How far is Downey, CA from Irvine, CA?
The driving distance from Downey, CA to Irvine, CA is about 31.6 miles (50.8 km), with a travel time of about 00h 36m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 25.8 miles (41.5 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 13m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM PDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This is an easy same-day return drive.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
Gas Cost Calculator
Leave and Arrive Planner
Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.
Drive time stays fixed at 00h 36m.
This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.
You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
The second most populous city in Orange County, California and the center of the Anaheim metropolitan area.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Downey and Irvine.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Downey and Irvine.
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1
Start on the route
571 ft · 44 sec
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2
Turn right
61 m · 17 sec
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3
At the end of the road, turn right onto Dolan Avenue
104 m · 17 sec · Dolan Avenue
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4
Turn left onto Firestone Boulevard
2.8 mi · 5 min · Firestone Boulevard
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5
Turn slight left onto Imperial Highway
3018 ft · 60 sec · Imperial Highway
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6
Turn right onto I 5 South: Los Angeles
2702 ft · 56 sec
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7
Continue on I 5 South: Santa Ana
2038 ft · 50 sec
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8
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
13.9 mi · 16 min · Santa Ana Freeway
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9
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1241 ft · 16 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
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10
Take the exit slight right toward Broadway, Main Street, Santa Ana
1.3 km · 57 sec
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11
Keep slight left
788 ft · 10 sec
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12
Keep slight left to continue on I 5 South
981 ft · 13 sec
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13
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
1.3 km · 54 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
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14
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1.2 km · 52 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
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15
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1.1 mi · 1 min · Santa Ana Freeway
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16
Take the exit slight right toward CA 55 South: Newport Beach
2131 ft · 28 sec
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17
Merge slight left onto Costa Mesa Freeway
3.7 mi · 4 min · Costa Mesa Freeway
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18
Take the exit slight right toward I 405 South: John Wayne Airport
3019 ft · 39 sec
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19
Keep slight left to continue on I 405 South
775 ft · 10 sec
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20
Merge slight left onto San Diego Freeway
2.7 mi · 3 min · San Diego Freeway
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21
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · San Diego Freeway
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Downey and Irvine.
Turn-heavy local drive
The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.
Santa Ana Freeway
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
13.9 mi · 00h 16m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
A short regional drive
This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.
Sunny leaving Downey and Sunny near Irvine.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Downey to Irvine?
The road trip is about 31.6 miles (50.8 km) and usually takes 00h 36m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Anaheim is a useful midpoint, sitting about 15 miles from Downey and 16.6 miles from Irvine.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 25.8 miles (41.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 5.8 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.
When is the best time to leave for this route?
A good departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:16 PM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $6.40 one way or $12.81 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 9.9 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Downey and Sunny near Irvine.
Stop Ideas Near Anaheim
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Newport Beach Municipal Operations
City of Tustin Parks & Recreation
bamboo house
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Anaheim.
Fullerton Transportation Center
Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center
Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center
Irvine Transportation Center
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Downey and Irvine. Straight-line distance: 25.79 mi (41.5 km).
#1 Downey
The most populous city in Los Angeles County, California.
| Population | 109,202 |
| Coordinates | 33.9400100, -118.1325700 |
| Altitude | 36 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Irvine
A city located in Orange County, California.
| Population | 283,700 |
| Coordinates | 33.6694600, -117.8231100 |
| Altitude | 17 |
| Country | United States |
End: (-117.823114, 33.669436)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 51 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 01h 03m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 00h 47m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 37m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 31m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 27m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 23m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $6.40 | $12.81 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $6.73 | $13.47 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $6.93 | $13.86 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $8.40 | $16.80 |
Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.
Prices in California · Apr 18, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.