Best Time to Drive from Santa Barbara to Irvine

Right now (5:00 pm PDT): about 160 minutes via US-101 South and I-5 South, usually 142 at this time.

On weekdays the 134-mile drive from Santa Barbara to Irvine (via US-101 South and I-5 South) usually takes as little as 128 minutes and up to 195 minutes, when leaving around 2 pm on Fridays. The fastest times to leave are before 5:30 am or after 6:30 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 163 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 2 pm on Saturdays (165 minutes).

Drive times are measured from central Santa Barbara (Anacapa Street) to central Irvine (Harvard Avenue) 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 Santa Barbara 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	139	167	165	155	149	146	148	150	157	168	178	169	154	137	131	129	128
Tue	142	177	172	160	154	149	147	148	158	171	183	177	162	141	132	129	128
Wed	141	176	173	161	154	150	150	153	164	176	187	182	166	142	133	129	128
Thu	140	174	172	162	157	153	155	158	168	183	192	187	170	146	134	129	128
Fri	137	160	161	156	153	156	163	173	187	195	189	185	165	144	134	130	128
Sat	129	131	134	135	142	148	156	163	164	165	162	154	142	135	134	130	128
Sun	127	128	129	131	133	137	144	151	155	154	149	143	138	136	136	131	128

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 Barbara to Irvine?

On weekdays, leave before 5:30 am or after 6:30 pm. The drive usually takes about 128 minutes then, versus up to 195 minutes at the worst times.

How long does it take to drive from Santa Barbara to Irvine?

The 134-mile drive usually takes 128 to 195 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 163 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Santa Barbara to Irvine?

Leaving around 2 pm on Fridays is usually slowest, about 195 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

Irvine to Santa Barbara (return trip) · Santa Barbara to LAX · Santa Barbara to Los Angeles · Santa Barbara to Santa Monica · Santa Barbara to Pasadena · Santa Barbara to Van Nuys

Open the live traffic map →

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	139	167	165	155	149	146	148	150	157	168	178	169	154	137	131	129	128
Tue	142	177	172	160	154	149	147	148	158	171	183	177	162	141	132	129	128
Wed	141	176	173	161	154	150	150	153	164	176	187	182	166	142	133	129	128
Thu	140	174	172	162	157	153	155	158	168	183	192	187	170	146	134	129	128
Fri	137	160	161	156	153	156	163	173	187	195	189	185	165	144	134	130	128
Sat	129	131	134	135	142	148	156	163	164	165	162	154	142	135	134	130	128
Sun	127	128	129	131	133	137	144	151	155	154	149	143	138	136	136	131	128

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	139	167	165	155	149	146	148	150	157	168	178	169	154	137	131	129	128
Tue	142	177	172	160	154	149	147	148	158	171	183	177	162	141	132	129	128
Wed	141	176	173	161	154	150	150	153	164	176	187	182	166	142	133	129	128
Thu	140	174	172	162	157	153	155	158	168	183	192	187	170	146	134	129	128
Fri	137	160	161	156	153	156	163	173	187	195	189	185	165	144	134	130	128
Sat	129	131	134	135	142	148	156	163	164	165	162	154	142	135	134	130	128
Sun	127	128	129	131	133	137	144	151	155	154	149	143	138	136	136	131	128

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	139	167	165	155	149	146	148	150	157	168	178	169	154	137	131	129	128
Tue	142	177	172	160	154	149	147	148	158	171	183	177	162	141	132	129	128
Wed	141	176	173	161	154	150	150	153	164	176	187	182	166	142	133	129	128
Thu	140	174	172	162	157	153	155	158	168	183	192	187	170	146	134	129	128
Fri	137	160	161	156	153	156	163	173	187	195	189	185	165	144	134	130	128
Sat	129	131	134	135	142	148	156	163	164	165	162	154	142	135	134	130	128
Sun	127	128	129	131	133	137	144	151	155	154	149	143	138	136	136	131	128