Best Time to Drive from SNA to Los Angeles

Right now (10:01 am PDT): about 36 minutes via I-5 North, usually 38 at this time.

On weekdays the 39-mile drive from SNA to Los Angeles (via I-5 North) usually takes as little as 35 minutes and up to 55 minutes, when leaving around 5 pm on Wednesdays. The fastest times to leave are before 6 am or after 7:30 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 43 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 3:30 pm on Saturdays (44 minutes).

⇄ Reverse trip: Los Angeles to SNA

Drive times are measured from John Wayne Airport, Orange County (SNA) (Paularino Avenue) to Downtown LA (City Hall) (West 1st Street) 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 SNA 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	35	40	45	48	44	42	41	41	42	43	46	48	50	45	38	37	35
Tue	35	40	45	49	46	44	43	42	42	43	47	49	53	49	41	37	35
Wed	35	40	46	49	46	43	42	42	42	44	47	51	55	50	41	38	36
Thu	35	40	45	48	46	43	42	42	42	45	47	50	53	48	41	37	35
Fri	35	39	43	44	43	43	43	43	45	49	52	53	53	48	40	38	36
Sat	35	36	36	37	38	40	41	41	42	43	43	44	42	40	39	38	36
Sun	35	35	35	35	37	38	40	40	42	42	42	41	40	40	39	40	36

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 SNA to Los Angeles?

On weekdays, leave before 6 am or after 7:30 pm. The drive usually takes about 35 minutes then, versus up to 55 minutes at the worst times.

How long does it take to drive from SNA to Los Angeles?

The 39-mile drive usually takes 35 to 55 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 43 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from SNA to Los Angeles?

Leaving around 5 pm on Wednesdays is usually slowest, about 55 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

Los Angeles to SNA (return trip) · 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 LAX · 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	35	40	45	48	44	42	41	41	42	43	46	48	50	45	38	37	35
Tue	35	40	45	49	46	44	43	42	42	43	47	49	53	49	41	37	35
Wed	35	40	46	49	46	43	42	42	42	44	47	51	55	50	41	38	36
Thu	35	40	45	48	46	43	42	42	42	45	47	50	53	48	41	37	35
Fri	35	39	43	44	43	43	43	43	45	49	52	53	53	48	40	38	36
Sat	35	36	36	37	38	40	41	41	42	43	43	44	42	40	39	38	36
Sun	35	35	35	35	37	38	40	40	42	42	42	41	40	40	39	40	36

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	35	40	45	48	44	42	41	41	42	43	46	48	50	45	38	37	35
Tue	35	40	45	49	46	44	43	42	42	43	47	49	53	49	41	37	35
Wed	35	40	46	49	46	43	42	42	42	44	47	51	55	50	41	38	36
Thu	35	40	45	48	46	43	42	42	42	45	47	50	53	48	41	37	35
Fri	35	39	43	44	43	43	43	43	45	49	52	53	53	48	40	38	36
Sat	35	36	36	37	38	40	41	41	42	43	43	44	42	40	39	38	36
Sun	35	35	35	35	37	38	40	40	42	42	42	41	40	40	39	40	36

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	35	40	45	48	44	42	41	41	42	43	46	48	50	45	38	37	35
Tue	35	40	45	49	46	44	43	42	42	43	47	49	53	49	41	37	35
Wed	35	40	46	49	46	43	42	42	42	44	47	51	55	50	41	38	36
Thu	35	40	45	48	46	43	42	42	42	45	47	50	53	48	41	37	35
Fri	35	39	43	44	43	43	43	43	45	49	52	53	53	48	40	38	36
Sat	35	36	36	37	38	40	41	41	42	43	43	44	42	40	39	38	36
Sun	35	35	35	35	37	38	40	40	42	42	42	41	40	40	39	40	36