Traffic Predict

Best Time to Drive from LAX to San Diego

Right now (9:27 am PDT): about 137 minutes via I-5 South and I-405 South, usually 124 at this time.

Only 23% 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 124-mile drive from LAX to San Diego (via I-5 South and I-405 South) usually takes as little as 114 minutes and up to 196 minutes, when leaving around 2:30 pm on Fridays. The fastest times to leave are before 6:30 am or after 7:30 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 143 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 2:30 pm on Saturdays (156 minutes).

⇄ Reverse trip: San Diego to LAX

Freeway, about 116 miles: times follow typical and live traffic from our sensors. Surface streets, about 9 miles: 12 to 33 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 Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to downtown San Diego (East Broadway) 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 LAX to San Diego by day and time you leave (local time)
Leave5am6am7am8am9am10am11am12pm1pm2pm3pm4pm5pm6pm7pm8pm9pm
Mon115122130126123121122124131149153150144136123117115
Tue116127142136127122123124141166180173167153131118114
Wed116126142135127123122124144169188173165154133120115
Thu116126140133126123125125145175186172162148132120114
Fri115120123124125131138152181195193176152137125119114
Sat114115116125137149152155155155155142132125121116114
Sun114114114116121132134134135132132125122121120117114

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 LAX to San Diego?

On weekdays, leave before 6:30 am or after 7:30 pm. The drive usually takes about 114 minutes then, versus up to 196 minutes at the worst times.

How long does it take to drive from LAX to San Diego?

The 124-mile drive usually takes 114 to 196 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 143 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from LAX to San Diego?

Leaving around 2:30 pm on Fridays is usually slowest, about 196 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

Freeways on this drive

I-5 South in San Diego (47 miles) · I-405 South in Los Angeles (19 miles) · SR-73 South in Orange County (17 miles) · I-405 South in Orange County (16 miles) · I-5 South in Orange County (15 miles) · I-105 East in Los Angeles (1.1 miles)

Los Angeles traffic right now · Los Angeles traffic tomorrow · San Diego traffic right now · San Diego traffic tomorrow

More drives

San Diego to LAX (return trip) · LAX to Los Angeles · LAX to Pasadena · LAX to Long Beach · LAX to West Covina · LAX to Burbank · LAX to Glendale · LAX to Santa Clarita · LAX to Van Nuys · LAX to El Monte · LAX to Downey · LAX to Whittier

Open the live traffic map →