Best Time to Drive from Downey to Pasadena

On weekdays the 17-mile drive from Downey to Pasadena (via I-710 North) usually takes as little as 26 minutes and up to 42 minutes, when leaving around 5:30 pm on Thursdays. The fastest times to leave are before 7 am or after 7:30 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 30 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 3:30 pm on Saturdays (32 minutes).

⇄ Reverse trip: Pasadena to Downey

Freeway, about 7 miles: times follow typical and live traffic from our sensors. Surface streets, about 10 miles: 20 to 31 minutes on weekdays, estimated from how jammed the freeways around them are at that time (we don't have street sensors yet). Drive times are measured from central Downey (Downey Avenue) to Old Pasadena (East Holly Street) along the route shown. Starting or ending elsewhere in a big city can add or save several minutes.

Typical drive time by departure time

Minutes from Downey to Pasadena by day and time you leave (local time)
Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	26	27	28	33	30	29	29	29	29	30	33	36	38	35	28	27	27
Tue	26	27	30	36	33	31	30	29	29	30	34	38	40	38	32	27	27
Wed	26	27	30	34	33	31	29	29	29	32	35	38	40	38	32	27	27
Thu	27	27	30	35	33	30	30	29	29	35	37	40	42	39	33	28	27
Fri	27	27	28	33	31	30	30	31	33	36	40	40	40	35	30	28	27
Sat	27	27	27	27	27	27	28	29	29	30	31	32	31	29	27	27	27
Sun	27	27	27	27	27	27	27	27	28	28	28	28	28	27	27	27	27

Simulated from typical freeway speeds at each point of the drive for the time you would reach it, from every 5-minute reading we have recorded. We don't have sensors on surface streets yet, so the time on them is estimated from how congested the freeways around each end of the drive are at that time, in both directions: streets jam when the freeways do.

Questions

What is the best time to drive from Downey to Pasadena?

On weekdays, leave before 7 am or after 7:30 pm. The drive usually takes about 26 minutes then, versus up to 42 minutes at the worst times.

How long does it take to drive from Downey to Pasadena?

The 17-mile drive usually takes 26 to 42 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 30 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Downey to Pasadena?

Leaving around 5:30 pm on Thursdays is usually slowest, about 42 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

Pasadena to Downey (return trip) · Downey to Los Angeles · Downey to Santa Monica · Downey to Long Beach · Downey to West Covina · Downey to Burbank · Downey to Glendale · Downey to Santa Clarita · Downey to Van Nuys · Downey to LAX · Downey to Hollywood · Downey to Culver City

Open the live traffic map →

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	26	27	28	33	30	29	29	29	29	30	33	36	38	35	28	27	27
Tue	26	27	30	36	33	31	30	29	29	30	34	38	40	38	32	27	27
Wed	26	27	30	34	33	31	29	29	29	32	35	38	40	38	32	27	27
Thu	27	27	30	35	33	30	30	29	29	35	37	40	42	39	33	28	27
Fri	27	27	28	33	31	30	30	31	33	36	40	40	40	35	30	28	27
Sat	27	27	27	27	27	27	28	29	29	30	31	32	31	29	27	27	27
Sun	27	27	27	27	27	27	27	27	28	28	28	28	28	27	27	27	27

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	26	27	28	33	30	29	29	29	29	30	33	36	38	35	28	27	27
Tue	26	27	30	36	33	31	30	29	29	30	34	38	40	38	32	27	27
Wed	26	27	30	34	33	31	29	29	29	32	35	38	40	38	32	27	27
Thu	27	27	30	35	33	30	30	29	29	35	37	40	42	39	33	28	27
Fri	27	27	28	33	31	30	30	31	33	36	40	40	40	35	30	28	27
Sat	27	27	27	27	27	27	28	29	29	30	31	32	31	29	27	27	27
Sun	27	27	27	27	27	27	27	27	28	28	28	28	28	27	27	27	27

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	26	27	28	33	30	29	29	29	29	30	33	36	38	35	28	27	27
Tue	26	27	30	36	33	31	30	29	29	30	34	38	40	38	32	27	27
Wed	26	27	30	34	33	31	29	29	29	32	35	38	40	38	32	27	27
Thu	27	27	30	35	33	30	30	29	29	35	37	40	42	39	33	28	27
Fri	27	27	28	33	31	30	30	31	33	36	40	40	40	35	30	28	27
Sat	27	27	27	27	27	27	28	29	29	30	31	32	31	29	27	27	27
Sun	27	27	27	27	27	27	27	27	28	28	28	28	28	27	27	27	27