Origin
Irvine, CA
Late night in Irvine on Monday
Local time
1:58 AM
PDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Irvine, CA to Benicia, CA
Drive Time
7h 48m
Distance
421.5 mi
678 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$98
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
7h 39m
★
6 AM
7h 49m
8 AM
8h 7m
10 AM
7h 55m
12 PM
7h 53m
3 PM
7h 56m
5 PM
8h 6m
8 PM
7h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Irvine, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Trip Overview
The drive from Irvine, CA to Benicia, CA covers 421.5 miles and takes about 7h 48m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on University Drive, Jeffrey Road, I 405 North for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $97.61 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
210.8 miles from Irvine, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 54m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 7h 48m drive with frequent turns across 421.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 39 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
University Drive is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
The route itself is not hard, but at 7h 48m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Irvine, CA to Benicia, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| University Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Jeffrey Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 405 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| San Diego Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| CA 55 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| CA 55 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Costa Mesa Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 5 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
University Drive
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Irvine, CA and Benicia, CA.
1
Start on San Diego Freeway
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
San Diego Freeway
2
Take the exit slight right toward University Drive, Jeffrey Road
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
·
University Drive, Jeffrey Road
3
Turn left onto Jeffrey Road
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Jeffrey Road
4
Take the ramp slight right toward I 405 North: Los Angeles
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
I 405 North: Los Angeles
5
Merge slight left onto San Diego Freeway
4.2 mi
·
4 min
·
San Diego Freeway
6
Take the exit slight right toward CA 55 South, CA 55 North: Freeway
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
CA 55 South, CA 55 North: Freeway
7
Keep slight right to continue on CA 55 North
0.5 mi
·
35 sec
·
CA 55 North
8
Merge slight left onto Costa Mesa Freeway
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Costa Mesa Freeway
9
Keep slight right to continue on Costa Mesa Freeway
0.4 mi
·
28 sec
·
Costa Mesa Freeway
10
Take the exit slight right toward I 5 North: Santa Ana
0.7 mi
·
47 sec
·
I 5 North: Santa Ana
11
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
0.5 mi
·
36 sec
·
Santa Ana Freeway
12
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
13
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
9.4 mi
·
10 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
14
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
15
Keep slight right to continue on Golden State Freeway
25 mi
·
29 min
·
Golden State Freeway
16
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Golden State Freeway
17
Keep slight right to continue on I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
18
Keep slight left
36 mi
·
41 min
19
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
22 mi
·
25 min
·
Golden State Freeway
20
Keep slight right to continue on Westside Freeway
226 mi
·
4 hr 1 min
·
Westside Freeway
21
Keep slight left to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
16 mi
·
17 min
·
William Elton Brown Freeway
22
Keep slight right to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
William Elton Brown Freeway
23
Merge slight left onto Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
24
Keep slight right to continue on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
25
Take the exit slight right toward I 680 South, I 680 North: San Jose, Sacramento, Concord, Walnut Creek
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
I 680 South, I 680 North: San Jose, Sacramento, Concord, Walnut Creek
26
Keep slight right to continue on I 680 North: Walnut Creek, Concord, Sacramento
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
I 680 North: Walnut Creek, Concord, Sacramento
27
Merge slight left onto Donald D Doyle Highway
15 mi
·
17 min
·
Donald D Doyle Highway
28
Continue on Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
5.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
29
Keep slight left to continue on Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
6.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
30
Keep slight left to continue on Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
243 ft
·
3 sec
·
Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
31
Keep slight right to continue on Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
32
Keep slight left to continue on I 780: Benicia
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
I 780: Benicia
33
Take the exit slight right toward East 5th Street
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
East 5th Street
34
Turn left onto East 5th Street
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
East 5th Street
35
Turn right onto Military East
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Military East
36
Turn left onto 1st Street
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
1st Street
37
Turn left onto East G Street
148 ft
·
8 sec
·
East G Street
38
Turn right
125 ft
·
9 sec
39
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 210.8 miles from Irvine, CA, or about 3h 54m into the drive.
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 93 miles or 1h 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 210.8 miles or 3h 54m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Benicia, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Irvine, CA
This is one driving day of about 421.5 miles and 7h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 93 miles from Irvine, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 210.8 mi from Irvine, CA · 3h 54m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
211 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 93 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 210.8 miles from Irvine, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Benicia, CA
The final approach into Benicia, 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 Benicia, 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
$97.61 one way
$195.22 round trip
$5.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
148 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $100.66 | $201.32 |
| premium | $6.24 | $103.60 | $207.20 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $93.64 | $187.29 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$98
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$123–$148
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 147.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $44 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 126.4 | 1 | $44.26 | $20.23 |
| Efficient EV | 105.4 | 1 | $36.88 | $16.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 168.6 | 2 | $59.01 | $26.98 |
Gas CO2
147 kg
EV CO2
49 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Benicia, CA
Late night in Benicia on Monday
Local time
1:58 AM
PDT
Current temp
49°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
25 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
7h 48m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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 Benicia, CA covers 421.5 miles and takes about 7h 48m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are University Drive, Jeffrey Road, I 405 North. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 210.8 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 $97.61 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
The route itself is not hard, but at 7h 48m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Irvine, CA to Benicia, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Irvine, CA to Benicia, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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