Best Time to Drive from Huntington Beach to Santa Monica

Right now (9:01 am PDT): about 48 minutes via I-405 North, usually 49 at this time.

On weekdays the 46-mile drive from Huntington Beach to Santa Monica (via I-405 North) usually takes as little as 45 minutes and up to 67 minutes, when leaving around 8 am on Wednesdays. The fastest times to leave are before 6 am or after 7 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 54 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 1 pm on Saturdays (56 minutes).

Typical drive time by departure time

Minutes from Huntington Beach to Santa Monica 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	45	53	60	61	59	56	53	53	52	51	51	52	52	50	47	47	46
Tue	45	56	65	67	62	59	56	54	52	52	53	54	56	53	47	47	46
Wed	45	56	65	67	63	59	56	54	53	53	53	55	58	54	48	46	46
Thu	45	55	65	67	62	59	56	55	54	55	55	57	60	55	48	47	46
Fri	45	54	61	61	59	57	57	57	57	58	58	56	55	52	48	47	46
Sat	46	46	47	47	49	53	54	55	56	56	54	53	51	49	48	47	46
Sun	46	45	46	46	47	48	51	53	55	55	54	51	50	49	48	48	46

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. Surface streets at each end are estimated.

Questions

What is the best time to drive from Huntington Beach to Santa Monica?

On weekdays, leave before 6 am or after 7 pm. The drive usually takes about 45 minutes then, versus up to 67 minutes at the worst times.

How long does it take to drive from Huntington Beach to Santa Monica?

The 46-mile drive usually takes 45 to 67 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 54 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Huntington Beach to Santa Monica?

Leaving around 8 am on Wednesdays is usually slowest, about 67 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

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Open the live traffic map →

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	45	53	60	61	59	56	53	53	52	51	51	52	52	50	47	47	46
Tue	45	56	65	67	62	59	56	54	52	52	53	54	56	53	47	47	46
Wed	45	56	65	67	63	59	56	54	53	53	53	55	58	54	48	46	46
Thu	45	55	65	67	62	59	56	55	54	55	55	57	60	55	48	47	46
Fri	45	54	61	61	59	57	57	57	57	58	58	56	55	52	48	47	46
Sat	46	46	47	47	49	53	54	55	56	56	54	53	51	49	48	47	46
Sun	46	45	46	46	47	48	51	53	55	55	54	51	50	49	48	48	46

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	45	53	60	61	59	56	53	53	52	51	51	52	52	50	47	47	46
Tue	45	56	65	67	62	59	56	54	52	52	53	54	56	53	47	47	46
Wed	45	56	65	67	63	59	56	54	53	53	53	55	58	54	48	46	46
Thu	45	55	65	67	62	59	56	55	54	55	55	57	60	55	48	47	46
Fri	45	54	61	61	59	57	57	57	57	58	58	56	55	52	48	47	46
Sat	46	46	47	47	49	53	54	55	56	56	54	53	51	49	48	47	46
Sun	46	45	46	46	47	48	51	53	55	55	54	51	50	49	48	48	46

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	45	53	60	61	59	56	53	53	52	51	51	52	52	50	47	47	46
Tue	45	56	65	67	62	59	56	54	52	52	53	54	56	53	47	47	46
Wed	45	56	65	67	63	59	56	54	53	53	53	55	58	54	48	46	46
Thu	45	55	65	67	62	59	56	55	54	55	55	57	60	55	48	47	46
Fri	45	54	61	61	59	57	57	57	57	58	58	56	55	52	48	47	46
Sat	46	46	47	47	49	53	54	55	56	56	54	53	51	49	48	47	46
Sun	46	45	46	46	47	48	51	53	55	55	54	51	50	49	48	48	46