Best Time to Drive from Downey to Simi Valley

Right now (5:03 pm PDT): about 71 minutes via I-5 North and SR-118 West, usually 70 at this time.

None of this drive is measured by working traffic sensors right now. The rest is estimated from nearby sensors, typical speeds and street traffic, so times can be off. Why so few sensors work.

On weekdays the 54-mile drive from Downey to Simi Valley (via I-5 North and SR-118 West) usually takes as little as 50 minutes and up to 74 minutes, when leaving around 8 am on Tuesdays. The fastest times to leave are before 6 am or after 7:30 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 62 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 2 pm on Saturdays (65 minutes).

⇄ Reverse trip: Simi Valley to Downey

Freeway, about 50 miles: times follow typical and live traffic from our sensors. Surface streets, about 4 miles: 7 to 10 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 central Simi Valley (3rd 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 Simi Valley 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	50	57	68	73	71	66	62	61	60	62	66	70	69	64	56	52	51
Tue	50	58	70	74	72	67	62	60	59	61	65	70	70	66	57	53	51
Wed	50	58	71	74	72	68	62	60	60	62	67	72	71	65	58	54	51
Thu	50	58	71	74	72	68	63	61	61	63	68	73	72	67	59	54	51
Fri	50	57	67	70	69	67	65	64	66	68	72	73	70	65	59	55	51
Sat	50	51	52	53	55	57	59	62	65	65	64	63	61	59	56	54	51
Sun	50	50	50	51	51	53	55	57	60	62	62	61	58	57	56	55	52

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 Simi Valley?

On weekdays, leave before 6 am or after 7:30 pm. The drive usually takes about 50 minutes then, versus up to 74 minutes at the worst times.

How long does it take to drive from Downey to Simi Valley?

The 54-mile drive usually takes 50 to 74 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 62 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Downey to Simi Valley?

Leaving around 8 am on Tuesdays is usually slowest, about 74 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

Simi Valley 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	50	57	68	73	71	66	62	61	60	62	66	70	69	64	56	52	51
Tue	50	58	70	74	72	67	62	60	59	61	65	70	70	66	57	53	51
Wed	50	58	71	74	72	68	62	60	60	62	67	72	71	65	58	54	51
Thu	50	58	71	74	72	68	63	61	61	63	68	73	72	67	59	54	51
Fri	50	57	67	70	69	67	65	64	66	68	72	73	70	65	59	55	51
Sat	50	51	52	53	55	57	59	62	65	65	64	63	61	59	56	54	51
Sun	50	50	50	51	51	53	55	57	60	62	62	61	58	57	56	55	52

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	50	57	68	73	71	66	62	61	60	62	66	70	69	64	56	52	51
Tue	50	58	70	74	72	67	62	60	59	61	65	70	70	66	57	53	51
Wed	50	58	71	74	72	68	62	60	60	62	67	72	71	65	58	54	51
Thu	50	58	71	74	72	68	63	61	61	63	68	73	72	67	59	54	51
Fri	50	57	67	70	69	67	65	64	66	68	72	73	70	65	59	55	51
Sat	50	51	52	53	55	57	59	62	65	65	64	63	61	59	56	54	51
Sun	50	50	50	51	51	53	55	57	60	62	62	61	58	57	56	55	52

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	50	57	68	73	71	66	62	61	60	62	66	70	69	64	56	52	51
Tue	50	58	70	74	72	67	62	60	59	61	65	70	70	66	57	53	51
Wed	50	58	71	74	72	68	62	60	60	62	67	72	71	65	58	54	51
Thu	50	58	71	74	72	68	63	61	61	63	68	73	72	67	59	54	51
Fri	50	57	67	70	69	67	65	64	66	68	72	73	70	65	59	55	51
Sat	50	51	52	53	55	57	59	62	65	65	64	63	61	59	56	54	51
Sun	50	50	50	51	51	53	55	57	60	62	62	61	58	57	56	55	52