How far is Menlo Park, CA from Irvine, CA?
The driving distance from Menlo Park, CA to Irvine, CA is about 405.2 miles (652.1 km), with a travel time of about 06h 48m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 358.2 miles (576.5 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 13h 36m 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 06h 48m.
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.
Chance Light Rain
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Menlo Park and Irvine.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Menlo Park and Irvine.
-
1
Start on the route
37 m · 14 sec
-
2
Turn left
12 m · 7 sec
-
3
Turn left onto Merrill Street
79 m · 19 sec · Merrill Street
-
4
Turn left onto Santa Cruz Avenue
94 m · 13 sec · Santa Cruz Avenue
-
5
Turn left onto El Camino Real
136 m · 16 sec · El Camino Real
-
6
Turn left onto Ravenswood Avenue
3139 ft · 2 min · Ravenswood Avenue
-
7
Turn right onto Middlefield Road
1.2 km · 2 min · Middlefield Road
-
8
Turn left onto Willow Road
1 mi · 3 min · Willow Road
-
9
Take the ramp straight toward US 101 South: San Jose
1563 ft · 37 sec
-
10
Merge slight left onto Bayshore Freeway
5.7 mi · 7 min · Bayshore Freeway
-
11
Keep slight left to continue on Bayshore Freeway
42.4 mi · 49 min · Bayshore Freeway
-
12
Take the exit slight right toward CA 152 East: 10th Street, Pacheco Pass Road
1539 ft · 40 sec
-
13
Turn left onto East 10th Street
108 m · 13 sec · East 10th Street
-
14
Continue on Pacheco Pass Highway
40.6 mi · 50 min · Pacheco Pass Highway
-
15
Take the exit slight right toward I 5: Los Angeles
3148 ft · 1 min
-
16
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
181.1 mi · 3 hr 14 min · Westside Freeway
-
17
Keep slight right
58.4 mi · 1 hr 7 min
-
18
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
4.1 mi · 5 min · Golden State Freeway
-
19
Keep slight right to continue on I 405 South
1354 ft · 18 sec
-
20
Keep slight left
24.7 mi · 29 min
-
21
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
1.3 mi · 2 min · Golden State Freeway
-
22
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
25.7 mi · 30 min · Santa Ana Freeway
-
23
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1241 ft · 16 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
-
24
Take the exit slight right toward Broadway, Main Street, Santa Ana
1.3 km · 57 sec
-
25
Keep slight left
788 ft · 10 sec
-
26
Keep slight left to continue on I 5 South
981 ft · 13 sec
-
27
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
1.3 km · 54 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
-
28
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1.2 km · 52 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
-
29
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1.1 mi · 1 min · Santa Ana Freeway
-
30
Take the exit slight right toward CA 55 South: Newport Beach
2131 ft · 28 sec
-
31
Merge slight left onto Costa Mesa Freeway
3.7 mi · 4 min · Costa Mesa Freeway
-
32
Take the exit slight right toward I 405 South: John Wayne Airport
3019 ft · 39 sec
-
33
Keep slight left to continue on I 405 South
775 ft · 10 sec
-
34
Merge slight left onto San Diego Freeway
2.7 mi · 3 min · San Diego Freeway
-
35
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · San Diego Freeway
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Menlo Park and Irvine.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Westside Freeway
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
181 mi · 03h 14m
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.
Chance Light Rain leaving Menlo Park 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 Menlo Park to Irvine?
The road trip is about 405.2 miles (652.1 km) and usually takes 06h 48m 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 199.9 miles from Menlo Park and 205.4 miles from Irvine.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 358.2 miles (576.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 47 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 $82.50 one way or $164.99 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 127.1 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Chance Light Rain around Menlo Park and Mostly Sunny near Irvine.
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 Menlo Park and Irvine. Straight-line distance: 358.24 mi (576.53 km).
#1 Menlo Park
City at the eastern edge of San Mateo County, in the San Francisco Bay Area of California
| Population | 34,934 |
| Coordinates | 37.4538300, -122.1821900 |
| Altitude | 22 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Irvine
A city located in Orange County, California.
| Population | 283,700 |
| Coordinates | 33.6694600, -117.8231100 |
| Altitude | 17 |
| Country | United States |
End: (-117.823114, 33.669436)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 652 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 13h 30m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 10h 07m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 08h 06m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 06h 45m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 05h 47m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 05h 03m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $82.50 | $164.99 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $86.74 | $173.49 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $89.27 | $178.55 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $108.21 | $216.42 |
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 22, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.