How far is Irvine, CA from Santa Clara, CA?
The driving distance from Irvine, CA to Santa Clara, CA is about 388.7 miles (625.5 km), with a travel time of about 07h 20m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 344.6 miles (554.6 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 14h 41m 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 20m.
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 Kern County, California
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Chance Light Rain
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Irvine and Santa Clara.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Irvine and Santa Clara.
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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
182.5 mi · 3 hr 16 min · Westside Freeway
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21
Take the exit slight right toward CA 152 West: Gilroy, Hollister, San Jose
1038 ft · 27 sec
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22
Continue straight
28.7 mi · 33 min
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23
Keep slight right
11.9 mi · 17 min
-
24
Take the exit slight right toward US 101 North: San Jose
2466 ft · 1 min
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25
Merge slight left onto South Valley Freeway
19.9 mi · 23 min · South Valley Freeway
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26
Keep slight left
12.4 mi · 14 min
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27
Take the exit right toward I 880 South: Los Gatos, Santa Cruz
731 ft · 20 sec
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28
Merge slight left onto Nimitz Freeway
1.2 mi · 1 min · Nimitz Freeway
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29
Take the exit slight right toward Coleman Avenue, Mineta San Jose International Airport
1554 ft · 42 sec
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30
Turn right onto Coleman Avenue
1.2 mi · 2 min · Coleman Avenue
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31
Turn slight left onto CA 82: Santa Clara
1503 ft · 55 sec
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32
Turn straight onto De La Cruz Boulevard
114 m · 6 sec · De La Cruz Boulevard
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33
Turn slight right onto Civic Center, El Camino Real
721 ft · 28 sec
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34
Turn left onto El Camino Real
3163 ft · 1 min · El Camino Real
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35
Turn right onto Lincoln Street
643 ft · 18 sec · Lincoln Street
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36
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Lincoln Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Irvine and Santa Clara.
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
183 mi · 03h 16m
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 Chance Light Rain near Santa Clara.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Irvine to Santa Clara?
The road trip is about 388.7 miles (625.5 km) and usually takes 07h 20m 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?
Lost Hills is a useful midpoint, sitting about 194.4 miles from Irvine and 194.3 miles from Santa Clara.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 344.6 miles (554.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 44.1 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 $79.15 one way or $158.30 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 121.9 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Irvine and Chance Light Rain near Santa Clara.
Stop Ideas Near Lost Hills
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 Lost Hills.
Wasco station
Kettleman City, California
Corcoran station
Bakersfield
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Irvine and Santa Clara. Straight-line distance: 344.62 mi (554.62 km).
#1 Irvine
A city located in Orange County, California.
| Population | 283,700 |
| Coordinates | 33.6694600, -117.8231100 |
| Altitude | 17 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Santa Clara
The third most populous city in Santa Clara County, California.
| Population | 131,055 |
| Coordinates | 37.3541100, -121.9552400 |
| Altitude | 23 |
| Country | United States |
End: Santa Clara (-121.95524, 37.35411)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 625 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 12h 57m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 09h 43m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 07h 46m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 06h 28m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 05h 33m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 50m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $79.15 | $158.30 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $83.23 | $166.45 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $85.65 | $171.31 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $103.82 | $207.64 |
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.