Origin
Folsom, CA
Afternoon in Folsom on Monday
Local time
1:27 PM
PDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Folsom, CA to Irvine, CA
Drive Time
7h 4m
Distance
451 mi
726 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$104
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 53m
★
6 AM
7h 5m
8 AM
7h 27m
10 AM
7h 12m
12 PM
7h 10m
3 PM
7h 13m
5 PM
7h 26m
8 PM
6h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Folsom, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Irvine, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Trip Overview
The drive from Folsom, CA to Irvine, CA covers 451 miles and takes about 7h 4m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Reading Street, Leidesdorff Street, Folsom Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $104.44 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
225.5 miles from Folsom, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 32m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 7h 4m drive with frequent turns across 451 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 41 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Reading Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
The route itself is not hard, but at 7h 4m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Folsom, CA to Irvine, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Leidesdorff Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Folsom Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 50 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| El Dorado Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Bradshaw Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Grant Line Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Kammerer Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Reading Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Folsom, CA and Irvine, CA.
1
Start on Sutter Street
0.3 mi
·
52 sec
·
Sutter Street
2
Turn right onto Reading Street
364 ft
·
15 sec
·
Reading Street
3
Turn left onto Leidesdorff Street
161 ft
·
6 sec
·
Leidesdorff Street
4
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
5
Turn straight onto Folsom Boulevard
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Folsom Boulevard
6
Take the ramp slight right toward US 50 West: Sacramento
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
US 50 West: Sacramento
7
Merge slight left onto El Dorado Freeway
8.6 mi
·
9 min
·
El Dorado Freeway
8
Take the exit slight right toward Bradshaw Road
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
Bradshaw Road
9
Turn left onto Bradshaw Road
9.0 mi
·
12 min
·
Bradshaw Road
10
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Bradshaw Road
82 ft
·
2 sec
·
Bradshaw Road
11
Exit the roundabout onto Bradshaw Road
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Bradshaw Road
12
Turn right onto Grant Line Road
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Grant Line Road
13
Continue on Kammerer Road
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
·
Kammerer Road
14
Take the ramp slight right
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
15
Merge slight left onto South Sacramento Freeway
30 mi
·
34 min
·
South Sacramento Freeway
16
Take the exit slight right toward CA 4
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
CA 4
17
Merge slight left onto Crosstown Freeway
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Crosstown Freeway
18
Take the exit slight right toward I 5: Sacramento
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
·
I 5: Sacramento
19
Keep slight left to continue on I 5 South
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
I 5 South
20
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
13 mi
·
14 min
·
Westside Freeway
21
Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway
0.8 mi
·
49 sec
·
Westside Freeway
22
Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway
237 mi
·
4 hr 13 min
·
Westside Freeway
23
Keep slight right
58 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
24
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Golden State Freeway
25
Keep slight right to continue on I 405 South
0.3 mi
·
18 sec
·
I 405 South
26
Keep slight left
25 mi
·
29 min
27
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Golden State Freeway
28
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
26 mi
·
30 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
29
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
Santa Ana Freeway
30
Take the exit slight right toward Broadway, Main Street, Santa Ana
0.8 mi
·
57 sec
·
Broadway, Main Street, Santa Ana
31
Keep slight left
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
32
Keep slight left to continue on I 5 South
0.2 mi
·
13 sec
·
I 5 South
33
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
0.8 mi
·
54 sec
·
Santa Ana Freeway
34
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
0.8 mi
·
52 sec
·
Santa Ana Freeway
35
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
36
Take the exit slight right toward CA 55 South: Newport Beach
0.4 mi
·
28 sec
·
CA 55 South: Newport Beach
37
Merge slight left onto Costa Mesa Freeway
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Costa Mesa Freeway
38
Take the exit slight right toward I 405 South: John Wayne Airport
0.6 mi
·
39 sec
·
I 405 South: John Wayne Airport
39
Keep slight left to continue on I 405 South
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
·
I 405 South
40
Merge slight left onto San Diego Freeway
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
San Diego Freeway
41
Arrive at your destination
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 225.5 miles from Folsom, CA, or about 3h 32m into the drive.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 99 miles or 1h 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 225.5 miles or 3h 32m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 8m
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 Folsom, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Folsom, CA
This is one driving day of about 451 miles and 7h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 99 miles from Folsom, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 225.5 mi from Folsom, CA · 3h 32m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
226 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 99 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 225.5 miles from Folsom, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Irvine, CA
The final approach into Irvine, CA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Irvine, CA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$104.44 one way
$208.88 round trip
$5.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
158 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $107.71 | $215.41 |
| premium | $6.24 | $110.85 | $221.70 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $100.20 | $200.39 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$104
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$129–$154
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 157.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $47 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 135.3 | 1 | $47.35 | $21.65 |
| Efficient EV | 112.8 | 1 | $39.46 | $18.04 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 180.4 | 2 | $63.14 | $28.86 |
Gas CO2
158 kg
EV CO2
53 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Monday
Local time
1:27 PM
PDT
Current temp
74°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.
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
7h 4m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Folsom, CA to Irvine, CA covers 451 miles and takes about 7h 4m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Reading Street, Leidesdorff Street, Folsom Boulevard. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 225.5 miles from Folsom, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $104.44 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
The route itself is not hard, but at 7h 4m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Folsom, CA to Irvine, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Folsom, CA to Irvine, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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