Origin
Santa Clarita, CA
Morning in Santa Clarita on Monday
Local time
9:42 AM
PDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Santa Clarita, CA to Irvine, CA
Drive Time
1h 21m
Distance
77.3 mi
124 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 16m
★
6 AM
1h 22m
8 AM
1h 35m
10 AM
1h 26m
12 PM
1h 25m
3 PM
1h 27m
5 PM
1h 34m
8 PM
1h 18m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Santa Clarita, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Irvine, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Trip Overview
The drive from Santa Clarita, CA to Irvine, CA covers 77.3 miles and takes about 1h 21m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 16th Street, Orchard Village Road, Lyons Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.90 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.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
38.6 miles from Santa Clarita, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 40m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 21m drive with frequent turns across 77.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 29 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
16th Street 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. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Santa Clarita, CA to Irvine, CA is easy. At 1h 21m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Santa Clarita, CA to Irvine, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 16th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Orchard Village Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Lyons Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Newhall Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| CA 14 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Antelope Valley Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Golden State Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 405 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
16th Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Santa Clarita, CA and Irvine, CA.
1
Start on Newhall Avenue
449 ft
·
22 sec
·
Newhall Avenue
2
Turn right onto 16th Street
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
16th Street
3
Turn left onto Orchard Village Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Orchard Village Road
4
Turn left onto Lyons Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Lyons Avenue
5
Turn right onto Newhall Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Newhall Avenue
6
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Newhall Avenue
72 ft
·
2 sec
·
Newhall Avenue
7
Exit the roundabout onto Newhall Avenue
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Newhall Avenue
8
Take the ramp right toward CA 14 South: Los Angeles
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
CA 14 South: Los Angeles
9
Merge slight left onto Antelope Valley Freeway
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Antelope Valley Freeway
10
Keep slight left to continue on Antelope Valley Freeway
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Antelope Valley Freeway
11
Keep slight left
0.5 mi
·
36 sec
12
Merge slight left onto Golden State Freeway
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Golden State Freeway
13
Keep slight right to continue on I 405 South
0.3 mi
·
18 sec
·
I 405 South
14
Keep slight left
25 mi
·
29 min
15
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Golden State Freeway
16
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
26 mi
·
30 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
17
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
Santa Ana Freeway
18
Take the exit slight right toward Broadway, Main Street, Santa Ana
0.8 mi
·
57 sec
·
Broadway, Main Street, Santa Ana
19
Keep slight left
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
20
Keep slight left to continue on I 5 South
0.2 mi
·
13 sec
·
I 5 South
21
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
0.8 mi
·
54 sec
·
Santa Ana Freeway
22
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
0.8 mi
·
52 sec
·
Santa Ana Freeway
23
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
24
Take the exit slight right toward CA 55 South: Newport Beach
0.4 mi
·
28 sec
·
CA 55 South: Newport Beach
25
Merge slight left onto Costa Mesa Freeway
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Costa Mesa Freeway
26
Take the exit slight right toward I 405 South: John Wayne Airport
0.6 mi
·
39 sec
·
I 405 South: John Wayne Airport
27
Keep slight left to continue on I 405 South
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
·
I 405 South
28
Merge slight left onto San Diego Freeway
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
San Diego Freeway
29
Arrive at your destination
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 38.6 miles from Santa Clarita, CA, or about 40m 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 77.3 miles or 1h 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.6 miles or 40m 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 9m
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 Santa Clarita, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Santa Clarita, CA
This is one driving day of about 77.3 miles and 1h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Santa Clarita, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 38.6 mi from Santa Clarita, CA · 40m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
39 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 77.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 38.6 miles from Santa Clarita, 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
$17.90 one way
$35.80 round trip
$5.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
27 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $18.46 | $36.92 |
| premium | $6.24 | $19.00 | $38.00 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $17.17 | $34.35 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 23.2 | 0 | $8.12 | $3.71 |
| Efficient EV | 19.3 | 0 | $6.76 | $3.09 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 30.9 | 0 | $10.82 | $4.95 |
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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
Irvine, CA
Morning in Irvine on Monday
Local time
9:42 AM
PDT
Current temp
74°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
2 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 21m 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 Santa Clarita, CA to Irvine, CA covers 77.3 miles and takes about 1h 21m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 16th Street, Orchard Village Road, Lyons Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 38.6 miles from Santa Clarita, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $17.90 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.
The drive from Santa Clarita, CA to Irvine, CA is easy. At 1h 21m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Santa Clarita, CA to Irvine, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Santa Clarita, CA to Irvine, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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