when leaving around 3 pm on Fridays. The fastest times to leave are before 11:30 am or after 6 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 97 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 12 pm on Sundays (108 minutes).

Drive times are measured from downtown San Diego (East Broadway) to central Anaheim (North Anaheim Boulevard / North Anaheim Boulevard) 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 San Diego to Anaheim 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	87	88	93	93	93	93	94	95	96	97	100	104	98	91	90	89	87
Tue	87	88	93	94	96	95	94	94	95	100	106	111	106	95	90	89	87
Wed	87	89	93	94	96	96	95	96	97	100	108	115	110	96	91	89	87
Thu	87	88	92	93	95	95	94	94	95	97	105	113	110	97	90	89	87
Fri	87	88	90	92	94	95	96	99	103	109	116	114	103	93	91	89	87
Sat	87	87	88	89	92	98	106	107	102	100	98	97	93	91	91	90	87
Sun	87	87	87	88	90	96	105	108	106	103	100	98	96	93	92	90	87

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 San Diego to Anaheim?

On weekdays, leave before 11:30 am or after 6 pm. The drive usually takes about 87 minutes then, versus up to 116 minutes at the worst times.

How long does it take to drive from San Diego to Anaheim?

The 96-mile drive usually takes 87 to 116 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 97 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from San Diego to Anaheim?

Leaving around 3 pm on Fridays is usually slowest, about 116 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

Anaheim to San Diego (return trip) · San Diego to Escondido · San Diego to Oceanside · San Diego to El Cajon · San Diego to Carlsbad · San Diego to Los Angeles · San Diego to Irvine · San Diego to Temecula · San Diego to LAX · San Diego to Riverside

Open the live traffic map →

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	87	88	93	93	93	93	94	95	96	97	100	104	98	91	90	89	87
Tue	87	88	93	94	96	95	94	94	95	100	106	111	106	95	90	89	87
Wed	87	89	93	94	96	96	95	96	97	100	108	115	110	96	91	89	87
Thu	87	88	92	93	95	95	94	94	95	97	105	113	110	97	90	89	87
Fri	87	88	90	92	94	95	96	99	103	109	116	114	103	93	91	89	87
Sat	87	87	88	89	92	98	106	107	102	100	98	97	93	91	91	90	87
Sun	87	87	87	88	90	96	105	108	106	103	100	98	96	93	92	90	87

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	87	88	93	93	93	93	94	95	96	97	100	104	98	91	90	89	87
Tue	87	88	93	94	96	95	94	94	95	100	106	111	106	95	90	89	87
Wed	87	89	93	94	96	96	95	96	97	100	108	115	110	96	91	89	87
Thu	87	88	92	93	95	95	94	94	95	97	105	113	110	97	90	89	87
Fri	87	88	90	92	94	95	96	99	103	109	116	114	103	93	91	89	87
Sat	87	87	88	89	92	98	106	107	102	100	98	97	93	91	91	90	87
Sun	87	87	87	88	90	96	105	108	106	103	100	98	96	93	92	90	87

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	87	88	93	93	93	93	94	95	96	97	100	104	98	91	90	89	87
Tue	87	88	93	94	96	95	94	94	95	100	106	111	106	95	90	89	87
Wed	87	89	93	94	96	96	95	96	97	100	108	115	110	96	91	89	87
Thu	87	88	92	93	95	95	94	94	95	97	105	113	110	97	90	89	87
Fri	87	88	90	92	94	95	96	99	103	109	116	114	103	93	91	89	87
Sat	87	87	88	89	92	98	106	107	102	100	98	97	93	91	91	90	87
Sun	87	87	87	88	90	96	105	108	106	103	100	98	96	93	92	90	87