How far is Los Banos, CA from Irvine, CA?

The driving distance from Los Banos, CA to Irvine, CA is about 311.4 miles (501.1 km), with a travel time of about 04h 54m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 289.6 miles (466.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 48m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 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
311.39 mi
04h 54m
Flight
289.63 mi
466.12 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Los Banos.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
289.63 mi
Kilometers
466.12 km
Flight Time
00h 34m

Driving Distance

Road route
311.39 mi
Kilometers
501.13 km
Drive Time
04h 54m

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 04h 54m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Irvine
Wed, Apr 22, 11:59 PM PDT
Return by in Los Banos
Thu, Apr 23, 4:53 AM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Los Banos
2026-04-22T19:05
Arrive Irvine
Wed, Apr 22, 11:59 PM PDT
Route Timing
04h 54m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:54 AM to 12:54 PM PDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
7:12 AM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Los Banos
9:00 PM PDT
Early departure recommended

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
Buttonwillow
CA

Place in Kern County California

From Los Banos
153 mi
02h 27m
To Irvine
158.4 mi
02h 27m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
68°F
Wednesday

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
5 mph WSW
Destination
70°F
Wednesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph W

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Los Banos and Irvine.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Los Banos and Irvine.

  1. 1

    Start on 6th Street

    564 ft · 34 sec · 6th Street

  2. 2

    Turn sharp left onto East Pacheco Boulevard

    1.4 km · 2 min · East Pacheco Boulevard

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Mercey Springs Road - Hwy 165

    8.8 mi · 13 min · Mercey Springs Road - Hwy 165

  4. 4

    Take the ramp left

    1417 ft · 35 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway

    169.9 mi · 3 hr 2 min · Westside Freeway

  6. 6

    Keep slight right

    58.4 mi · 1 hr 7 min

  7. 7

    Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway

    4.1 mi · 5 min · Golden State Freeway

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on I 405 South

    1354 ft · 18 sec

  9. 9

    Keep slight left

    24.7 mi · 29 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Golden State Freeway

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway

    25.7 mi · 30 min · Santa Ana Freeway

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway

    1241 ft · 16 sec · Santa Ana Freeway

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward Broadway, Main Street, Santa Ana

    1.3 km · 57 sec

  14. 14

    Keep slight left

    788 ft · 10 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on I 5 South

    981 ft · 13 sec

  16. 16

    Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway

    1.3 km · 54 sec · Santa Ana Freeway

  17. 17

    Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway

    1.2 km · 52 sec · Santa Ana Freeway

  18. 18

    Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway

    1.1 mi · 1 min · Santa Ana Freeway

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward CA 55 South: Newport Beach

    2131 ft · 28 sec

  20. 20

    Merge slight left onto Costa Mesa Freeway

    3.7 mi · 4 min · Costa Mesa Freeway

  21. 21

    Take the exit slight right toward I 405 South: John Wayne Airport

    3019 ft · 39 sec

  22. 22

    Keep slight left to continue on I 405 South

    775 ft · 10 sec

  23. 23

    Merge slight left onto San Diego Freeway

    2.7 mi · 3 min · San Diego Freeway

  24. 24

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · San Diego Freeway

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Los Banos and Irvine.

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
24 steps
2 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
5 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Westside Freeway
228 mi · 73%
Santa Ana Freeway
28.6 mi · 9%
I 405 South
25.7 mi · 8%
Mercey Springs Road - Hwy 165
9.09 mi · 3%
Golden State Freeway
5.33 mi · 2%
Costa Mesa Freeway
3.71 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Westside Freeway

Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway

170 mi · 03h 02m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
04h 54m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 48m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+21.8 mi
289.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Buttonwillow
02h 27m from Los Banos
Leave By
7:12 AM PDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Los Banos 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 Los Banos to Irvine?

The road trip is about 311.4 miles (501.1 km) and usually takes 04h 54m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Buttonwillow is a useful midpoint, sitting about 153 miles from Los Banos and 158.4 miles from Irvine.

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

The direct path is about 289.6 miles (466.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 21.8 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 8:00 AM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:12 AM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $63.40 one way or $126.80 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 97.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Los Banos and Mostly Sunny near Irvine.

Stop Ideas Near Buttonwillow

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Buttonwillow, 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 Buttonwillow.

RAIL

Wasco station

25 mi away
700 G Street
RAIL

Bakersfield

41 mi away
601 Truxtun Ave
RAIL

Corcoran station

78 mi away
1099 Otis Ave.
BUS

Kettleman City, California

79 mi away
3300 Hubert Way

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Los Banos and Irvine. Straight-line distance: 289.63 mi (466.12 km).

Los Banos

#1 Los Banos

The county seat of Merced County, California.

Population40,571
Coordinates37.0582800, -120.8499200
Altitude36
CountryUnited States
Irvine

#2 Irvine

A city located in Orange County, California.

Population283,700
Coordinates33.6694600, -117.8231100
Altitude17
CountryUnited States
Start: 6th Street (-120.849794, 37.058226)
End: (-117.823114, 33.669436)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 501 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 22m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 47m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 13m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 11m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 26m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 53m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.99 gal
41.59 L · about $63.40
Round trip
$126.80
21.98 gal · 83.18 L
Estimated CO2
97.7 kg one way
Round trip: 195.3 kg / 431 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $63.40 $126.80
Mid-grade $6.07 $66.67 $133.33
Premium $6.24 $68.61 $137.22
Diesel $7.57 $83.16 $166.32

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 Los Banos and Irvine. The current time is 19:05:36.

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.