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Trip from Irvine, CA to North Hills, CA

Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026

Drive Time

1h 19m

Distance

67.6 mi

109 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$16

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 19 min
4 AM
1h 13m ★
6 AM
1h 19m
8 AM
1h 32m
10 AM
1h 24m
12 PM
1h 23m
3 PM
1h 24m
5 PM
1h 31m
8 PM
1h 16m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in Orange County, California, United States

Irvine, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown North Hills, CA, CA

North Hills, CA

Simon Steiner

Trip Overview

The drive from Irvine, CA to North Hills, CA covers 67.6 miles and takes about 1h 19m 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, Nordhoff Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 48.3 miles on I 405. At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.54 one way before food or hotel costs.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 19m. Total distance: 67.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 19m 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 1h 19m highway drive covering 67.6 miles, with most of the trip on I 405 and San Diego Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 48.3 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 11 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 48.3 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

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 67.6 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

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 9 key points

These 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
66.6 mi into trip | ~1h 17m in

Take the exit toward Nordhoff Street

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 69 Toward Nordhoff Street

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 405 48.3 mi 55m
San Diego Freeway 17.6 mi 20m
Nordhoff Street 0.7 mi 1m
Jeffrey Road 0.2 mi <1m
Woodley Avenue <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 405 — 48.3 mi, about 55m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Irvine, CA and North Hills, 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

48 mi · 55 min · I 405
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 33 sec
Exit 69 Toward Nordhoff Street Use the slight right lane.
9

Turn left onto Nordhoff Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · Nordhoff Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
10

Turn right onto Woodley Avenue

273 ft · 5 sec · Woodley Avenue
11

Arrive at destination

Woodley Avenue

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 33.8 mi from Irvine, CA · 39m into the drive

city in Los Angeles County, California, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Long Beach, CA

34 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

Garden Grove, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Long Beach, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 33.8 miles from Irvine, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in North Hills, CA

The final approach into North Hills, CA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$15.54 one way

$31.07 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 24 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $16.01 $32.02
premium $6.18 $16.44 $32.88
diesel $5.61 $14.93 $29.85

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$16

Estimated CO2 emission: 23.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 20.3 0 $7.10 $3.24
Efficient EV 16.9 0 $5.91 $2.70
EV Truck/SUV 27 0 $9.46 $4.33

Gas CO2

24 kg

EV CO2

8 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Irvine, CA

Evening in Irvine on Thursday

Local time

6:45 PM

PDT

Current temp

71°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

North Hills, CA

Evening in North Hills on Thursday

Local time

6:45 PM

PDT

Current temp

76°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

5 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

1h 19m 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 North Hills, CA covers 67.6 miles and takes about 1h 19m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 405, San Diego Freeway, Nordhoff Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 33.8 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 $15.54 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 67.6 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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 North Hills, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.

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