Origin
Irvine, CA
Late night in Irvine on Monday
Local time
3:10 AM
PDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Irvine, CA to Altadena, CA
Drive Time
1h 10m
Distance
52.7 mi
85 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Good
1 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 5m
★
6 AM
1h 11m
8 AM
1h 22m
10 AM
1h 15m
12 PM
1h 14m
3 PM
1h 15m
5 PM
1h 22m
8 PM
1h 8m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Irvine, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Altadena, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Trip Overview
The drive from Irvine, CA to Altadena, CA covers 52.7 miles and takes about 1h 10m 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, San Diego Freeway, Long Beach Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 27.3 miles on Santa Ana Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.20 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
26.3 miles from Irvine, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 30m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 1h 10m highway drive covering 52.7 miles, with most of the trip on Santa Ana Freeway and San Diego Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 27.3 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 28 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 27.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Santa Ana Freeway and San Diego Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 6.3 miles in.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 25 significant decision points across 52.7 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 6.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 25 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
6.3 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the exit toward CA 55 South, CA 55 North: Freeway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 9A
Toward CA 55 South, CA 55 North: Freeway
7
6.5 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Keep slight right at fork toward CA 55 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward CA 55 North
7
10.6 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Take the exit toward I 5 North: Santa Ana
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 10B
Toward I 5 North: Santa Ana
7
38.6 mi into trip
|
~44m in
Take the exit toward I 710 North: Pasadena
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 130C
Toward I 710 North: Pasadena
7
46.9 mi into trip
|
~59m in
|
Columbia Street
At end of road, turn left onto Columbia Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Ana Freeway | 27.3 mi | 31m |
| San Diego Freeway | 5.6 mi | 6m |
| Long Beach Freeway | 4.5 mi | 5m |
| Costa Mesa Freeway | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| South Fremont Avenue | 3.3 mi | 7m |
| North Lake Avenue | 2.7 mi | 6m |
| South Pasadena Avenue | 1 mi | 1m |
| West Valley Boulevard | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Santa Ana Freeway
— 27.3 mi, about 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Irvine, CA and Altadena, CA.
1
Start on I 405
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
San Diego Freeway
2
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 4
Toward University Drive, Jeffrey Road
3
Turn left onto Jeffrey Road
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Jeffrey Road
Use the left lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
Toward I 405 North: Los Angeles
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Merge onto I 405
4.2 mi
·
4 min
·
San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
Exit 9A
Toward CA 55 South, CA 55 North: Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
35 sec
Toward CA 55 North
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto CA 55
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Costa Mesa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 55
0.4 mi
·
28 sec
·
Costa Mesa Freeway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
46 sec
Exit 10B
Toward I 5 North: Santa Ana
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 5
0.5 mi
·
36 sec
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
9.4 mi
·
10 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
16 mi
·
18 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 130C
Toward I 710 North: Pasadena
Use the slight left lane.
16
Merge onto I 710
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Long Beach Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Turn right onto West Valley Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Valley Boulevard
18
Turn left onto South Fremont Avenue
3.3 mi
·
7 min
·
South Fremont Avenue
Use the left lane.
19
At end of road, turn left onto Columbia Street
173 ft
·
7 sec
·
Columbia Street
Use the left lane.
20
Turn right onto South Pasadena Avenue
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Pasadena Avenue
Use the right lane.
21
Turn slight left onto Long Beach Freeway
0.4 mi
·
32 sec
·
Long Beach Freeway
Use the left / straight lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 210 East: San Bernardino
Use the slight right lane.
23
Merge onto CA 134
0.4 mi
·
25 sec
·
Ventura Freeway
24
Merge onto I 210
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
·
Foothill Freeway
Use the slight left lane.
25
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 26
Toward Lake Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Turn straight onto East Corson Street
446 ft
·
9 sec
·
East Corson Street
27
Turn left onto North Lake Avenue
2.7 mi
·
6 min
·
North Lake Avenue
Use the straight lane.
28
Arrive at destination
North Lake Avenue
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 26.3 miles from Irvine, CA, or about 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 27.3 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 52.7 miles or 1h 10m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 26.3 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 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Altadena, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Irvine, 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 Irvine, CA
This is one driving day of about 52.7 miles and 1h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Irvine, 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 27.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 26.3 mi from Irvine, CA · 30m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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 52.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 26.3 miles from Irvine, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Altadena, CA
The final approach into Altadena, 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 Altadena, 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
$12.20 one way
$24.41 round trip
$5.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $12.59 | $25.17 |
| premium | $6.24 | $12.95 | $25.91 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $11.71 | $23.42 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
EV Charging Along Route
1 DC fast chargers · Coverage: good
Newport Coast Community Center
Newport Coast, CA
eVgo Network
1 DCFC
eVgo Network: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.8 | 0 | $5.53 | $2.53 |
| Efficient EV | 13.2 | 0 | $4.61 | $2.11 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.1 | 0 | $7.38 | $3.37 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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
Altadena, CA
Late night in Altadena on Monday
Local time
3:10 AM
PDT
Current temp
54°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
20 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 10m 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 Irvine, CA to Altadena, CA covers 52.7 miles and takes about 1h 10m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Santa Ana Freeway, San Diego Freeway, Long Beach 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 26.3 miles from Irvine, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.20 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 25 significant decision points across 52.7 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 6.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Irvine, CA to Altadena, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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