Best Time to Drive from SNA to LAX

Right now (1:05 pm PST): about 48 minutes via I-405 North, usually 56 at this time.

Only 2% of this drive is measured by working traffic sensors right now. The rest is estimated from nearby sensors, typical speeds and street traffic, so times can be off. Why so few sensors work.

Typical drive time by departure time

Minutes from SNA to LAX 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	38	40	42	44	44	44	45	45	48	50	59	59	61	56	43	42	39
Tue	38	40	43	52	51	47	45	50	58	59	60	60	64	64	50	44	40
Wed	38	41	43	54	51	49	50	51	62	63	63	65	66	67	58	54	41
Thu	38	41	43	50	48	45	45	51	56	59	61	65	64	57	51	47	39
Fri	38	40	42	48	45	42	43	56	56	57	58	53	51	49	45	43	39
Sat	39	38	39	40	41	41	43	45	47	48	49	45	45	43	45	43	39
Sun	39	39	39	39	40	41	42	42	43	43	43	43	43	42	42	42	39

About this drive

On weekdays the 41-mile drive from SNA to LAX (via I-405 North) usually takes as little as 38 minutes and up to 67 minutes, when leaving around 4:30 pm on Wednesdays. The fastest times to leave are before 7 am or after 9 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 52 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 2:30 pm on Saturdays (52 minutes).

About 36 miles of it is freeway, where times follow typical and live traffic from our sensors, and about 4 miles surface streets (7 to 22 minutes on weekdays), estimated from how jammed the freeways around them are at that time. Drive times are measured from John Wayne Airport, Orange County (SNA) (Paularino Avenue) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) along the route on the map. Starting or ending elsewhere in a big city can add or save several minutes.

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. We don't have sensors on surface streets yet, so the time on them is estimated from how congested the freeways around each end of the drive are at that time, in both directions: streets jam when the freeways do.

Questions

What is the best time to drive from SNA to LAX?

On weekdays, leave before 7 am or after 9 pm. The drive usually takes about 38 minutes then, versus up to 67 minutes at the worst times.

How long does it take to drive from SNA to LAX?

The 41-mile drive usually takes 38 to 67 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 52 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from SNA to LAX?

Leaving around 4:30 pm on Wednesdays is usually slowest, about 67 minutes.

Freeways on this drive

I-405 North in Los Angeles (19 miles) · I-405 North in Orange County (16 miles)

Orange County traffic right now · Orange County traffic tomorrow · Los Angeles traffic right now · Los Angeles traffic tomorrow

SNA to LAX over Thanksgiving: when to leave →

More drives

LAX to SNA (return trip) · SNA to Los Angeles · SNA to Santa Monica · SNA to Pasadena · SNA to Long Beach · SNA to West Covina · SNA to Burbank · SNA to Glendale · SNA to Santa Clarita · SNA to Van Nuys · SNA to Torrance · SNA 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	38	40	42	44	44	44	45	45	48	50	59	59	61	56	43	42	39
Tue	38	40	43	52	51	47	45	50	58	59	60	60	64	64	50	44	40
Wed	38	41	43	54	51	49	50	51	62	63	63	65	66	67	58	54	41
Thu	38	41	43	50	48	45	45	51	56	59	61	65	64	57	51	47	39
Fri	38	40	42	48	45	42	43	56	56	57	58	53	51	49	45	43	39
Sat	39	38	39	40	41	41	43	45	47	48	49	45	45	43	45	43	39
Sun	39	39	39	39	40	41	42	42	43	43	43	43	43	42	42	42	39

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	38	40	42	44	44	44	45	45	48	50	59	59	61	56	43	42	39
Tue	38	40	43	52	51	47	45	50	58	59	60	60	64	64	50	44	40
Wed	38	41	43	54	51	49	50	51	62	63	63	65	66	67	58	54	41
Thu	38	41	43	50	48	45	45	51	56	59	61	65	64	57	51	47	39
Fri	38	40	42	48	45	42	43	56	56	57	58	53	51	49	45	43	39
Sat	39	38	39	40	41	41	43	45	47	48	49	45	45	43	45	43	39
Sun	39	39	39	39	40	41	42	42	43	43	43	43	43	42	42	42	39

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	38	40	42	44	44	44	45	45	48	50	59	59	61	56	43	42	39
Tue	38	40	43	52	51	47	45	50	58	59	60	60	64	64	50	44	40
Wed	38	41	43	54	51	49	50	51	62	63	63	65	66	67	58	54	41
Thu	38	41	43	50	48	45	45	51	56	59	61	65	64	57	51	47	39
Fri	38	40	42	48	45	42	43	56	56	57	58	53	51	49	45	43	39
Sat	39	38	39	40	41	41	43	45	47	48	49	45	45	43	45	43	39
Sun	39	39	39	39	40	41	42	42	43	43	43	43	43	42	42	42	39