Origin
Fortuna, CA
Afternoon in Fortuna on Thursday
Local time
3:51 PM
PDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fortuna, CA to Irvine, CA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
12h 48m
Distance
667.5 mi
1,074 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$153
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
12h 37m
★
6 AM
12h 49m
8 AM
13h 12m
10 AM
12h 57m
12 PM
12h 54m
3 PM
12h 58m
5 PM
13h 11m
8 PM
12h 42m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fortuna, CA
Ivett M
Irvine, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 667.5-mile journey from Fortuna to Irvine, California, is a substantial undertaking, requiring an estimated 12 hours and 48 minutes of driving time. Given its length, it's best planned as a two-day trip, with an estimated fuel cost of $153. You'll navigate a mix of highways, with 64% of the route on major roads, making it a long-distance drive that covers ground efficiently. While the Pacific Coast region offers a beautiful starting point, the drive progresses inland towards Southern California. With three planned stops, you can break up the travel and ensure a more manageable experience.
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
333.7 miles from Fortuna, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 6h 39m into the drive .
Drive Character
The character of this drive is predominantly highway cruising, with 64% of the 667.5 miles on major roadways like the Redwood Highway and I-5 Truck. You'll encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 230.2 miles on the Redwood Highway, indicating significant periods of consistent travel. While the initial segments might offer some varied scenery, the bulk of the drive is geared towards covering distance efficiently. Expect a long-distance, steady pace as you make your way south through California.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 36 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Redwood Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 230.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
At 12h 48m, 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 236.8 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 31 significant decision points across 667.5 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 236.8 miles (I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 254.2 miles (I 580 / Interstate Highway 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 254.4 miles (I 580 / MacArthur Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 31 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
9
236.8 mi into trip
|
~4h 48m 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
254.2 mi into trip
|
~5h 10m 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
254.4 mi into trip
|
~5h 10m 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
603.9 mi into trip
|
~11h 34m 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
628.9 mi into trip
|
~12h 3m 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...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Fortuna, CA and Irvine, CA, road signs point toward Oakland, Hayward, Stockton, Alameda, San Jose and Santa Ana.
Oakland
236.8 mi in
|
~4h 48m
|
via I 580
Hayward
254.2 mi in
|
~5h 10m
|
via I 580
Stockton
254.2 mi in
|
~5h 10m
|
via I 580
Alameda
254.2 mi in
|
~5h 10m
|
via I 580
San Jose
254.2 mi in
|
~5h 10m
|
via I 580
Santa Ana
628.9 mi in
|
~12h 3m
|
via I 5
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Redwood Highway | 230.2 mi | 4h 39m |
| 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
— 230.2 mi, about 4h 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fortuna, CA and Irvine, CA.
1
Start on this road
80 ft
·
11 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto 9th Street
148 ft
·
13 sec
·
9th Street
3
Turn left onto US 101 Business
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
Main Street
4
Turn right onto 12th Street
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
12th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
6
Merge onto US 101
114 mi
·
2 hr 20 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
For this 12-hour, 48-minute drive, splitting it over two days is highly recommended to avoid fatigue. Aim to start early on your first day to maximize daylight driving and reach your overnight stop comfortably. Plan for at least three stops to stretch your legs and refuel, keeping the estimated $153 fuel cost in mind. Pay attention to traffic, especially as you approach the greater Los Angeles area, as congestion can significantly impact your travel time. A good tip is to ensure your vehicle is in good mechanical condition before departing, given the substantial mileage.
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 333.7 miles from Fortuna, CA, or about 6h 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 230.2 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 147 miles or 3h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 333.7 miles or 6h 39m 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 333.7 miles or 6h 39m
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 11h 38m
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 Fortuna, 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 Fortuna, CA
Aim for roughly 334 miles and 6.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Irvine, CA
Aim for roughly 334 miles and 6.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 147 miles from Fortuna, 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 230.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 333.7 mi from Fortuna, CA · 6h 39m into the drive
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
220 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
441 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 Hayward, CAOvernight Options
Night 1
334 mi · about 6.4h in
A practical overnight split lands near Santa Rosa, CA after about 334 miles or 6.4 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 147 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 333.7 miles from Fortuna, 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 230.2 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 334 miles or 6.4 hours on the road.
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.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Irvine, CA with some flexibility left in the schedule.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$153.42 one way
$306.84 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
234 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $158.10 | $316.20 |
| premium | $6.18 | $162.33 | $324.66 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $147.38 | $294.75 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$153
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$283–$393
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 233.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $70 in charging · 2 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 200.3 | 2 | $70.09 | $32.04 |
| Efficient EV | 166.9 | 1 | $58.41 | $26.70 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 267 | 3 | $93.45 | $42.72 |
Gas CO2
234 kg
EV CO2
78 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 Thursday
Local time
3:51 PM
PDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
68°F
Hayward, CA
441 mi in
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
25 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
12h 48m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Fortuna, CA to Irvine, CA covers 667.5 miles and takes about 12h 48m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Redwood Highway, Westside Freeway, I 5 Truck. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 334 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 333.7 miles from Fortuna, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $153.42 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 3 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 31 significant decision points across 667.5 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 236.8 miles (I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 254.2 miles (I 580 / Interstate Highway 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 254.4 miles (I 580 / MacArthur Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Fortuna, CA and Irvine, CA, road signs point toward Oakland, Hayward, Stockton, Alameda, San Jose and Santa Ana.
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