Origin
Irvine, CA
Evening in Irvine on Friday
Local time
7:14 PM
PDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Irvine, CA to Lawndale, CA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
47m
Distance
40.2 mi
65 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Fair
4 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 43m
★
6 AM
0h 47m
8 AM
0h 55m
10 AM
0h 50m
12 PM
0h 49m
3 PM
0h 51m
5 PM
0h 55m
8 PM
0h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Irvine, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Lawndale, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Trip Overview
The drive from Irvine, CA to Lawndale, CA covers 40.2 miles and takes about 47m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 405, San Diego Freeway, Manhattan Beach Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 21.2 miles on I 405. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.24 one way before food or hotel costs.
About the Cities
Starting in Irvine, CA
Full guide →Irvine is a city of 308,000 people (2020) in Orange County, California. Irvine is one of the newest and largest cities in Orange County, and it is still growing. The city is a perfectly planned suburbia. The Irvine Company started developing the area in the 1960s and the city was formally incorporated on December 28, 1971.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 47m. Total distance: 40.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 47m highway drive covering 40.2 miles, with most of the trip on I 405 and San Diego Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 21.2 miles on I 405.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 405 is the longest continuous segment at about 21.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 405 and San Diego Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 40.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 47m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 8.6 miles (I 405 / San Diego Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
1.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the exit toward University Drive, Jeffrey Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 4
Toward University Drive, Jeffrey Road
6
1.8 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp toward I 405 North: Los Angeles
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 405 North: Los Angeles
6
8.6 mi into trip
|
~10m 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
18.3 mi into trip
|
~21m 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.
7
39.5 mi into trip
|
~45m in
Take the exit toward CA 107: Hawthorne Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 42A
Toward CA 107: Hawthorne Boulevard
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 405 | 21.2 mi | 24m |
| San Diego Freeway | 17.6 mi | 20m |
| Manhattan Beach Boulevard | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Jeffrey Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Hawthorne Boulevard | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 405
— 21.2 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Irvine, CA and Lawndale, 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
6.5 mi
·
7 min
·
San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405
9.7 mi
·
11 min
·
San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 405
21 mi
·
24 min
·
I 405
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 42A
Toward CA 107: Hawthorne Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn right onto Hawthorne Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
Hawthorne Boulevard
Use the left / right lanes.
10
Turn left onto Manhattan Beach Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
Manhattan Beach Boulevard
Use the left / uturn lanes.
11
Continue on Manhattan Beach Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
Manhattan Beach Boulevard
Use the left lane.
12
Arrive at destination
Manhattan Beach Boulevard
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 20.1 mi from Irvine, CA · 23m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.1 miles from Irvine, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Lawndale, CA
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Lawndale, 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
$9.24 one way
$18.48 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $9.52 | $19.04 |
| premium | $6.18 | $9.78 | $19.55 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.88 | $17.75 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.1 | 0 | $4.22 | $1.93 |
| Efficient EV | 10.1 | 0 | $3.52 | $1.61 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.1 | 0 | $5.63 | $2.57 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
Lawndale, CA
Evening in Lawndale on Friday
Local time
7:14 PM
PDT
Current temp
68°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
3 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
47m 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 Lawndale, CA covers 40.2 miles and takes about 47m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 405, San Diego Freeway, Manhattan Beach 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 20.1 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 $9.24 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 10 decision points packed into just 40.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 47m.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 8.6 miles (I 405 / San Diego Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Irvine, CA to Lawndale, 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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