Origin
Irvine, CA
Late night in Irvine on Tuesday
Local time
4:11 AM
PDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Irvine, CA to Ladera Heights, 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
58m
Distance
48.1 mi
77 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Fair
4 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 54m
★
6 AM
0h 58m
8 AM
1h 8m
10 AM
1h 2m
12 PM
1h 1m
3 PM
1h 2m
5 PM
1h 7m
8 PM
0h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Irvine, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Ladera Heights, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Irvine to Ladera Heights covers 48.1 miles through the Pacific Coast region, making this a straightforward journey that fits easily into a single day. You will spend roughly 58 minutes behind the wheel, primarily navigating the I-405 and the San Diego Freeway. With a fuel budget of approximately $11, this route is highly efficient for those looking to traverse the area without needing an overnight stay. Since both your origin and destination are located within the Pacific Coast region, you can expect a consistent atmosphere throughout the trip. It is a practical, no-nonsense commute that is best suited for a quick excursion rather than a multi-day road trip. Planning for this drive is simple, as the limited duration keeps your travel logistics minimal.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 405 | 25 mi | 28m |
| San Diego Freeway | 17.6 mi | 20m |
| I 405 ALT | 2.5 mi | 2m |
| South La Cienega Boulevard | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| West Slauson Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Bedford Avenue | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| Jeffrey Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South Sherbourne Drive | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 405
— 25 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Irvine, CA and Ladera Heights, 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
6.5 mi
·
7 min
·
San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405
9.7 mi
·
11 min
·
San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 405
25 mi
·
28 min
·
I 405
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
12 sec
Exit 46
Toward Los Angeles International Airport
Use the slight right lane.
9
Continue on I 405 ALT
2.5 mi
·
2 min
·
I 405 ALT
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Turn straight onto South La Cienega Boulevard
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
South La Cienega Boulevard
11
Turn slight right
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward Slauson Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn left onto West Slauson Avenue
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
West Slauson Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
13
Turn right onto South Sherbourne Drive
402 ft
·
22 sec
·
South Sherbourne Drive
14
Turn left onto West 57th Street
319 ft
·
16 sec
·
West 57th Street
15
Turn right onto Bedford Avenue
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Bedford Avenue
16
Arrive at destination
Bedford Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24 miles from Irvine, 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 125 decision points cluster between mile 1.4 and 43.3 — 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
6
1.8 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp toward I 405 North: Los Angeles
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 405 North: Los Angeles
6
8.6 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
I 405 / San Diego Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405 / San Diego Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
18.3 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
I 405
Keep slight left at fork onto I 405
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
43.3 mi into trip
|
~50m in
Take the exit toward Los Angeles International Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 46
Toward Los Angeles International Airport
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.06 one way
$22.11 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $11.39 | $22.79 |
| premium | $6.18 | $11.70 | $23.39 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.62 | $21.24 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.4 | 0 | $5.05 | $2.31 |
| Efficient EV | 12 | 0 | $4.21 | $1.92 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.2 | 0 | $6.73 | $3.08 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Ladera Heights, CA
Late night in Ladera Heights on Tuesday
Local time
4:11 AM
PDT
Current temp
70°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
16 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
58m 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?
Expect a classic highway-focused experience, as 94% of your journey is spent on major thoroughfares. The road maintains a consistent pace, defined by the I-405 corridor and its alternate routes. You will encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 25 miles on the I-405, which sets the rhythm for the majority of your time on the road. Rather than offering winding backroads or technical curves, this route prioritizes speed and directness. While the drive is functional and reliable, you should be prepared for the typical rhythm of a high-traffic interstate environment as you move through the coastal landscape.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 25 mi on I 405.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 405 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
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 48.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 58m.
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 1.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 8.6 miles (I 405 / San Diego Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
306 ft
16 ft
Total Climb
333 ft
Total Descent
80 ft
Highest Point
306 ft
~48.1 mi in
Elevation Range
290 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.
On the drive from Irvine, CA to Ladera Heights, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Los Angeles International Airport along the way.
Los Angeles International Airport
43.3 mi in
|
~50m
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.
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 58m. Total distance: 48.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 25 miles on I 405. 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 Ladera Heights, 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 1.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 8.6 miles (I 405 / San Diego Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Ladera Heights, 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.
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