Origin
Murray Field, CA
Afternoon in Murray Field on Saturday
Local time
1:44 PM
PDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Murray Field, CA to Irvine, CA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
13h 15m
Distance
687.2 mi
1,106 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$158
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
13h 4m
★
6 AM
13h 16m
8 AM
13h 40m
10 AM
13h 24m
12 PM
13h 22m
3 PM
13h 26m
5 PM
13h 39m
8 PM
13h 9m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Murray Field, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Irvine, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Murray Field, CA to Irvine, CA covers 687.2 miles and takes about 13h 15m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on Redwood Highway, Westside Freeway, I 5 Truck for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-haul drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 246.4 miles on Redwood Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $157.95 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
3 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
343.6 miles from Murray Field, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 6h 56m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Redwood Highway | 246.4 mi | 4h 58m |
| Westside Freeway | 224.4 mi | 4h |
| I 5 Truck | 83.3 mi | 1h 36m |
| Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway | 29.3 mi | 33m |
| Santa Ana Freeway | 28.6 mi | 33m |
| William Elton Brown Freeway | 17 mi | 18m |
| MacArthur Freeway | 16.4 mi | 18m |
| John T. Knox Freeway | 13.6 mi | 17m |
Longest stretch:
Redwood Highway
— 246.4 mi, about 4h 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Murray Field, CA and Irvine, CA.
1
Start on Airport Road
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Airport Road
2
Continue on Airport Road
128 ft
·
7 sec
·
Airport Road
3
Turn left onto US 101
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Redwood Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Continue on US 101
1.5 mi
·
4 min
·
4th Street
Use the left / right lanes.
5
Turn left onto US 101
3.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Broadway Street
Use the left / right lanes.
6
Continue on US 101
129 mi
·
2 hr 38 min
·
Redwood Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on US 101
5.4 mi
·
6 min
·
Willits Bypass
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on US 101; CA 20
116 mi
·
2 hr 18 min
·
Redwood Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
14 mi
·
17 min
·
John T. Knox Freeway
Exit 451B
Toward I 580: Richmond Bridge, Oakland
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 80; I 580
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Eastshore Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
·
Interstate Highway 80
Toward I 580 East, I 880 South: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, Stockton, Alameda, San Jose
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
16 mi
·
18 min
·
MacArthur Freeway
Toward I 580: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, Stockton
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 580
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
11 mi
·
11 min
·
William Elton Brown Freeway
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
5.9 mi
·
6 min
·
William Elton Brown Freeway
17
Merge onto I 5
224 mi
·
4 hr
·
Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
58 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
·
I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
0.3 mi
·
17 sec
·
I 5 Truck
Exit 158
Toward I 405 South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck
25 mi
·
29 min
·
I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Toward CA 60 East, I 5 South: Pomona, Soto Street, Santa Ana
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
23
Merge onto I 5
26 mi
·
30 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
57 sec
Toward Broadway, Main Street, Santa Ana
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
12 sec
Toward I 5 South
28
Merge onto I 5
0.8 mi
·
54 sec
·
Santa Ana Freeway
29
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
0.8 mi
·
52 sec
·
Santa Ana Freeway
30
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 103
Toward CA 55 South: Newport Beach
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Merge onto CA 55
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Costa Mesa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
33
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
39 sec
Exit 6B
Toward I 405 South: John Wayne Airport
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
34
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
Toward I 405 South
35
Merge onto I 405
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
36
Arrive at destination
I 405
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 3 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 343.6 miles from Murray Field, CA, or about 6h 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 246.4 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 151 miles or 3h 10m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 343.6 miles or 6h 56m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 343.6 miles or 6h 56m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 12h 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Irvine, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Murray Field, CA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Murray Field, CA
Aim for roughly 344 miles and 6.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Irvine, CA
Aim for roughly 344 miles and 6.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 151 miles from Murray Field, CA.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 3 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Redwood Highway for about 246.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
227 mi into the route
Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch
This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.
Second major stop
Overnight candidate
454 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Castro Valley, CAOvernight Options
Night 1
344 mi · about 6.6h in
A practical overnight split lands near Santa Rosa, CA after about 344 miles or 6.6 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 151 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 343.6 miles from Murray Field, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Redwood Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 246.4 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 344 miles or 6.6 hours on the road.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 295 decision points cluster between mile 256.5 and 648.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
9
256.5 mi into trip
|
~5h 15m in
|
I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway toward I 580: Richmond Bridge, Oakland
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 451B
Toward I 580: Richmond Bridge, Oakland
8
273.9 mi into trip
|
~5h 37m in
|
I 580 / Interstate Highway 80
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580 / Interstate Highway 80 toward I 580 East, I 880 South: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, Stockton, Alameda, San Jose
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 580 East, I 880 South: Downtown Oaklan...
8
274.1 mi into trip
|
~5h 38m in
|
I 580 / MacArthur Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580 / MacArthur Freeway toward I 580: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, Stockton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 580: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, Stockt...
8
623.7 mi into trip
|
~12h 1m in
|
I 5 Truck
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck toward I 405 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 158
Toward I 405 South
8
648.6 mi into trip
|
~12h 30m in
|
I 5 / Golden State Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 / Golden State Freeway toward CA 60 East, I 5 South: Pomona, Soto Street, Santa Ana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Toward CA 60 East, I 5 South: Pomona, Soto Stre...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$157.95 one way
$315.90 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
240 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $162.76 | $325.53 |
| premium | $6.18 | $167.12 | $334.24 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $151.73 | $303.45 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$158
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$288–$398
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 240.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $72 in charging · 2 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 206.2 | 2 | $72.16 | $32.99 |
| Efficient EV | 171.8 | 1 | $60.13 | $27.49 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 274.9 | 3 | $96.21 | $43.98 |
Gas CO2
240 kg
EV CO2
80 kg (67% less)
Plan for 2 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Irvine, CA
Afternoon in Irvine on Saturday
Local time
1:44 PM
PDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
15 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
13h 15m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
687.2 mi / 13h 15m — a long-haul route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. Biggest road: Redwood Highway.
62% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
36 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 246.4 mi on Redwood Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
At 13h 15m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 256.5 miles in near I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway.
Driving Effort
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 29 significant decision points across 687.2 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 256.5 miles (I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 273.9 miles (I 580 / Interstate Highway 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 274.1 miles (I 580 / MacArthur Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
2,801 ft
5 ft
Total Climb
4,582 ft
Total Descent
4,534 ft
Highest Point
2,801 ft
~589 mi in
Elevation Range
2,795 ft
Notable High Points
2,801 ft at ~589 miles
+2,300 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Murray Field, CA and Irvine, CA, road signs point toward Oakland, Hayward, Stockton, Alameda, San Jose and Santa Ana.
Oakland
256.5 mi in
|
~5h 15m
|
via I 580
Hayward
273.9 mi in
|
~5h 37m
|
via I 580
Stockton
273.9 mi in
|
~5h 37m
|
via I 580
Alameda
273.9 mi in
|
~5h 37m
|
via I 580
San Jose
273.9 mi in
|
~5h 37m
|
via I 580
Santa Ana
648.6 mi in
|
~12h 30m
|
via I 5
About the Cities
Arriving in Irvine, CA
Full guide →Founded 1971
Irvine is a city of 308,000 people (2020) in Orange County, California. Irvine is one of the newest and largest cities in Orange County, and it is still growing. The city is a perfectly planned suburbia. The Irvine Company started developing the area in the 1960s and the city was formally incorporated on December 28, 1971.
Top landmarks
- • Pretend City Children's Museum — children's Museum in California, U.S.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 246.4 miles on Redwood Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 344 miles on day one.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Irvine, CA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 3 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 256.5 miles (I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 273.9 miles (I 580 / Interstate Highway 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 274.1 miles (I 580 / MacArthur Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 13.3 hours each way, a round trip means 26.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Irvine, CA before the return drive.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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