Origin
Irvine, CA
Afternoon in Irvine on Thursday
Local time
3:18 PM
PDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Irvine, CA to Tujunga, CA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 14m
Distance
61.1 mi
98 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 9m
★
6 AM
1h 15m
8 AM
1h 27m
10 AM
1h 19m
12 PM
1h 18m
3 PM
1h 20m
5 PM
1h 26m
8 PM
1h 11m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Irvine, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Tujunga, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Irvine, CA to Tujunga, CA covers 61.1 miles and takes about 1h 14m 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, Glendale Freeway, Golden State Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 29.6 miles on Santa Ana Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $14.04 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 14m. Total distance: 61.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 14m highway drive covering 61.1 miles, with most of the trip on Santa Ana Freeway and Glendale Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 29.6 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 26 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 29.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Santa Ana Freeway and Glendale 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.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 61.1 miles you will encounter 24 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 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 24 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
47.3 mi into trip
|
~55m in
Take the exit toward CA 2 North: Glendale, Glendale Freeway
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 CA 2 North: Glendale, Glendale Freeway
7
58.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
Take the exit toward Lowell Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 16
Toward Lowell Avenue
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Ana Freeway | 29.6 mi | 34m |
| Glendale Freeway | 7.3 mi | 8m |
| Golden State Freeway | 6.4 mi | 7m |
| San Diego Freeway | 5.6 mi | 6m |
| Costa Mesa Freeway | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| Foothill Freeway | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| Foothill Boulevard | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| Lowell Avenue | 0.6 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Santa Ana Freeway
— 29.6 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Irvine, CA and Tujunga, 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
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
6.4 mi
·
7 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward CA 2 North: Glendale, Glendale Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Merge onto CA 2
7.3 mi
·
8 min
·
Glendale Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
1.1 mi
·
1 min
Exit 21B
Toward I 210 West: Sacramento
19
Merge onto I 210
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Exit 16
Toward Lowell Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
21
Turn straight onto Honolulu Avenue
195 ft
·
6 sec
·
Honolulu Avenue
Use the straight lane.
22
Turn right onto Lowell Avenue
0.6 mi
·
56 sec
·
Lowell Avenue
Use the right lane.
23
Turn left onto Foothill Boulevard
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Foothill Boulevard
Use the left lane.
24
Turn right onto Commerce Avenue
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
Commerce Avenue
25
Turn right onto Valmont Street
67 ft
·
1 sec
·
Valmont Street
26
Arrive at destination
Valmont Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 30.5 mi from Irvine, CA · 35m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
31 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 30.5 miles from Irvine, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Tujunga, CA
The final approach into Tujunga, 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
$14.04 one way
$28.09 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $14.47 | $28.94 |
| premium | $6.18 | $14.86 | $29.72 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.49 | $26.98 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$14
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.3 | 0 | $6.42 | $2.93 |
| Efficient EV | 15.3 | 0 | $5.35 | $2.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.4 | 0 | $8.55 | $3.91 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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
Tujunga, CA
Afternoon in Tujunga on Thursday
Local time
3:18 PM
PDT
Current temp
74°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 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 14m 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 Tujunga, CA covers 61.1 miles and takes about 1h 14m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Santa Ana Freeway, Glendale Freeway, Golden State 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 30.5 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 $14.04 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 61.1 miles you will encounter 24 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 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 Tujunga, 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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