Best Time to Drive from La Presa to Carlsbad

Right now (12:51 am PST): about 42 minutes via I-5 North and I-805 North and I-8 West.

Only 57% 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.

Typical drive time by departure time

Minutes from La Presa to Carlsbad 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	42	43	47	58	50	46	45	45	45	45	53	58	55	45	43	43	43
Tue	42	43	48	65	57	46	45	45	45	46	57	65	63	48	43	43	43
Wed	42	43	48	66	56	46	46	45	46	48	60	69	66	50	44	43	43
Thu	42	43	48	62	55	46	45	45	45	48	61	69	68	52	44	43	42
Fri	42	43	46	50	46	45	45	46	49	55	64	64	54	46	43	43	42
Sat	42	42	42	43	43	45	46	46	47	46	45	45	44	43	43	43	42
Sun	42	42	42	42	43	45	48	48	48	47	46	45	44	44	44	43	42

About this drive

On weekdays the 44-mile drive from La Presa to Carlsbad (via I-5 North and I-805 North and I-8 West) usually takes as little as 42 minutes and up to 69 minutes, when leaving around 4:30 pm on Thursdays. The fastest times to leave are before 7 am or after 6:30 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 46 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 12:30 pm on Sundays (49 minutes).

About 35 miles of it is freeway, where times follow typical and live traffic from our sensors, and about 8 miles surface streets (11 to 18 minutes on weekdays), estimated from how jammed the freeways around them are at that time. Drive times are measured from central La Presa to central Carlsbad along the route on the map. Starting or ending elsewhere in a big city can add or save several minutes.

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 La Presa to Carlsbad?

On weekdays, leave before 7 am or after 6:30 pm. The drive usually takes about 42 minutes then, versus up to 69 minutes at the worst times.

How long does it take to drive from La Presa to Carlsbad?

The 44-mile drive usually takes 42 to 69 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 46 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from La Presa to Carlsbad?

Leaving around 4:30 pm on Thursdays is usually slowest, about 69 minutes.

Freeways on this drive

I-5 North in San Diego (17 miles) · I-805 North in San Diego (10 miles) · I-8 West in San Diego (8 miles)

San Diego traffic right now · San Diego traffic tomorrow

More drives

Carlsbad to La Presa (return trip) · La Presa to Oceanside · La Presa to Escondido · La Presa to Santa Monica · La Presa to Temecula · La Presa to Murrieta

Open the live traffic map →

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	42	43	47	58	50	46	45	45	45	45	53	58	55	45	43	43	43
Tue	42	43	48	65	57	46	45	45	45	46	57	65	63	48	43	43	43
Wed	42	43	48	66	56	46	46	45	46	48	60	69	66	50	44	43	43
Thu	42	43	48	62	55	46	45	45	45	48	61	69	68	52	44	43	42
Fri	42	43	46	50	46	45	45	46	49	55	64	64	54	46	43	43	42
Sat	42	42	42	43	43	45	46	46	47	46	45	45	44	43	43	43	42
Sun	42	42	42	42	43	45	48	48	48	47	46	45	44	44	44	43	42

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	42	43	47	58	50	46	45	45	45	45	53	58	55	45	43	43	43
Tue	42	43	48	65	57	46	45	45	45	46	57	65	63	48	43	43	43
Wed	42	43	48	66	56	46	46	45	46	48	60	69	66	50	44	43	43
Thu	42	43	48	62	55	46	45	45	45	48	61	69	68	52	44	43	42
Fri	42	43	46	50	46	45	45	46	49	55	64	64	54	46	43	43	42
Sat	42	42	42	43	43	45	46	46	47	46	45	45	44	43	43	43	42
Sun	42	42	42	42	43	45	48	48	48	47	46	45	44	44	44	43	42

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	42	43	47	58	50	46	45	45	45	45	53	58	55	45	43	43	43
Tue	42	43	48	65	57	46	45	45	45	46	57	65	63	48	43	43	43
Wed	42	43	48	66	56	46	46	45	46	48	60	69	66	50	44	43	43
Thu	42	43	48	62	55	46	45	45	45	48	61	69	68	52	44	43	42
Fri	42	43	46	50	46	45	45	46	49	55	64	64	54	46	43	43	42
Sat	42	42	42	43	43	45	46	46	47	46	45	45	44	43	43	43	42
Sun	42	42	42	42	43	45	48	48	48	47	46	45	44	44	44	43	42