Best Time to Drive from Santa Ana to Riverside

Right now (9:01 am PDT): about 38 minutes via SR-91 East, usually 39 at this time.

On weekdays the 40-mile drive from Santa Ana to Riverside (via SR-91 East) usually takes as little as 36 minutes and up to 50 minutes, when leaving around 3:30 pm on Fridays. The fastest times to leave are before 7 am or after 8 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 42 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 4 pm on Saturdays (41 minutes).

Typical drive time by departure time

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

On weekdays, leave before 7 am or after 8 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 Riverside?

The 40-mile drive usually takes 36 to 50 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 42 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Santa Ana to Riverside?

Leaving around 3:30 pm on Fridays is usually slowest, about 50 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

Riverside to Santa Ana (return trip) · Santa Ana to Los Angeles · 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

Open the live traffic map →

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

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

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