Best Time to Drive from Santa Ana to Los Angeles

Right now (9:01 am PDT): about 31 minutes via I-5 North, usually 32 at this time.

On weekdays the 33-mile drive from Santa Ana to Los Angeles (via I-5 North) usually takes as little as 29 minutes and up to 42 minutes, when leaving around 7:30 am on Tuesdays. The fastest times to leave are before 6 am or after 7:30 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 36 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 3:30 pm on Saturdays (36 minutes).

Typical drive time by departure time

Minutes from Santa Ana to Los Angeles 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	29	33	38	41	38	36	35	35	35	35	36	37	39	36	31	31	30
Tue	29	34	39	42	40	38	36	35	35	34	36	38	40	38	33	31	30
Wed	29	34	39	42	39	37	36	36	35	35	37	39	41	39	34	31	30
Thu	29	34	38	41	39	37	36	35	35	36	37	39	41	38	34	31	30
Fri	29	33	36	38	37	36	36	36	37	39	41	41	42	39	33	32	30
Sat	30	30	31	31	32	34	34	35	35	35	36	36	34	33	32	32	30
Sun	30	30	30	30	31	32	33	34	35	35	35	34	34	33	33	34	30

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 Santa Ana to Los Angeles?

On weekdays, leave before 6 am or after 7:30 pm. The drive usually takes about 29 minutes then, versus up to 42 minutes at the worst times.

How long does it take to drive from Santa Ana to Los Angeles?

The 33-mile drive usually takes 29 to 42 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 36 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Santa Ana to Los Angeles?

Leaving around 7:30 am on Tuesdays is usually slowest, about 42 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

Los Angeles to Santa Ana (return trip) · Santa Ana to Santa Monica · Santa Ana to Pasadena · Santa Ana to Long Beach · Santa Ana to West Covina · Santa Ana to Burbank · Santa Ana to Glendale · Santa Ana to Santa Clarita · Santa Ana to Van Nuys · Santa Ana to Torrance · Santa Ana to LAX · Santa Ana 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	29	33	38	41	38	36	35	35	35	35	36	37	39	36	31	31	30
Tue	29	34	39	42	40	38	36	35	35	34	36	38	40	38	33	31	30
Wed	29	34	39	42	39	37	36	36	35	35	37	39	41	39	34	31	30
Thu	29	34	38	41	39	37	36	35	35	36	37	39	41	38	34	31	30
Fri	29	33	36	38	37	36	36	36	37	39	41	41	42	39	33	32	30
Sat	30	30	31	31	32	34	34	35	35	35	36	36	34	33	32	32	30
Sun	30	30	30	30	31	32	33	34	35	35	35	34	34	33	33	34	30

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	29	33	38	41	38	36	35	35	35	35	36	37	39	36	31	31	30
Tue	29	34	39	42	40	38	36	35	35	34	36	38	40	38	33	31	30
Wed	29	34	39	42	39	37	36	36	35	35	37	39	41	39	34	31	30
Thu	29	34	38	41	39	37	36	35	35	36	37	39	41	38	34	31	30
Fri	29	33	36	38	37	36	36	36	37	39	41	41	42	39	33	32	30
Sat	30	30	31	31	32	34	34	35	35	35	36	36	34	33	32	32	30
Sun	30	30	30	30	31	32	33	34	35	35	35	34	34	33	33	34	30

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	29	33	38	41	38	36	35	35	35	35	36	37	39	36	31	31	30
Tue	29	34	39	42	40	38	36	35	35	34	36	38	40	38	33	31	30
Wed	29	34	39	42	39	37	36	36	35	35	37	39	41	39	34	31	30
Thu	29	34	38	41	39	37	36	35	35	36	37	39	41	38	34	31	30
Fri	29	33	36	38	37	36	36	36	37	39	41	41	42	39	33	32	30
Sat	30	30	31	31	32	34	34	35	35	35	36	36	34	33	32	32	30
Sun	30	30	30	30	31	32	33	34	35	35	35	34	34	33	33	34	30