Origin
Hollywood, CA
Late night in Hollywood on Tuesday
Local time
3:38 AM
PDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hollywood, CA to Irvine, CA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
57m
Distance
46.6 mi
75 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 53m
★
6 AM
0h 57m
8 AM
1h 7m
10 AM
1h 1m
12 PM
1h 0m
3 PM
1h 1m
5 PM
1h 6m
8 PM
0h 55m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hollywood, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Irvine, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Hollywood to Irvine covers 46.6 miles and typically takes about 57 minutes under normal conditions. This journey stays entirely within the Pacific Coast region of California, making it an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stops. Budgeting approximately $11 for fuel will get you from point A to point B comfortably. Because the entire route is highway-focused, you should anticipate a straightforward transit rather than a leisurely sightseeing tour. It is a practical connection between two major hubs, perfect for those needing an efficient way to navigate the urban landscape without the need for a multi-day itinerary.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Ana Freeway | 32.2 mi | 38m |
| Hollywood Freeway | 4.8 mi | 6m |
| Costa Mesa Freeway | 3.7 mi | 4m |
| San Diego Freeway | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| West Sunset Boulevard | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Vine Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Santa Ana Freeway
— 32.2 mi, about 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hollywood, CA and Irvine, CA.
1
Start on Vine Street
124 ft
·
10 sec
·
Vine Street
2
Turn left onto West Sunset Boulevard
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West Sunset Boulevard
Use the left lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward US 101 South
4
Merge onto US 101
4.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Hollywood Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on US 101
29 mi
·
35 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
57 sec
Toward Broadway, Main Street, Santa Ana
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
12 sec
Toward I 5 South
10
Merge onto I 5
0.8 mi
·
54 sec
·
Santa Ana Freeway
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
0.8 mi
·
52 sec
·
Santa Ana Freeway
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 103
Toward CA 55 South: Newport Beach
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto CA 55
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Costa Mesa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
39 sec
Exit 6B
Toward I 405 South: John Wayne Airport
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
Toward I 405 South
17
Merge onto I 405
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Arrive at destination
I 405
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.3 miles from Hollywood, 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 155 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 43.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West Sunset Boulevard
Turn left onto West Sunset Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
35.1 mi into trip
|
~44m in
|
I 5 / Santa Ana Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 / Santa Ana Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
35.3 mi into trip
|
~44m in
Take the exit toward Broadway, Main Street, Santa Ana
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Broadway, Main Street, Santa Ana
7
39.1 mi into trip
|
~48m in
Take the exit toward CA 55 South: Newport Beach
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 103
Toward CA 55 South: Newport Beach
7
43.2 mi into trip
|
~53m in
Take the exit toward I 405 South: John Wayne Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 6B
Toward I 405 South: John Wayne Airport
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.71 one way
$21.42 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $11.04 | $22.07 |
| premium | $6.18 | $11.33 | $22.67 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.29 | $20.58 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14 | 0 | $4.89 | $2.24 |
| Efficient EV | 11.7 | 0 | $4.08 | $1.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.6 | 0 | $6.52 | $2.98 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
Late night in Irvine on Tuesday
Local time
3:38 AM
PDT
Current temp
52°F
Mostly Clear
S 0 to 10 mph
2% chance
Live forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 13 at 6:04PM PDT until April 14 at 5:00AM PDT by NWS Hanford CA
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
19 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
57m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a concentrated highway-focused experience, as 93% of this route is spent on major freeways. You will transition between the Hollywood Freeway, the Santa Ana Freeway, and the Costa Mesa Freeway to complete your trek. The longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on the Santa Ana Freeway, where you will spend 32.2 miles navigating the primary artery of the region. Do not look for winding backroads or technical curves here; this is a high-speed, interstate-heavy drive designed for utility. Staying alert is key, as you will be merging across several major systems to reach your final destination.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 32.2 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 Hollywood Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Sunset Boulevard.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 15 decision points packed into just 46.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 57m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Sunset Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 35.1 miles (I 5 / Santa Ana Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 35.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
354 ft
54 ft
Total Climb
86 ft
Total Descent
386 ft
Highest Point
354 ft
Elevation Range
300 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Hollywood, CA and Irvine, CA, road signs point toward Broadway and Santa Ana.
Broadway
35.3 mi in
|
~44m
Santa Ana
35.3 mi in
|
~44m
About the Cities
Starting in Hollywood, CA
Full guide →Top landmarks
- • Universal Studios Hollywood — amusement park in Los Angeles, California, United States
- • Hollyhock House — house in Los Angeles, California
- • Madame Tussauds Hollywood — wax museum in Hollywood, California
Arriving 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 57m. Total distance: 46.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 32.2 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 Irvine, 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: near the start (West Sunset Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 35.1 miles (I 5 / Santa Ana Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 35.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Irvine, CA before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Irvine, CA
More trips to Irvine, CA
Explore more options from Hollywood, CA or browse trips ending in Irvine, CA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CA road trips.