Best Time to Drive from LAX to Santa Barbara

Right now (5:00 pm PDT): about 110 minutes via US-101 North and I-405 North, usually 107 at this time.

On weekdays the 96-mile drive from LAX to Santa Barbara (via US-101 North and I-405 North) usually takes as little as 95 minutes and up to 135 minutes, when leaving around 2:30 pm on Fridays. The fastest times to leave are before 6 am or after 7 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 111 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 2:30 pm on Saturdays (114 minutes).

Drive times are measured from LAX airport to central Santa Barbara (Anacapa 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 LAX to Santa Barbara 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	96	104	111	110	107	106	107	106	107	110	116	119	119	108	99	97	96
Tue	96	108	118	115	110	108	107	106	107	112	121	127	125	116	102	97	96
Wed	95	108	119	117	110	108	107	107	108	114	123	128	129	119	104	98	96
Thu	96	109	117	116	111	109	108	108	111	120	127	131	131	120	105	99	96
Fri	96	104	110	111	109	111	114	116	123	133	133	130	125	112	102	98	96
Sat	96	96	97	98	102	109	112	113	113	113	114	111	107	101	99	98	96
Sun	96	96	96	96	98	101	104	106	107	108	106	103	101	99	99	99	96

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 LAX to Santa Barbara?

On weekdays, leave before 6 am or after 7 pm. The drive usually takes about 95 minutes then, versus up to 135 minutes at the worst times.

How long does it take to drive from LAX to Santa Barbara?

The 96-mile drive usually takes 95 to 135 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 111 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from LAX to Santa Barbara?

Leaving around 2:30 pm on Fridays is usually slowest, about 135 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

Santa Barbara 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 →

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	96	104	111	110	107	106	107	106	107	110	116	119	119	108	99	97	96
Tue	96	108	118	115	110	108	107	106	107	112	121	127	125	116	102	97	96
Wed	95	108	119	117	110	108	107	107	108	114	123	128	129	119	104	98	96
Thu	96	109	117	116	111	109	108	108	111	120	127	131	131	120	105	99	96
Fri	96	104	110	111	109	111	114	116	123	133	133	130	125	112	102	98	96
Sat	96	96	97	98	102	109	112	113	113	113	114	111	107	101	99	98	96
Sun	96	96	96	96	98	101	104	106	107	108	106	103	101	99	99	99	96

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	96	104	111	110	107	106	107	106	107	110	116	119	119	108	99	97	96
Tue	96	108	118	115	110	108	107	106	107	112	121	127	125	116	102	97	96
Wed	95	108	119	117	110	108	107	107	108	114	123	128	129	119	104	98	96
Thu	96	109	117	116	111	109	108	108	111	120	127	131	131	120	105	99	96
Fri	96	104	110	111	109	111	114	116	123	133	133	130	125	112	102	98	96
Sat	96	96	97	98	102	109	112	113	113	113	114	111	107	101	99	98	96
Sun	96	96	96	96	98	101	104	106	107	108	106	103	101	99	99	99	96

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	96	104	111	110	107	106	107	106	107	110	116	119	119	108	99	97	96
Tue	96	108	118	115	110	108	107	106	107	112	121	127	125	116	102	97	96
Wed	95	108	119	117	110	108	107	107	108	114	123	128	129	119	104	98	96
Thu	96	109	117	116	111	109	108	108	111	120	127	131	131	120	105	99	96
Fri	96	104	110	111	109	111	114	116	123	133	133	130	125	112	102	98	96
Sat	96	96	97	98	102	109	112	113	113	113	114	111	107	101	99	98	96
Sun	96	96	96	96	98	101	104	106	107	108	106	103	101	99	99	99	96