How far is Shasta Lake, CA from Irvine, CA?
The driving distance from Shasta Lake, CA to Irvine, CA is about 597 miles (960.7 km), with a travel time of about 09h 19m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 545.1 miles (877.2 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 18h 38m 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 19m.
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.
The county seat of Merced County, California.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Shasta Lake and Irvine.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Shasta Lake and Irvine.
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1
Start on the route
28 m · 12 sec
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2
Turn left
18 m · 10 sec
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3
Turn left onto Montana Avenue
70 m · 14 sec · Montana Avenue
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4
Turn right onto Shasta Dam Boulevard
1.1 mi · 2 min · Shasta Dam Boulevard
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5
Take the ramp straight
26 m · 2 sec
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6
Keep slight right
1311 ft · 32 sec
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7
Merge slight left onto Cascade Wonderland Highway
3.2 mi · 4 min · Cascade Wonderland Highway
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8
Keep slight left to continue on Cascade Wonderland Highway
35.5 mi · 39 min · Cascade Wonderland Highway
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9
Continue on Westside Freeway
93 mi · 1 hr 40 min · Westside Freeway
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10
Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway
15.7 mi · 17 min · Westside Freeway
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11
Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway
78.8 mi · 1 hr 28 min · Westside Freeway
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12
Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway
1.2 km · 49 sec · Westside Freeway
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13
Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway
236.6 mi · 4 hr 14 min · Westside Freeway
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14
Keep slight right
58.4 mi · 1 hr 7 min
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15
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
4.1 mi · 5 min · Golden State Freeway
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16
Keep slight right to continue on I 405 South
1354 ft · 18 sec
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17
Keep slight left
24.7 mi · 29 min
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18
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
1.3 mi · 2 min · Golden State Freeway
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19
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
25.7 mi · 30 min · Santa Ana Freeway
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20
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1241 ft · 16 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
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21
Take the exit slight right toward Broadway, Main Street, Santa Ana
1.3 km · 57 sec
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22
Keep slight left
788 ft · 10 sec
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23
Keep slight left to continue on I 5 South
981 ft · 13 sec
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24
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
1.3 km · 54 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
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25
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1.2 km · 52 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
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26
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1.1 mi · 1 min · Santa Ana Freeway
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27
Take the exit slight right toward CA 55 South: Newport Beach
2131 ft · 28 sec
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28
Merge slight left onto Costa Mesa Freeway
3.7 mi · 4 min · Costa Mesa Freeway
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29
Take the exit slight right toward I 405 South: John Wayne Airport
3019 ft · 39 sec
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30
Keep slight left to continue on I 405 South
775 ft · 10 sec
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31
Merge slight left onto San Diego Freeway
2.7 mi · 3 min · San Diego Freeway
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32
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · San Diego Freeway
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Shasta Lake 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
Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway
237 mi · 04h 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.
Sunny leaving Shasta Lake and Sunny near Irvine.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Shasta Lake to Irvine?
The road trip is about 597 miles (960.7 km) and usually takes 09h 19m 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?
Los Banos is a useful midpoint, sitting about 295.6 miles from Shasta Lake and 301.3 miles from Irvine.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 545.1 miles (877.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 51.9 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 $121.55 one way or $243.11 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 187.2 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Shasta Lake and Sunny near Irvine.
Stop Ideas Near Los Banos
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 Los Banos.
Merced station
Denair station
Gilroy, California
Modesto station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Shasta Lake and Irvine. Straight-line distance: 545.08 mi (877.22 km).
#1 Shasta Lake
City located in Shasta County, California
| Population | 10,379 |
| Coordinates | 40.6804300, -122.3708400 |
| Altitude | 246 |
| 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: 961 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 19h 53m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 14h 55m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 11h 56m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 09h 56m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 08h 31m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 07h 26m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $121.55 | $243.11 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $127.81 | $255.62 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $131.54 | $263.08 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $159.44 | $318.87 |
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 · May 31, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.