How far is Hercules, CA from Irvine, CA?
The driving distance from Hercules, CA to Irvine, CA is about 429.5 miles (691.2 km), with a travel time of about 06h 43m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 390.8 miles (628.9 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 13h 26m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM PDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
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 06h 43m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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.
Census-designated place in Kings County, California
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Chance Light Rain
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Hercules and Irvine.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hercules and Irvine.
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1
Start on Railroad Avenue
1069 ft · 34 sec · Railroad Avenue
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2
Continue on Bayfront Boulevard
1445 ft · 40 sec · Bayfront Boulevard
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3
Continue on John Muir Parkway
12.8 mi · 15 min · John Muir Parkway
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4
Take the exit slight right toward I 680 South: San Jose
3102 ft · 1 min
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5
Merge slight left onto Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
2.5 mi · 3 min · Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
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6
Keep slight right to continue on Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
4.8 mi · 6 min · Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
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7
Continue on Donald D Doyle Highway
1.4 mi · 2 min · Donald D Doyle Highway
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8
Keep slight right to continue on Donald D Doyle Highway
13.4 mi · 16 min · Donald D Doyle Highway
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9
Take the exit slight right toward I 580 East: Livermore, Stockton
1362 ft · 33 sec
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10
Keep slight left to continue on I 580 East: Livermore, Stockton
1.1 km · 1 min
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11
Keep slight left to continue on I 580: Stockton
1581 ft · 39 sec
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12
Merge slight left onto Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
1.4 mi · 2 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
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13
Keep slight right to continue on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
17.8 mi · 21 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
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14
Keep slight right to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
11.1 mi · 12 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
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15
Keep slight left to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
5.9 mi · 6 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
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16
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
224.4 mi · 4 hr · Westside Freeway
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17
Keep slight right
58.4 mi · 1 hr 7 min
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18
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
4.1 mi · 5 min · Golden State Freeway
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19
Keep slight right to continue on I 405 South
1354 ft · 18 sec
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20
Keep slight left
24.7 mi · 29 min
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21
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
1.3 mi · 2 min · Golden State Freeway
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22
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
25.7 mi · 30 min · Santa Ana Freeway
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23
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1241 ft · 16 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
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24
Take the exit slight right toward Broadway, Main Street, Santa Ana
1.3 km · 57 sec
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25
Keep slight left
788 ft · 10 sec
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26
Keep slight left to continue on I 5 South
981 ft · 13 sec
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27
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
1.3 km · 54 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
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28
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1.2 km · 52 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
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29
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1.1 mi · 1 min · Santa Ana Freeway
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30
Take the exit slight right toward CA 55 South: Newport Beach
2131 ft · 28 sec
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31
Merge slight left onto Costa Mesa Freeway
3.7 mi · 4 min · Costa Mesa Freeway
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32
Take the exit slight right toward I 405 South: John Wayne Airport
3019 ft · 39 sec
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33
Keep slight left to continue on I 405 South
775 ft · 10 sec
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34
Merge slight left onto San Diego Freeway
2.7 mi · 3 min · San Diego Freeway
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35
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · San Diego Freeway
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Hercules and Irvine.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Westside Freeway
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
224 mi · 04h 00m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
Better with a longer stop
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
Chance Light Rain leaving Hercules and Mostly Sunny near Irvine.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Hercules to Irvine?
The road trip is about 429.5 miles (691.2 km) and usually takes 06h 43m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Kettleman City is a useful midpoint, sitting about 212 miles from Hercules and 217.5 miles from Irvine.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 390.8 miles (628.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 38.7 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 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM PDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $87.46 one way or $174.92 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 134.7 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Chance Light Rain around Hercules and Mostly Sunny near Irvine.
Stop Ideas Near Kettleman City
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Kettleman City.
Kettleman City, California
Lemoore, California
Corcoran station
Lemoore (Naval Air Station), California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Hercules and Irvine. Straight-line distance: 390.77 mi (628.88 km).
#1 Hercules
City in western Contra Costa County, California
| Population | 26,221 |
| Coordinates | 38.0171400, -122.2885800 |
| Altitude | 24 |
| 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: 691 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 14h 18m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 10h 44m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 08h 35m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 07h 09m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 06h 08m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 05h 21m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $87.46 | $174.92 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $91.96 | $183.92 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $94.64 | $189.29 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $114.72 | $229.43 |
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 23, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.