Origin
Irvine, CA
Late night in Irvine on Tuesday
Local time
2:46 AM
PDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Irvine, CA to Fullerton, 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
30m
Distance
22 mi
35 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 28m
★
6 AM
0h 30m
8 AM
0h 35m
10 AM
0h 32m
12 PM
0h 32m
3 PM
0h 32m
5 PM
0h 35m
8 PM
0h 29m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Irvine, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Fullerton, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This short 25.4-mile drive from Irvine to Fullerton in California's Pacific Coast region is easily manageable in about 30 minutes. With a modest fuel cost estimated at $6, it's a straightforward local journey perfect for a single day trip. The route primarily utilizes local streets like University Drive and Jeffrey Road, with no highway driving, indicating a more relaxed pace. You won't need an overnight stay for this trip, allowing for flexibility in your schedule. Expect a turn-heavy experience as you navigate through the familiar Southern California landscape.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Ana Freeway | 6.6 mi | 7m |
| San Diego Freeway | 5.6 mi | 6m |
| South Harbor Boulevard | 3.7 mi | 8m |
| Costa Mesa Freeway | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| Jeffrey Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Harbor Boulevard | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| West Commonwealth Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Santa Ana Freeway
— 6.6 mi, about 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Irvine, CA and Fullerton, 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
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Exit 110
Toward Harbor Boulevard, Ball Road
Use the slight right lane.
15
Turn right onto Harbor Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Harbor Boulevard
Use the left / right lanes.
16
Continue on South Harbor Boulevard
3.7 mi
·
8 min
·
South Harbor Boulevard
Use the left lane.
17
Turn left onto West Commonwealth Avenue
312 ft
·
8 sec
·
West Commonwealth Avenue
Use the left lane.
18
Arrive at destination
West Commonwealth Avenue
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 1.4 and 17.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the exit toward University Drive, Jeffrey Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 4
Toward University Drive, Jeffrey Road
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
7
10.6 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Take the exit toward I 5 North: Santa Ana
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 10B
Toward I 5 North: Santa Ana
8
17.9 mi into trip
|
~20m in
Take the exit toward Harbor Boulevard, Ball Road
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 110
Toward Harbor Boulevard, Ball Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.06 one way
$10.11 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $5.21 | $10.42 |
| premium | $6.18 | $5.35 | $10.70 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.86 | $9.71 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.6 | 0 | $2.31 | $1.06 |
| Efficient EV | 5.5 | 0 | $1.92 | $0.88 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.8 | 0 | $3.08 | $1.41 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
Fullerton, CA
Late night in Fullerton on Tuesday
Local time
2:46 AM
PDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1 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
30m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
As a 'turn-heavy local drive,' this route offers little in the way of long, uninterrupted stretches, with no highway percentage to speak of. Your journey will be characterized by frequent turns as you navigate through urban and suburban areas. The longest stretch without a turn isn't specified, but the profile suggests constant engagement with local road networks. You'll be driving on surface streets for the entire 25.4 miles, experiencing the rhythm of city traffic rather than the monotony of interstate cruising.
71% 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: 6.6 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 San Diego Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in.
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 22 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 30m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; 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.
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.
Arriving in Fullerton, CA
Full guide →Founded 1887
Fullerton is an inland city in north Orange County in Southern California. Situated just north of Anaheim and its far better-known tourist attractions, Fullerton has a few surprises up her sleeve.
Top landmarks
- • Fox Fullerton Theatre — theater and movie theater in Fullerton, California, United States
- • Fullerton Post Office
- • Hillcrest Park — historic park in Fullerton, California
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 30m. Total distance: 22 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 6.6 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 Fullerton, 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 1.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Fullerton, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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