How far is Irvine, CA from Grass Valley, CA?
The driving distance from Irvine, CA to Grass Valley, CA is about 485 miles (780.5 km), with a travel time of about 09h 03m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 423.5 miles (681.5 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 18h 06m 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 09h 03m.
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.
Small city in Fresno County, California
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Light Rain Likely
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Irvine and Grass Valley.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Irvine and Grass Valley.
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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 right to continue on Westside Freeway
25.5 mi · 28 min · Westside Freeway
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22
Keep left to continue on Westside Freeway
46 mi · 51 min · Westside Freeway
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23
Take the exit slight right toward US 50, I 80 East: San Francisco, South Lake Tahoe
975 ft · 13 sec
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24
Keep slight right to continue on US 50 East, I 80 Business East: South Lake Tahoe, Broadway
809 ft · 13 sec
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25
Keep slight left to continue on US 50 East, I 80 East: South Lake Tahoe
1.1 km · 1 min
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26
Merge slight left onto Capital City Freeway
1.2 mi · 1 min · Capital City Freeway
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27
Keep slight right to continue on Capital City Freeway
9.4 mi · 10 min · Capital City Freeway
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28
Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
7 mi · 8 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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29
Continue on Alan S. Hart Freeway
16.9 mi · 19 min · Alan S. Hart Freeway
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30
Take the exit slight right toward CA 49 North: Grass Valley, Placerville
943 ft · 31 sec
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31
Turn left onto Grass Valley Highway
5.8 mi · 9 min · Grass Valley Highway
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32
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Grass Valley Highway
36 m · 3 sec · Grass Valley Highway
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33
Exit the roundabout onto Grass Valley Highway
1.3 mi · 2 min · Grass Valley Highway
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34
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Grass Valley Highway
36 m · 3 sec · Grass Valley Highway
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35
Exit the roundabout onto Grass Valley Highway
1.1 mi · 1 min · Grass Valley Highway
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36
Continue on State Highway 49
14.8 mi · 20 min · State Highway 49
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37
Take the exit slight right toward CA 174
993 ft · 14 sec
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38
Keep slight left to continue on CA 174
51 m · 5 sec
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39
Turn left onto South Auburn Street
1297 ft · 33 sec · South Auburn Street
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40
Turn right onto East Main Street
104 m · 10 sec · East Main Street
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41
Turn right onto Stewart Street
36 m · 5 sec · Stewart Street
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42
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Stewart Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Irvine and Grass Valley.
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.
Mostly Sunny leaving Irvine and Light Rain Likely near Grass Valley.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Irvine to Grass Valley?
The road trip is about 485 miles (780.5 km) and usually takes 09h 03m 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?
Huron is a useful midpoint, sitting about 242.6 miles from Irvine and 242.3 miles from Grass Valley.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 423.5 miles (681.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 61.5 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 $98.71 one way or $197.42 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 152.1 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Irvine and Light Rain Likely near Grass Valley.
Stop Ideas Near Huron
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 Huron.
Lemoore (Naval Air Station), California
Kettleman City, California
Lemoore, California
Hanford station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Irvine and Grass Valley. Straight-line distance: 423.49 mi (681.54 km).
#1 Irvine
A city located in Orange County, California.
| Population | 283,700 |
| Coordinates | 33.6694600, -117.8231100 |
| Altitude | 17 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Grass Valley
City in Nevada County, California, United States
| Population | 12,763 |
| Coordinates | 39.2190600, -121.0610600 |
| Altitude | 735 |
| Country | United States |
End: Grass Valley (-121.06106, 39.21906)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 781 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 16h 09m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 12h 07m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 09h 41m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 08h 04m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 06h 55m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 06h 03m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $98.71 | $197.42 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $103.79 | $207.58 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $106.82 | $213.64 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $129.47 | $258.94 |
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.