Origin
Hollywood, CA
Afternoon in Hollywood on Sunday
Local time
3:06 PM
PDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hollywood, CA to Irvine, CA
Drive Time
57m
Distance
46.6 mi
75 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 53m
★
6 AM
0h 57m
8 AM
1h 7m
10 AM
1h 1m
12 PM
1h 0m
3 PM
1h 1m
5 PM
1h 6m
8 PM
0h 55m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hollywood, CA
Abhishek Navlakha
Irvine, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Trip Overview
The drive from Hollywood, CA to Irvine, CA covers 46.6 miles and takes about 57m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Santa Ana Freeway, Hollywood Freeway, Costa Mesa Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 32.2 miles on Santa Ana Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.79 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
23.3 miles from Hollywood, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 30m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 57m highway drive covering 46.6 miles, with most of the trip on Santa Ana Freeway and Hollywood Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 32.2 miles on Santa Ana Freeway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Santa Ana Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 32.2 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
354 ft
54 ft
Total Climb
86 ft
Total Descent
386 ft
Highest Point
354 ft
Elevation Range
300 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Santa Ana Freeway and Hollywood Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Sunset Boulevard.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 46.6 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: near the start (West Sunset Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 35.1 miles (I 5 / Santa Ana Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 35.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West Sunset Boulevard
Turn left onto West Sunset Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
35.1 mi into trip
|
~44m in
|
I 5 / Santa Ana Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 / Santa Ana Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
35.3 mi into trip
|
~44m in
Take the exit toward Broadway, Main Street, Santa Ana
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Broadway, Main Street, Santa Ana
7
39.1 mi into trip
|
~48m in
Take the exit toward CA 55 South: Newport Beach
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 103
Toward CA 55 South: Newport Beach
7
43.2 mi into trip
|
~53m in
Take the exit toward I 405 South: John Wayne Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 6B
Toward I 405 South: John Wayne Airport
Towns Along This Route
Between Hollywood, CA and Irvine, CA, road signs point toward Broadway and Santa Ana.
Broadway
35.3 mi in
|
~44m
Santa Ana
35.3 mi in
|
~44m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Ana Freeway | 32.2 mi | 38m |
| Hollywood Freeway | 4.8 mi | 6m |
| Costa Mesa Freeway | 3.7 mi | 4m |
| San Diego Freeway | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| West Sunset Boulevard | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Vine Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Santa Ana Freeway
— 32.2 mi, about 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hollywood, CA and Irvine, CA.
1
Start on Vine Street
124 ft
·
10 sec
·
Vine Street
2
Turn left onto West Sunset Boulevard
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West Sunset Boulevard
Use the left lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward US 101 South
4
Merge onto US 101
4.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Hollywood Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on US 101
29 mi
·
35 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
57 sec
Toward Broadway, Main Street, Santa Ana
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
12 sec
Toward I 5 South
10
Merge onto I 5
0.8 mi
·
54 sec
·
Santa Ana Freeway
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
0.8 mi
·
52 sec
·
Santa Ana Freeway
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 103
Toward CA 55 South: Newport Beach
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto CA 55
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Costa Mesa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
39 sec
Exit 6B
Toward I 405 South: John Wayne Airport
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
Toward I 405 South
17
Merge onto I 405
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Arrive at destination
I 405
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 23.3 miles from Hollywood, CA, or about 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 32.2 miles.
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 46.6 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 23.3 miles or 30m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 49m
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 Hollywood, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Hollywood, CA
This is one driving day of about 46.6 miles and 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Hollywood, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Santa Ana Freeway for about 32.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 23.3 mi from Hollywood, CA · 30m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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 46.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.3 miles from Hollywood, 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
$10.79 one way
$21.58 round trip
$5.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $11.13 | $22.26 |
| premium | $6.24 | $11.45 | $22.91 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $10.35 | $20.71 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14 | 0 | $4.89 | $2.24 |
| Efficient EV | 11.7 | 0 | $4.08 | $1.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.6 | 0 | $6.52 | $2.98 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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 Sunday
Local time
3:06 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
57m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Hollywood, CA to Irvine, CA covers 46.6 miles and takes about 57m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Santa Ana Freeway, Hollywood Freeway, Costa Mesa Freeway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 23.3 miles from Hollywood, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $10.79 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 46.6 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: near the start (West Sunset Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 35.1 miles (I 5 / Santa Ana Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 35.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Hollywood, CA and Irvine, CA, road signs point toward Broadway and Santa Ana.
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