Origin
San Anselmo, CA
Late night in San Anselmo on Friday
Local time
3:26 AM
PDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from San Anselmo, CA to Irvine, CA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
7h 16m
Distance
439.2 mi
707 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$101
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
7h 6m
★
6 AM
7h 16m
8 AM
7h 38m
10 AM
7h 24m
12 PM
7h 22m
3 PM
7h 25m
5 PM
7h 37m
8 PM
7h 10m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
San Anselmo, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Irvine, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from San Anselmo, CA to Irvine, CA covers 439.2 miles and takes about 7h 16m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, Red Hill Avenue, Fourth Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $100.95 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
219.6 miles from San Anselmo, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 38m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 16m. Total distance: 439.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 16m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 7h 16m drive with frequent turns across 439.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 36 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Sir Francis Drake Boulevard 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.
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 7h 16m, 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 San Anselmo, CA to Irvine, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Sir Francis Drake Boulevard | — | — |
| Red Hill Avenue | — | — |
| Fourth Street | — | — |
| Hetherton Street | — | — |
| US 101 South | — | — |
| Redwood Highway | — | — |
| John T | — | — |
| Eastshore Freeway | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Sir Francis Drake Boulevard
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Anselmo, CA and Irvine, CA.
1
Start on the route
30 ft
·
4 sec
·
the route
2
Turn right onto Sir Francis Drake Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Sir Francis Drake Boulevard
3
Turn right onto Red Hill Avenue
0.6 mi
·
58 sec
·
Red Hill Avenue
4
Continue on Fourth Street
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
·
Fourth Street
5
Keep slight left to continue on Fourth Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Fourth Street
6
Turn right onto Hetherton Street
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Hetherton Street
7
Take the ramp straight toward US 101 South: San Francisco, Oakland
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
US 101 South: San Francisco, Oakland
8
Merge slight left onto Redwood Highway
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
Redwood Highway
9
Keep slight right to continue on John T. Knox Freeway
14 mi
·
17 min
·
John T. Knox Freeway
10
Merge slight left onto Eastshore Freeway
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Eastshore Freeway
11
Keep slight left to continue on Interstate Highway 80
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
·
Interstate Highway 80
12
Keep slight left to continue on MacArthur Freeway
16 mi
·
18 min
·
MacArthur Freeway
13
Merge slight left onto Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
14
Keep slight right to continue on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
15
Keep slight right to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
11 mi
·
12 min
·
William Elton Brown Freeway
16
Keep slight left to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
5.9 mi
·
6 min
·
William Elton Brown Freeway
17
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
224 mi
·
4 hr
·
Westside Freeway
18
Keep slight right
58 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
19
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Golden State Freeway
20
Keep slight right to continue on I 405 South
0.3 mi
·
18 sec
·
I 405 South
21
Keep slight left
25 mi
·
29 min
22
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Golden State Freeway
23
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
26 mi
·
30 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
24
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
Santa Ana Freeway
25
Take the exit slight right toward Broadway, Main Street, Santa Ana
0.8 mi
·
57 sec
·
Broadway, Main Street, Santa Ana
26
Keep slight left
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
27
Keep slight left to continue on I 5 South
0.2 mi
·
13 sec
·
I 5 South
28
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
0.8 mi
·
54 sec
·
Santa Ana Freeway
29
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
0.8 mi
·
52 sec
·
Santa Ana Freeway
30
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
31
Take the exit slight right toward CA 55 South: Newport Beach
0.4 mi
·
28 sec
·
CA 55 South: Newport Beach
32
Merge slight left onto Costa Mesa Freeway
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Costa Mesa Freeway
33
Take the exit slight right toward I 405 South: John Wayne Airport
0.6 mi
·
39 sec
·
I 405 South: John Wayne Airport
34
Keep slight left to continue on I 405 South
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
·
I 405 South
35
Merge slight left onto San Diego Freeway
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
San Diego Freeway
36
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 219.6 miles from San Anselmo, CA, or about 3h 38m 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 97 miles or 1h 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 219.6 miles or 3h 38m 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 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Irvine, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving San Anselmo, 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 San Anselmo, CA
This is one driving day of about 439.2 miles and 7h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 97 miles from San Anselmo, 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 219.6 mi from San Anselmo, CA · 3h 38m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
220 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 97 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 219.6 miles from San Anselmo, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Irvine, CA
The final approach into Irvine, 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 Irvine, 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
$100.95 one way
$201.89 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
154 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $104.02 | $208.05 |
| premium | $6.18 | $106.81 | $213.62 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $96.97 | $193.94 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$101
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$126–$151
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 153.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $46 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 131.8 | 1 | $46.12 | $21.08 |
| Efficient EV | 109.8 | 1 | $38.43 | $17.57 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 175.7 | 2 | $61.49 | $28.11 |
Gas CO2
154 kg
EV CO2
51 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
Irvine, CA
Late night in Irvine on Friday
Local time
3:26 AM
PDT
Current temp
71°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
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
7h 16m 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 San Anselmo, CA to Irvine, CA covers 439.2 miles and takes about 7h 16m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, Red Hill Avenue, Fourth Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 219.6 miles from San Anselmo, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $100.95 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 16m, 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 San Anselmo, CA to Irvine, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from San Anselmo, CA to Irvine, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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