Best Time to Drive from SNA to Pasadena

Right now (9:46 am PDT): about 43 minutes via I-5 North, usually 44 at this time.

On weekdays the 44-mile drive from SNA to Pasadena (via I-5 North) usually takes as little as 41 minutes and up to 62 minutes, when leaving around 5 pm on Wednesdays. The fastest times to leave are before 7 am or after 7:30 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 48 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 4 pm on Saturdays (49 minutes).

⇄ Reverse trip: Pasadena to SNA

Drive times are measured from John Wayne Airport, Orange County (SNA) (Paularino Avenue) to Old Pasadena (East Holly 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 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	41	43	46	49	47	46	46	46	47	49	53	55	57	51	44	43	42
Tue	41	43	46	49	48	47	47	47	48	49	54	57	60	55	47	43	42
Wed	41	43	46	49	48	47	46	47	48	50	55	58	62	56	47	44	42
Thu	41	43	46	48	48	46	46	46	47	51	54	58	61	55	47	43	42
Fri	41	43	45	47	46	46	47	47	50	54	59	60	60	54	46	44	42
Sat	41	42	43	43	44	44	45	45	46	47	49	49	47	46	44	44	42
Sun	41	41	42	42	43	44	45	45	46	46	46	46	46	45	45	46	42

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 Pasadena?

On weekdays, leave before 7 am or after 7:30 pm. The drive usually takes about 41 minutes then, versus up to 62 minutes at the worst times.

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

The 44-mile drive usually takes 41 to 62 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 48 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from SNA to Pasadena?

Leaving around 5 pm on Wednesdays is usually slowest, about 62 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

Pasadena to SNA (return trip) · SNA to Los Angeles · SNA to Santa Monica · 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	41	43	46	49	47	46	46	46	47	49	53	55	57	51	44	43	42
Tue	41	43	46	49	48	47	47	47	48	49	54	57	60	55	47	43	42
Wed	41	43	46	49	48	47	46	47	48	50	55	58	62	56	47	44	42
Thu	41	43	46	48	48	46	46	46	47	51	54	58	61	55	47	43	42
Fri	41	43	45	47	46	46	47	47	50	54	59	60	60	54	46	44	42
Sat	41	42	43	43	44	44	45	45	46	47	49	49	47	46	44	44	42
Sun	41	41	42	42	43	44	45	45	46	46	46	46	46	45	45	46	42

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	41	43	46	49	47	46	46	46	47	49	53	55	57	51	44	43	42
Tue	41	43	46	49	48	47	47	47	48	49	54	57	60	55	47	43	42
Wed	41	43	46	49	48	47	46	47	48	50	55	58	62	56	47	44	42
Thu	41	43	46	48	48	46	46	46	47	51	54	58	61	55	47	43	42
Fri	41	43	45	47	46	46	47	47	50	54	59	60	60	54	46	44	42
Sat	41	42	43	43	44	44	45	45	46	47	49	49	47	46	44	44	42
Sun	41	41	42	42	43	44	45	45	46	46	46	46	46	45	45	46	42

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	41	43	46	49	47	46	46	46	47	49	53	55	57	51	44	43	42
Tue	41	43	46	49	48	47	47	47	48	49	54	57	60	55	47	43	42
Wed	41	43	46	49	48	47	46	47	48	50	55	58	62	56	47	44	42
Thu	41	43	46	48	48	46	46	46	47	51	54	58	61	55	47	43	42
Fri	41	43	45	47	46	46	47	47	50	54	59	60	60	54	46	44	42
Sat	41	42	43	43	44	44	45	45	46	47	49	49	47	46	44	44	42
Sun	41	41	42	42	43	44	45	45	46	46	46	46	46	45	45	46	42