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Trip from Irvine, CA to Vincent, CA

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 58m

Distance

100.6 mi

162 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$23

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 26 min
4 AM
1h 50m ★
6 AM
1h 59m
8 AM
2h 16m
10 AM
2h 5m
12 PM
2h 3m
3 PM
2h 6m
5 PM
2h 15m
8 PM
1h 54m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
city in Orange County, California, United States

Irvine, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Vincent, CA, CA

Vincent, CA

Franco Monsalvo

Trip Overview

The drive from Irvine, CA to Vincent, CA covers 100.6 miles and takes about 1h 58m 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, CA 14 Truck, Golden State Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 29.6 miles on Santa Ana Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $23.12 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

50.3 miles from Irvine, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 58m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Santa Ana Freeway 29.6 mi 34m
CA 14 Truck 29.5 mi 33m
Golden State Freeway 27.7 mi 32m
San Diego Freeway 5.6 mi 6m
Costa Mesa Freeway 3.6 mi 4m
I 5 Truck 1.5 mi 1m
West Carson Mesa Road 0.6 mi 2m
Jeffrey Road 0.2 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 Vincent, 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

25 mi · 29 min · Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

2.2 mi · 2 min · Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck

1.5 mi · 1 min · I 5 Truck
Exit 161A Toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

Keep slight right at fork onto CA 14 Truck

29 mi · 33 min · CA 14 Truck
Toward CA 14 North: Palmdale, Lancaster Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 26 sec
Toward Angeles Forest Highway, Pearblossom Highway Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20

Keep slight right at fork

466 ft · 11 sec
Toward Angeles Forest Highway Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
21

Keep slight left at fork

155 ft · 3 sec
22

Turn slight right onto N3; FH 59

404 ft · 7 sec · Angeles Forest Highway
23

Turn right onto West Carson Mesa Road

0.6 mi · 2 min · West Carson Mesa Road
24

Arrive at destination

West Carson Mesa Road

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 50.3 miles from Irvine, CA, or about 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 29.6 miles.

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 22 miles or 25m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 50.3 miles or 58m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 35m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Vincent, 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.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Irvine, CA

This is one driving day of about 100.6 miles and 1h 58m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Irvine, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Santa Ana Freeway for about 29.6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

neighborhood in Los Angeles, California, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Hollywood, CA

50 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

Anaheim, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 22 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Hollywood, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 50.3 miles from Irvine, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 21

5 decision points cluster between mile 6.3 and 99.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

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
9
68.6 mi into trip | ~1h 19m in | I 5 Truck

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 161A Toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
8
70.1 mi into trip | ~1h 21m in | CA 14 Truck

Keep slight right at fork onto CA 14 Truck toward CA 14 North: Palmdale, Lancaster

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward CA 14 North: Palmdale, Lancaster
8
99.8 mi into trip | ~1h 55m in

Keep slight right at fork toward Angeles Forest Highway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward Angeles Forest Highway

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$23.12 one way

$46.24 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 35 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $23.83 $47.65
premium $6.18 $24.46 $48.93
diesel $5.61 $22.21 $44.42

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$23

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$48–$73

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 35.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 30.2 0 $10.56 $4.83
Efficient EV 25.2 0 $8.80 $4.02
EV Truck/SUV 40.2 0 $14.08 $6.44

Gas CO2

35 kg

EV CO2

12 kg (66% 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 13, 2026

Origin

Irvine, CA

Morning in Irvine on Saturday

Local time

10:19 AM

PDT

Current temp

66°F

Slight Chance Rain Showers

W 15 mph 25% chance Live forecast

Wind Advisory

Wind Advisory issued April 13 at 10:05AM PDT until April 14 at 5:00AM PDT by NWS Hanford CA

Winter Weather Advisory

Winter Weather Advisory issued April 13 at 12:17AM PDT until April 13 at 7:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA

Destination

Vincent, CA

Morning in Vincent on Saturday

Local time

10:19 AM

PDT

Current temp

45°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

21 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

1h 58m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

National Recreation Area

The Santa Monica Mountains offer easy access to surprisingly wild places. Experience the famous beaches of Malibu or explore more than 500 miles of trails. The park abounds with historical and cultura...

22 mi from route ~55 min detour Free near mile 69.4
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

100.6 mi in 1h 58m, mostly highway — 29.6 mi of that is on Santa Ana Freeway.

97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 29.6 mi on Santa Ana Freeway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Santa Ana Freeway and CA 14 Truck. 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 100.6 miles you will encounter 21 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 68.6 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Irvine, CA to Vincent, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Lancaster along the way.

Lancaster

70.1 mi in | ~1h 21m | via CA 14 Truck

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?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 58m. Total distance: 100.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 29.6 miles on Santa Ana Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Vincent, CA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

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 68.6 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes — Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Vincent, CA before heading back.

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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