Origin
Inglewood, CA
Morning in Inglewood on Friday
Local time
11:07 AM
PDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Inglewood, CA to Irvine, CA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
51m
Distance
41.5 mi
67 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Fair
2 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 47m
★
6 AM
0h 51m
8 AM
0h 59m
10 AM
0h 54m
12 PM
0h 53m
3 PM
0h 54m
5 PM
0h 59m
8 PM
0h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Inglewood, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Irvine, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Inglewood, CA to Irvine, CA is 41.5 miles and takes about 51 minutes via the San Diego Freeway, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This largely highway-focused drive keeps you within the Pacific Coast region for its entirety, connecting two Southern California locales. Expect a straightforward commute that's ideal for a quick trip, whether you're heading south for business or leisure. With minimal stops suggested and a short duration, this route is easily managed within a single day.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 51m. Total distance: 41.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 87% of the journey utilizing freeways. You'll spend most of your time on the San Diego Freeway (I-405), experiencing a consistent pace for extended periods. The longest uninterrupted stretch measures 25.7 miles on this main artery, offering a smooth, albeit predictable, driving experience. While Hawthorne Boulevard is part of the route, the majority of your time will be spent on the faster, more direct freeway segments.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
San Diego Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 25.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on San Diego Freeway and I 405. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South La Brea Avenue.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 8 decision points packed into just 41.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 51m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South La Brea Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 23.8 miles (I 405 / San Diego Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 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
|
South La Brea Avenue
Turn left onto South La Brea Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
5.4 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Take the ramp toward I 405 South: Long Beach
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 405 South: Long Beach
6
23.8 mi into trip
|
~30m in
|
I 405 / San Diego Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405 / San Diego Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
26 mi into trip
|
~33m in
|
I 405 / San Diego Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 405 / San Diego Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
26.2 mi into trip
|
~33m in
|
I 405
Keep slight left at fork onto I 405
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| San Diego Freeway | 25.7 mi | 29m |
| I 405 | 10.3 mi | 11m |
| Hawthorne Boulevard | 4.2 mi | 7m |
| South La Brea Avenue | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| East Manchester Boulevard | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
San Diego Freeway
— 25.7 mi, about 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Inglewood, CA and Irvine, CA.
1
Start on East Manchester Boulevard
64 ft
·
8 sec
·
East Manchester Boulevard
2
Turn left onto South La Brea Avenue
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
·
South La Brea Avenue
Use the left lane.
3
Turn right onto South La Brea Avenue
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South La Brea Avenue
Use the right lane.
4
Continue on Hawthorne Boulevard
4.2 mi
·
7 min
·
Hawthorne Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
Toward I 405 South: Long Beach
Use the right lane.
6
Merge onto I 405
18 mi
·
21 min
·
San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 405
0.2 mi
·
11 sec
·
San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 405
10 mi
·
11 min
·
I 405
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 405
5.0 mi
·
5 min
·
San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Arrive at destination
I 405
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 20.7 mi from Inglewood, CA · 27m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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 41.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.7 miles from Inglewood, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Irvine, CA
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Irvine, CA if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.54 one way
$19.08 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $9.83 | $19.66 |
| premium | $6.18 | $10.09 | $20.18 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.16 | $18.33 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.5 | 0 | $4.36 | $1.99 |
| Efficient EV | 10.4 | 0 | $3.63 | $1.66 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.6 | 0 | $5.81 | $2.66 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (67% 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
Morning in Irvine on Friday
Local time
11:07 AM
PDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
2 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
51m 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 Inglewood, CA to Irvine, CA covers 41.5 miles and takes about 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are San Diego Freeway, I 405, Hawthorne Boulevard. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 20.7 miles from Inglewood, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.54 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 short but busy drive. With 8 decision points packed into just 41.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 51m.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South La Brea Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 23.8 miles (I 405 / San Diego Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Inglewood, CA to Irvine, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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