Best Time to Drive from Santa Ana to Pasadena

Right now (9:01 am PDT): about 38 minutes via I-5 North, usually 38 at this time.

On weekdays the 37-mile drive from Santa Ana to Pasadena (via I-5 North) usually takes as little as 36 minutes and up to 50 minutes, when leaving around 5 pm on Fridays. The fastest times to leave are before 7 am or after 7 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 41 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 3:30 pm on Saturdays (42 minutes).

Typical drive time by departure time

Minutes from Santa Ana to Pasadena 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	36	38	40	42	41	40	40	40	41	41	43	45	46	43	38	38	37
Tue	36	38	40	42	41	41	41	41	41	41	43	46	48	45	40	38	37
Wed	36	38	41	42	42	41	40	41	41	41	44	47	50	46	40	38	37
Thu	36	38	40	42	42	40	40	40	41	42	44	47	49	45	41	38	37
Fri	37	38	40	42	40	41	41	41	43	45	47	49	50	46	39	38	37
Sat	37	37	38	38	38	39	39	40	40	40	41	42	40	39	39	39	37
Sun	37	37	37	37	38	38	39	39	40	40	40	40	40	39	39	40	37

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 Pasadena?

On weekdays, leave before 7 am or after 7 pm. The drive usually takes about 36 minutes then, versus up to 50 minutes at the worst times.

How long does it take to drive from Santa Ana to Pasadena?

The 37-mile drive usually takes 36 to 50 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 41 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Santa Ana to Pasadena?

Leaving around 5 pm on Fridays is usually slowest, about 50 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

Pasadena to Santa Ana (return trip) · Santa Ana to Los Angeles · Santa Ana to Santa Monica · 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	36	38	40	42	41	40	40	40	41	41	43	45	46	43	38	38	37
Tue	36	38	40	42	41	41	41	41	41	41	43	46	48	45	40	38	37
Wed	36	38	41	42	42	41	40	41	41	41	44	47	50	46	40	38	37
Thu	36	38	40	42	42	40	40	40	41	42	44	47	49	45	41	38	37
Fri	37	38	40	42	40	41	41	41	43	45	47	49	50	46	39	38	37
Sat	37	37	38	38	38	39	39	40	40	40	41	42	40	39	39	39	37
Sun	37	37	37	37	38	38	39	39	40	40	40	40	40	39	39	40	37

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	36	38	40	42	41	40	40	40	41	41	43	45	46	43	38	38	37
Tue	36	38	40	42	41	41	41	41	41	41	43	46	48	45	40	38	37
Wed	36	38	41	42	42	41	40	41	41	41	44	47	50	46	40	38	37
Thu	36	38	40	42	42	40	40	40	41	42	44	47	49	45	41	38	37
Fri	37	38	40	42	40	41	41	41	43	45	47	49	50	46	39	38	37
Sat	37	37	38	38	38	39	39	40	40	40	41	42	40	39	39	39	37
Sun	37	37	37	37	38	38	39	39	40	40	40	40	40	39	39	40	37

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	36	38	40	42	41	40	40	40	41	41	43	45	46	43	38	38	37
Tue	36	38	40	42	41	41	41	41	41	41	43	46	48	45	40	38	37
Wed	36	38	41	42	42	41	40	41	41	41	44	47	50	46	40	38	37
Thu	36	38	40	42	42	40	40	40	41	42	44	47	49	45	41	38	37
Fri	37	38	40	42	40	41	41	41	43	45	47	49	50	46	39	38	37
Sat	37	37	38	38	38	39	39	40	40	40	41	42	40	39	39	39	37
Sun	37	37	37	37	38	38	39	39	40	40	40	40	40	39	39	40	37