How far is Irvine, CA from Union City, CA?

The driving distance from Irvine, CA to Union City, CA is about 408.1 miles (656.7 km), with a travel time of about 07h 36m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 361.6 miles (581.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 15h 12m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM PDT.
Trip Tools

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.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
408.03 mi
07h 36m
Flight
361.58 mi
581.9 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Irvine.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
361.58 mi
Kilometers
581.9 km
Flight Time
00h 43m

Driving Distance

Road route
408.03 mi
Kilometers
656.66 km
Drive Time
07h 36m

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 36m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Union City
Thu, Apr 23, 5:34 AM PDT
Return by in Irvine
Thu, Apr 23, 1:10 PM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Irvine
2026-04-22T21:58
Arrive Union City
Thu, Apr 23, 5:34 AM PDT
Route Timing
07h 36m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM PDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
1:36 PM to 3:06 PM PDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
8:48 PM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Irvine
8:00 PM PDT
Overnight-style route

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.

Mid-route stop
Kettleman City
CA

Census-designated place in Kings County, California

From Irvine
204.1 mi
03h 48m
To Union City
203.9 mi
03h 48m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
70°F
Wednesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph W
Destination
64°F
Wednesday

Chance Light Rain

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
7 to 12 mph WSW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Irvine and Union City.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Irvine and Union City.

  1. 1

    Start on San Diego Freeway

    1.4 mi · 2 min · San Diego Freeway

  2. 2

    Take the exit slight right toward University Drive, Jeffrey Road

    1456 ft · 21 sec

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Jeffrey Road

    951 ft · 22 sec · Jeffrey Road

  4. 4

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 405 North: Los Angeles

    1228 ft · 18 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto San Diego Freeway

    4.2 mi · 5 min · San Diego Freeway

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward CA 55 South, CA 55 North: Freeway

    1254 ft · 16 sec

  7. 7

    Keep slight right to continue on CA 55 North

    2685 ft · 35 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Costa Mesa Freeway

    3.2 mi · 4 min · Costa Mesa Freeway

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on Costa Mesa Freeway

    2136 ft · 28 sec · Costa Mesa Freeway

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward I 5 North: Santa Ana

    1.1 km · 47 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway

    2756 ft · 36 sec · Santa Ana Freeway

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway

    1.7 mi · 2 min · Santa Ana Freeway

  13. 13

    Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway

    9.4 mi · 11 min · Santa Ana Freeway

  14. 14

    Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway

    18 mi · 21 min · Santa Ana Freeway

  15. 15

    Keep slight right to continue on Golden State Freeway

    25.5 mi · 30 min · Golden State Freeway

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway

    2.2 mi · 3 min · Golden State Freeway

  17. 17

    Keep slight right to continue on I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck

    1.5 mi · 2 min

  18. 18

    Keep slight left

    36.1 mi · 42 min

  19. 19

    Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway

    22.3 mi · 25 min · Golden State Freeway

  20. 20

    Keep slight right to continue on Westside Freeway

    225.6 mi · 4 hr 2 min · Westside Freeway

  21. 21

    Keep slight left to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway

    15.9 mi · 17 min · William Elton Brown Freeway

  22. 22

    Keep slight right to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway

    1.1 mi · 1 min · William Elton Brown Freeway

  23. 23

    Merge slight left onto Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway

    18 mi · 21 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway

  24. 24

    Keep slight right to continue on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway

    10.4 mi · 12 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway

  25. 25

    Take the exit slight right toward Redwood Road

    1149 ft · 30 sec

  26. 26

    Turn left onto Redwood Road

    3104 ft · 1 min · Redwood Road

  27. 27

    Continue on A Street

    1.5 km · 2 min · A Street

  28. 28

    Turn left onto Mission Boulevard

    1735 ft · 44 sec · Mission Boulevard

  29. 29

    Turn slight right onto Jackson Street

    1.7 mi · 3 min · Jackson Street

  30. 30

    Take the exit slight right toward I 880 South: San Jose

    1935 ft · 27 sec

  31. 31

    Merge slight left onto Nimitz Freeway

    1.2 mi · 1 min · Nimitz Freeway

  32. 32

    Keep slight right to continue on Nimitz Freeway

    1.5 mi · 2 min · Nimitz Freeway

  33. 33

    Take the exit slight right toward Whipple Road, Dyer Street

    1823 ft · 46 sec

  34. 34

    Continue on Whipple Road

    1.2 km · 2 min · Whipple Road

  35. 35

    Turn left onto Union City Boulevard

    1.1 km · 1 min · Union City Boulevard

  36. 36

    Turn right onto Cambridge Way

    59 m · 11 sec · Cambridge Way

  37. 37

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Cambridge Way

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Irvine and Union City.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
37 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
12
5 merges, 7 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Westside Freeway
226 mi · 55%
Golden State Freeway
50 mi · 12%
I 5 Truck North
37.7 mi · 9%
Santa Ana Freeway
29.6 mi · 7%
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
28.3 mi · 7%
William Elton Brown Freeway
17 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

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.

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
07h 36m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
15h 12m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+46.5 mi
361.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Kettleman City
03h 48m from Irvine
Leave By
8:48 PM PDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Irvine and Chance Light Rain near Union City.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Irvine to Union City?

The road trip is about 408.1 miles (656.7 km) and usually takes 07h 36m 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 204.1 miles from Irvine and 203.9 miles from Union City.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 361.6 miles (581.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 46.5 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 $83.07 one way or $166.15 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 128 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Irvine and Chance Light Rain near Union City.

Stop Ideas Near Kettleman City

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Kettleman City, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Kettleman City.

BUS

Kettleman City, California

3 mi away
3300 Hubert Way
BUS

Lemoore, California

34 mi away
300 E Street
RAIL

Corcoran station

38 mi away
1099 Otis Ave.
BUS

Lemoore (Naval Air Station), California

41 mi away
25th Ave and Highway 198

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Irvine and Union City. Straight-line distance: 361.58 mi (581.9 km).

Irvine

#1 Irvine

A city located in Orange County, California.

Population283,700
Coordinates33.6694600, -117.8231100
Altitude17
CountryUnited States
Union City

#2 Union City

A city in Placer County, California.

Population74,107
Coordinates37.5963232, -122.0816297
Altitude3
CountryUnited States
Start: Irvine (-117.82311, 33.66946)
End: Union City (-122.08163, 37.596323)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 657 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)13h 35m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)10h 12m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)08h 09m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)06h 48m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)05h 49m
80 mph (129 km/h)05h 05m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
14.4 gal
54.5 L · about $83.07
Round trip
$166.15
28.8 gal · 109 L
Estimated CO2
128 kg one way
Round trip: 255.9 kg / 564 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $83.07 $166.15
Mid-grade $6.07 $87.35 $174.70
Premium $6.24 $89.90 $179.80
Diesel $7.57 $108.96 $217.93

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

There is no time difference between Irvine and Union City. The current time is 21:58:38.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.