Irvine to Fortuna is 670.4 miles and takes about 12h 51m via Westside Freeway and Redwood Highway, with a fuel budget near $145 and an overnight recommendation. This long-haul drive spans the Pacific Coast region of California, taking you from Southern California's urban edge up towards the redwood forests of the north. Given the significant distance and duration, planning for at least two days is wise to make the most of your travel time and avoid excessive fatigue. It's a substantial drive, so be prepared for a full day or two behind the wheel.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
3 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
335.2 miles from Irvine, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 6h 9m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Westside Freeway
225.6 mi
4h 1m
Redwood Highway
169.4 mi
3h 28m
Saint Helena Highway
51.2 mi
59m
Golden State Freeway
50 mi
57m
I 5 Truck
37.7 mi
43m
Santa Ana Freeway
29.6 mi
34m
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
19.6 mi
22m
William Elton Brown Freeway
17 mi
18m
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 225.6 mi, about 4h 1m
Traffic on I-5
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 376 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~3,231 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,084
Quietest
2 AM
~538 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 89 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Irvine, CA and Fortuna, CA.
1
Start on I 405
1.4 mi·1 min·San Diego Freeway
2
Take the exit
0.3 mi·21 sec
Exit 4Toward 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 AngelesUse 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 9AToward CA 55 South, CA 55 North: FreewayUse the slight right lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·35 sec
Toward CA 55 NorthUse 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 10BToward I 5 North: Santa AnaUse 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 161AToward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 TruckUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck
36 mi·41 min·I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
22 mi·25 min·Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
226 mi·4 hr 1 min·Westside Freeway
Toward I 5 NorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
16 mi·17 min·William Elton Brown Freeway
Toward I 580 West: Tracy, San Francisco
22
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580 Bypass
1.1 mi·1 min·William Elton Brown Freeway
23
Merge onto I 580
18 mi·20 min·Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
1.6 mi·1 min·Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
25
Take the exit
0.2 mi·16 sec
Exit 44BToward I 680 South, I 680 North: San Jose, Sacramento, Concord, Walnut CreekUse the slight right lane.
26
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·30 sec
Toward I 680 North: Walnut Creek, Concord, SacramentoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Merge onto I 680
15 mi·17 min·Donald D Doyle Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Continue on I 680
5.0 mi·5 min·Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Toward I 680, CA 24Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Keep slight left at fork onto I 680
6.0 mi·6 min·Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Toward I 680 North: Martinez, SacramentoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Keep slight left at fork onto I 680
243 ft·3 sec·Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
31
Keep slight right at fork onto I 680
1.8 mi·2 min·Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Use the slight right lane.
32
Keep slight left at fork onto I 780
6.7 mi·7 min·I 780
Toward I 780: BeniciaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
33
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Exit 1BToward I 80 East: SacramentoUse the slight right lane.
34
Keep slight left at fork
448 ft·11 sec
Toward I 80 East: SacramentoUse the slight left lane.
35
Merge onto I 80
2.7 mi·3 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
36
Take the exit
0.1 mi·18 sec
Exit 33Toward CA 37: Napa, Novato, Auto Mall, Columbus ParkwayUse the straight / slight right lanes.
37
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward CA 37: NapaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
38
Continue on CA 37
1.5 mi·1 min·CA 37
Toward CA 37Use the straight / slight right lanes.
39
Take the exit
0.4 mi·51 sec
Exit 19Toward CA 29: Napa, Sonoma BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
40
Turn right onto CA 29
1.6 mi·1 min·Sonoma Boulevard
Use the right lane.
41
Continue on CA 29
4.0 mi·4 min·Broadway Street
Use the straight lane.
42
Continue on CA 29
1.3 mi·1 min·Napa–Vallejo Highway
Use the left lane.
43
Continue on CA 12; CA 29
22 mi·25 min·Saint Helena Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
44
Continue on CA 29; CA 128
2.4 mi·2 min·Main Street
45
Continue on CA 29; CA 128
6.8 mi·7 min·Saint Helena Highway
46
Continue on CA 128
1.4 mi·1 min·Foothill Boulevard
47
Continue on CA 128
16 mi·18 min·Saint Helena Highway
48
Continue on CA 128
6.6 mi·7 min·Saint Helena Highway
49
At end of road, turn right onto CA 128
0.9 mi·1 min·Geyserville Avenue
50
Turn left onto CA 128
359 ft·6 sec·Canyon Road
51
Take the exit onto CA 128
0.3 mi·39 sec·CA 128
52
Merge onto US 101; CA 128
55 mi·1 hr 7 min·Redwood Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
53
Continue on US 101
4.5 mi·5 min·Willits Bypass
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
54
Take the exit
0.7 mi·48 sec
55
Merge onto US 101
0.2 mi·16 sec·Willits Bypass
56
Continue on US 101
114 mi·2 hr 21 min·Redwood Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
57
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward 12th Street
58
Continue on 12th Street
0.7 mi·1 min·12th Street
59
Turn left onto US 101 Business
0.2 mi·33 sec·Main Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
60
Turn right onto 9th Street
148 ft·8 sec·9th Street
61
Turn right
80 ft·5 sec
62
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 12-hour drive, it's best to break it up over two days. Aim to leave early on your first day to cover a significant portion, perhaps around 350-400 miles. Plan for about 3 stops throughout the entire trip to stretch your legs and refuel, keeping in mind the estimated $145 fuel cost. Your longest stretch without a major change in road type is 225.6 miles on the Westside Freeway, so ensure you're fueled up before hitting that segment. The second day will be more focused on navigating the Redwood Highway and Saint Helena Highway as you approach your destination.
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 3 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 335.2 miles from Irvine, CA, or about 6h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 225.6 miles.
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 147 miles or 2h 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 335.2 miles or 6h 9m 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 335.2 miles or 6h 9m
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 11h 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fortuna, 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 335 miles and 6.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Fortuna, CA
Aim for roughly 335 miles and 6.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 147 miles from Irvine, CA.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 3 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Westside Freeway for about 225.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 49
5 decision points cluster between mile 6.3 and 411.3 — 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
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
390.6 mi into trip|~7h 11m in
Take the exit toward I 680 South, I 680 North: San Jose, Sacramento, Concord, Walnut Creek
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 44B
Toward I 680 South, I 680 North: San Jose, Sacr...
9
390.8 mi into trip|~7h 11m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 680 North: Walnut Creek, Concord, Sacramento
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 680 North: Walnut Creek, Concord, Sacr...
8
411.3 mi into trip|~7h 35m in|I 680 / Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 680 / Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway toward I 680 North: Martinez, Sacramento
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 680 North: Martinez, Sacramento
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$164.06 one way
$328.13 round trip
$6.22/gal25.4 MPG avg235 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.40
$168.95
$337.89
premium
$6.57
$173.30
$346.60
diesel
$6.18
$163.09
$326.17
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$164
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$294–$404
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 234.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $70 in charging
· 2 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
201.1
2
$70.39
$32.18
Efficient EV
167.6
1
$58.66
$26.82
EV Truck/SUV
268.2
3
$93.86
$42.91
Gas CO2
235 kg
EV CO2
78 kg (67% less)
Plan for 2 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Oct 18, 2026
Origin
Irvine, CA
Evening
in Irvine on Sunday
Local time
7:21 PM
PDT
Current temp
66°F
Mostly Clear
0 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued October 18 at 12:59AM PDT until October 20 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS San Diego CA
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued October 17 at 7:32PM PDT until October 20 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Destination
Fortuna, CA
Evening
in Fortuna on Sunday
Local time
7:21 PM
PDT
Current temp
48°F
Patchy Drizzle
S 1 mph15% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued October 18 at 12:59AM PDT until October 20 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS San Diego CA
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued October 17 at 7:32PM PDT until October 20 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
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
18 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
12h 51m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial
National Memorial
On July 17, 1944, a massive explosion jolted the San Francisco East Bay area, shattering windows and lighting up the night sky. At Port Chicago Naval Magazine, 320 men were killed instantly when two s...
4 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 416.1
Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Celebrate and honor the contributions and sacrifices of American civilians on the WWII home front. Discover how diverse communities lived, worked, and interacted. Many faces, many stories, many truths...
16 mi from route
~41 min detour
Free
near mile 416.1
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
Established in 1988, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park celebrates America’s maritime heritage on the Pacific Coast. Our 50-acre park has grown around Aquatic Park Cove, a protected area...
23 mi from route
~57 min detour
Free
near mile 416.1
Walk among old growth coast redwoods, cooling their roots in the fresh water of Redwood Creek and lifting their crowns to reach the sun and fog. Federally protected as a National Monument since 1908,...
28 mi from route
~70 min detour
$15
near mile 416.1
Yes, we can! Widely recognized as the most important Latino leader in the United States during the twentieth century, Cesar Chavez led farm workers and supporters in the establishment of the country's...
29 mi from route
~73 min detour
Free
near mile 138.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive features 59% highway travel, meaning a good portion will be on faster, limited-access roads. You'll encounter the longest stretch of highway at 225.6 miles on the Westside Freeway, offering extended periods of consistent speed. The transition away from the highway will likely involve more varied speeds and potentially more local traffic as you move onto roads like the Redwood Highway and Saint Helena Highway. Expect a mix of efficient cruising and more deliberate travel.
59% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
62 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 225.6 mi on Westside Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
At 12h 51m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. 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 Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 49 significant decision points across 670.4 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
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 68.6 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 390.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
2,828 ft54 ft
Total Climb
4,852 ft
Total Descent
4,838 ft
Highest Point
2,828 ft
~95.8 mi in
Elevation Range
2,774 ft
Notable High Points
2,828 ft at ~95.8 miles+2,429 ft prominence
1,669 ft at ~574.6 miles+976 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Irvine, CA and Fortuna, CA, road signs point toward San Francisco, Sacramento, Concord, Walnut Creek, Novato and Auto Mall.
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.
Long-haul drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 225.6 miles on Westside Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 335 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 45 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Fortuna, CA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 3 meaningful breaks. There are 45 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 68.6 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 390.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial, Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park and Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 12.9 hours each way, a round trip means 25.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Fortuna, CA before the return drive.
