Traffic Predict

Best Time to Drive from LAX to Santa Monica

On weekdays the 12-mile drive from LAX to Santa Monica (via I-405 North and I-10 West) usually takes as little as 17 minutes and up to 35 minutes, when leaving around 8 am on Thursdays. The fastest times to leave are before 6 am or after 8 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 25 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 1:30 pm on Saturdays (28 minutes).

⇄ Reverse trip: Santa Monica to LAX

Freeway, about 7 miles: times follow typical and live traffic from our sensors. Surface streets, about 5 miles: 10 to 20 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 Santa Monica 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 Monica by day and time you leave (local time)
Leave5am6am7am8am9am10am11am12pm1pm2pm3pm4pm5pm6pm7pm8pm9pm
Mon1718283230272422212122222222191717
Tue1719313433292623222224242524201717
Wed1720313433292725242325242625221817
Thu1719303532292725242527262726221917
Fri1719273129272727282930262423211817
Sat1717171718232426272726252320181817
Sun1717171717181922242625232019181817

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 Santa Monica?

On weekdays, leave before 6 am or after 8 pm. The drive usually takes about 17 minutes then, versus up to 35 minutes at the worst times.

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

The 12-mile drive usually takes 17 to 35 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 25 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from LAX to Santa Monica?

Leaving around 8 am on Thursdays is usually slowest, about 35 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

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