Best Time to Drive from Long Beach to Santa Monica

Right now (9:01 am PDT): about 30 minutes via I-405 North, usually 30 at this time.

On weekdays the 30-mile drive from Long Beach to Santa Monica (via I-405 North) usually takes as little as 27 minutes and up to 49 minutes, when leaving around 8 am on Wednesdays. The fastest times to leave are before 6 am or after 7:30 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 36 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 1:30 pm on Saturdays (38 minutes).

Typical drive time by departure time

Minutes from Long 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	27	32	40	44	41	38	35	34	34	33	33	33	33	32	29	28	28
Tue	27	34	46	49	45	41	38	35	33	33	34	34	36	35	30	28	28
Wed	27	35	45	49	46	41	38	36	35	34	34	35	38	36	30	28	28
Thu	27	34	45	49	45	41	38	36	35	36	37	37	40	36	30	28	28
Fri	27	33	41	44	40	38	39	38	38	40	39	37	36	34	30	29	28
Sat	28	28	29	29	30	34	36	36	38	38	36	35	33	31	30	29	28
Sun	28	28	28	28	28	30	31	34	36	36	36	33	32	30	30	30	28

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 Long Beach to Santa Monica?

On weekdays, leave before 6 am or after 7:30 pm. The drive usually takes about 27 minutes then, versus up to 49 minutes at the worst times.

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

The 30-mile drive usually takes 27 to 49 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 36 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Long Beach to Santa Monica?

Leaving around 8 am on Wednesdays is usually slowest, about 49 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

Santa Monica to Long Beach (return trip) · Long Beach to Los Angeles · Long Beach to Pasadena · Long Beach to West Covina · Long Beach to Burbank · Long Beach to Glendale · Long Beach to Santa Clarita · Long Beach to Van Nuys · Long Beach to LAX · Long Beach to Hollywood · Long Beach to Culver City · Long Beach to El Monte

Open the live traffic map →

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	27	32	40	44	41	38	35	34	34	33	33	33	33	32	29	28	28
Tue	27	34	46	49	45	41	38	35	33	33	34	34	36	35	30	28	28
Wed	27	35	45	49	46	41	38	36	35	34	34	35	38	36	30	28	28
Thu	27	34	45	49	45	41	38	36	35	36	37	37	40	36	30	28	28
Fri	27	33	41	44	40	38	39	38	38	40	39	37	36	34	30	29	28
Sat	28	28	29	29	30	34	36	36	38	38	36	35	33	31	30	29	28
Sun	28	28	28	28	28	30	31	34	36	36	36	33	32	30	30	30	28

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	27	32	40	44	41	38	35	34	34	33	33	33	33	32	29	28	28
Tue	27	34	46	49	45	41	38	35	33	33	34	34	36	35	30	28	28
Wed	27	35	45	49	46	41	38	36	35	34	34	35	38	36	30	28	28
Thu	27	34	45	49	45	41	38	36	35	36	37	37	40	36	30	28	28
Fri	27	33	41	44	40	38	39	38	38	40	39	37	36	34	30	29	28
Sat	28	28	29	29	30	34	36	36	38	38	36	35	33	31	30	29	28
Sun	28	28	28	28	28	30	31	34	36	36	36	33	32	30	30	30	28

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	27	32	40	44	41	38	35	34	34	33	33	33	33	32	29	28	28
Tue	27	34	46	49	45	41	38	35	33	33	34	34	36	35	30	28	28
Wed	27	35	45	49	46	41	38	36	35	34	34	35	38	36	30	28	28
Thu	27	34	45	49	45	41	38	36	35	36	37	37	40	36	30	28	28
Fri	27	33	41	44	40	38	39	38	38	40	39	37	36	34	30	29	28
Sat	28	28	29	29	30	34	36	36	38	38	36	35	33	31	30	29	28
Sun	28	28	28	28	28	30	31	34	36	36	36	33	32	30	30	30	28