Best Time to Drive from San Diego to Irvine

Right now (9:01 am PDT): about 94 minutes via I-5 North, usually 81 at this time.

On weekdays the 84-mile drive from San Diego to Irvine (via I-5 North) usually takes as little as 77 minutes and up to 99 minutes, when leaving around 3 pm on Fridays. The fastest times to leave are before 2 pm or after 6 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 84 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 12 pm on Sundays (96 minutes).

Typical drive time by departure time

Minutes from San Diego to Irvine 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	77	78	81	82	83	82	84	83	83	82	84	86	85	80	79	79	78
Tue	77	78	81	83	84	83	82	82	82	83	88	92	90	83	79	79	78
Wed	77	78	81	83	84	84	83	83	83	84	89	95	93	84	80	79	78
Thu	77	78	80	82	83	84	83	83	82	83	90	97	95	85	80	79	78
Fri	77	78	80	81	82	83	84	86	88	92	99	96	89	81	80	80	77
Sat	77	77	78	79	81	87	94	95	90	88	86	85	82	80	80	80	77
Sun	77	77	77	78	80	85	94	96	95	92	89	87	84	81	81	81	78

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 Irvine?

On weekdays, leave before 2 pm or after 6 pm. The drive usually takes about 77 minutes then, versus up to 99 minutes at the worst times.

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

The 84-mile drive usually takes 77 to 99 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 84 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from San Diego to Irvine?

Leaving around 3 pm on Fridays is usually slowest, about 99 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

Irvine 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 Temecula

Open the live traffic map →

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	77	78	81	82	83	82	84	83	83	82	84	86	85	80	79	79	78
Tue	77	78	81	83	84	83	82	82	82	83	88	92	90	83	79	79	78
Wed	77	78	81	83	84	84	83	83	83	84	89	95	93	84	80	79	78
Thu	77	78	80	82	83	84	83	83	82	83	90	97	95	85	80	79	78
Fri	77	78	80	81	82	83	84	86	88	92	99	96	89	81	80	80	77
Sat	77	77	78	79	81	87	94	95	90	88	86	85	82	80	80	80	77
Sun	77	77	77	78	80	85	94	96	95	92	89	87	84	81	81	81	78

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	77	78	81	82	83	82	84	83	83	82	84	86	85	80	79	79	78
Tue	77	78	81	83	84	83	82	82	82	83	88	92	90	83	79	79	78
Wed	77	78	81	83	84	84	83	83	83	84	89	95	93	84	80	79	78
Thu	77	78	80	82	83	84	83	83	82	83	90	97	95	85	80	79	78
Fri	77	78	80	81	82	83	84	86	88	92	99	96	89	81	80	80	77
Sat	77	77	78	79	81	87	94	95	90	88	86	85	82	80	80	80	77
Sun	77	77	77	78	80	85	94	96	95	92	89	87	84	81	81	81	78

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	77	78	81	82	83	82	84	83	83	82	84	86	85	80	79	79	78
Tue	77	78	81	83	84	83	82	82	82	83	88	92	90	83	79	79	78
Wed	77	78	81	83	84	84	83	83	83	84	89	95	93	84	80	79	78
Thu	77	78	80	82	83	84	83	83	82	83	90	97	95	85	80	79	78
Fri	77	78	80	81	82	83	84	86	88	92	99	96	89	81	80	80	77
Sat	77	77	78	79	81	87	94	95	90	88	86	85	82	80	80	80	77
Sun	77	77	77	78	80	85	94	96	95	92	89	87	84	81	81	81	78