How far is Irvine, CA from Chinatown, CA?
The driving distance from Irvine, CA to Chinatown, CA is about 424.9 miles (683.8 km), with a travel time of about 07h 55m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 383.9 miles (617.8 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 15h 51m 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 07h 55m.
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.
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Irvine and Chinatown.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Irvine and Chinatown.
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1
Start on San Diego Freeway
1.4 mi · 2 min · San Diego Freeway
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2
Take the exit slight right toward University Drive, Jeffrey Road
1456 ft · 21 sec
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3
Turn left onto Jeffrey Road
951 ft · 22 sec · Jeffrey Road
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4
Take the ramp slight right toward I 405 North: Los Angeles
1228 ft · 18 sec
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5
Merge slight left onto San Diego Freeway
4.2 mi · 5 min · San Diego Freeway
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6
Take the exit slight right toward CA 55 South, CA 55 North: Freeway
1254 ft · 16 sec
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7
Keep slight right to continue on CA 55 North
2685 ft · 35 sec
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8
Merge slight left onto Costa Mesa Freeway
3.2 mi · 4 min · Costa Mesa Freeway
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9
Keep slight right to continue on Costa Mesa Freeway
2136 ft · 28 sec · Costa Mesa Freeway
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10
Take the exit slight right toward I 5 North: Santa Ana
1.1 km · 47 sec
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11
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
2756 ft · 36 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
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12
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1.7 mi · 2 min · Santa Ana Freeway
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13
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
9.4 mi · 11 min · Santa Ana Freeway
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14
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
18 mi · 21 min · Santa Ana Freeway
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15
Keep slight right to continue on Golden State Freeway
25.5 mi · 30 min · Golden State Freeway
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16
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
2.2 mi · 3 min · Golden State Freeway
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17
Keep slight right to continue on I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
1.5 mi · 2 min
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18
Keep slight left
36.1 mi · 42 min
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19
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
22.3 mi · 25 min · Golden State Freeway
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20
Keep slight right to continue on Westside Freeway
225.6 mi · 4 hr 2 min · Westside Freeway
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21
Keep slight left to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
15.9 mi · 17 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
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22
Keep slight right to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
1.1 mi · 1 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
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23
Merge slight left onto Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
18 mi · 21 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
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24
Keep slight right to continue on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
11.6 mi · 13 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
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25
Keep slight right to continue on MacArthur Freeway
8.3 mi · 10 min · MacArthur Freeway
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26
Keep slight left to continue on MacArthur Freeway
7.2 mi · 8 min · MacArthur Freeway
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27
Take the exit slight left toward I 80 West: San Francisco
1.5 km · 1 min
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28
Merge slight right onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
1015 ft · 17 sec · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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29
Turn slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
1959 ft · 33 sec · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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30
Keep slight left to continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
5.5 mi · 8 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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31
Take the exit slight right toward Fremont Street, Folsom Street
2386 ft · 44 sec
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32
Turn left onto Fremont Street
1613 ft · 1 min · Fremont Street
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33
Continue on Front Street
627 ft · 25 sec · Front Street
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34
Turn left onto California Street
1646 ft · 55 sec · California Street
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35
Turn right onto Kearny Street
986 ft · 35 sec · Kearny Street
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36
Turn left onto Washington Street
136 m · 24 sec · Washington Street
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37
Turn right onto Grant Avenue
649 ft · 37 sec · Grant Avenue
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38
Turn left onto Pacific Avenue
156 m · 24 sec · Pacific Avenue
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39
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Pacific Avenue
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Irvine and Chinatown.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Westside Freeway
Keep slight right to continue on Westside Freeway
226 mi · 04h 02m
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.
Sunny leaving Irvine and Sunny near Chinatown.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Irvine to Chinatown?
The road trip is about 424.9 miles (683.8 km) and usually takes 07h 55m 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 212.4 miles from Irvine and 212.5 miles from Chinatown.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 383.9 miles (617.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 41 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 $93.85 one way or $187.70 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 133.2 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Irvine and Sunny near Chinatown.
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 Irvine and Chinatown. Straight-line distance: 383.89 mi (617.81 km).
#1 Irvine
A city located in Orange County, California.
| Population | 283,700 |
| Coordinates | 33.6694600, -117.8231100 |
| Altitude | 17 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Chinatown
Situated on the hilly terrain of downtown San Francisco at an average elevation of 95 feet, this densely populated neighborhood serves as a significant historical and cultural center for the Chinese diaspora in North America.
| Population | 0 |
| Coordinates | 37.7966000, -122.4085800 |
| Altitude | 29 |
| Country | United States |
End: Chinatown (-122.40858, 37.7966)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 684 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 14h 09m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 10h 37m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 08h 29m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 07h 04m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 06h 04m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 05h 18m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $6.26 | $93.85 | $187.70 |
| Mid-grade | $6.50 | $97.42 | $194.84 |
| Premium | $6.69 | $100.27 | $200.54 |
| Diesel | $8.41 | $126.11 | $252.22 |
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 · Oct 15, 2026