Origin
Irvine, CA
Late night in Irvine on Saturday
Local time
3:57 AM
PDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Irvine, CA to Ukiah, CA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
9h 59m
Distance
531.5 mi
855 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$122
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
9h 51m
★
6 AM
10h 0m
8 AM
10h 18m
10 AM
10h 6m
12 PM
10h 4m
3 PM
10h 7m
5 PM
10h 17m
8 PM
9h 54m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Irvine, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Ukiah, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Irvine, CA to Ukiah, CA covers 531.5 miles and takes about 9h 59m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on University Drive, Jeffrey Road, I 405 North for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-distance drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $122.16 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
265.8 miles from Irvine, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 59m into the drive .
About the Cities
Starting in Irvine, CA
Full guide →Founded 1971
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.
Top landmarks
- • Pretend City Children's Museum — children's Museum in California, U.S.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
9h 59m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Long-distance drive route profile.
Drive Character
At 531.5 miles and 9h 59m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are University Drive and Jeffrey Road.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 56 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?
At 9h 59m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 9h 59m, 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 Ukiah, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| University Drive | — | — |
| Jeffrey Road | — | — |
| I 405 North | — | — |
| San Diego Freeway | — | — |
| CA 55 South | — | — |
| CA 55 North | — | — |
| Costa Mesa Freeway | — | — |
| I 5 North | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
University Drive
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Irvine, CA and Ukiah, 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
6.7 mi
·
7 min
·
I 780: Benicia
33
Take the exit slight right toward I 80 East: Sacramento
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
I 80 East: Sacramento
34
Keep slight left to continue on I 80 East: Sacramento
449 ft
·
11 sec
·
I 80 East: Sacramento
35
Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
36
Take the exit slight right toward CA 37: Napa, Novato, Auto Mall, Columbus Parkway
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
CA 37: Napa, Novato, Auto Mall, Columbus Parkway
37
Keep slight left to continue on CA 37: Napa
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
CA 37: Napa
38
Continue on CA 37
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
CA 37
39
Take the exit slight right toward CA 29: Napa, Sonoma Boulevard
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
·
CA 29: Napa, Sonoma Boulevard
40
Turn right onto Sonoma Boulevard
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Sonoma Boulevard
41
Continue on Broadway Street
4.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Broadway Street
42
Continue on Napa–Vallejo Highway
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Napa–Vallejo Highway
43
Continue on Saint Helena Highway
22 mi
·
25 min
·
Saint Helena Highway
44
Continue on Main Street
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
45
Continue on Saint Helena Highway
6.8 mi
·
7 min
·
Saint Helena Highway
46
Continue on Foothill Boulevard
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Foothill Boulevard
47
Continue on Saint Helena Highway
16 mi
·
18 min
·
Saint Helena Highway
48
Continue on Saint Helena Highway
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
Saint Helena Highway
49
At the end of the road, turn right onto Geyserville Avenue
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Geyserville Avenue
50
Turn left onto Canyon Road
361 ft
·
7 sec
·
Canyon Road
51
Take the exit right
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
52
Merge slight left onto Redwood Highway
36 mi
·
44 min
·
Redwood Highway
53
Take the exit slight right toward Perkins Street, Central Ukiah
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
Perkins Street, Central Ukiah
54
Turn left onto East Perkins Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Perkins Street
55
Turn right onto North State Street
56 ft
·
1 sec
·
North State Street
56
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.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 265.8 miles from Irvine, CA, or about 4h 59m into the drive.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 117 miles or 2h 11m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 265.8 miles or 4h 59m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 265.8 miles or 4h 59m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 8h 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ukiah, 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.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Irvine, CA
Aim for roughly 266 miles and 5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Ukiah, CA
Aim for roughly 266 miles and 5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 117 miles from Irvine, CA.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
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 265.8 mi from Irvine, CA · 4h 59m into the drive
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
175 mi into the route
Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch
This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.
Second major stop
Overnight candidate
351 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Napa, CAOvernight Options
Night 1
266 mi · about 5h in
A practical overnight split lands near Mountain View, CA after about 266 miles or 5 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 117 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 265.8 miles from Irvine, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 266 miles or 5 hours on the road.
Arriving in Ukiah, CA
The final approach into Ukiah, 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 Ukiah, CA.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Ukiah, CA with some flexibility left in the schedule.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$122.16 one way
$244.32 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
186 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $125.89 | $251.77 |
| premium | $6.18 | $129.25 | $258.51 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $117.35 | $234.70 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$122
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$252–$362
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 186 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $56 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 159.5 | 1 | $55.81 | $25.51 |
| Efficient EV | 132.9 | 1 | $46.51 | $21.26 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 212.6 | 2 | $74.41 | $34.02 |
Gas CO2
186 kg
EV CO2
62 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
Ukiah, CA
Late night in Ukiah on Saturday
Local time
3:57 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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
22 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
9h 59m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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 Ukiah, CA covers 531.5 miles and takes about 9h 59m 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.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 266 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 265.8 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 $122.16 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 9h 59m, 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 Ukiah, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Irvine, CA to Ukiah, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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