Best Time to Drive from Los Angeles to Northwood

Right now (6:24 pm PDT): about 54 minutes via I-5 South, usually 52 at this time.

Only 3% 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 39-mile drive from Los Angeles to Northwood (via I-5 South) usually takes as little as 35 minutes and up to 69 minutes, when leaving around 4:30 pm on Thursdays. The fastest times to leave are before 6 am or after 8:30 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 46 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 3:30 pm on Saturdays (51 minutes).

⇄ Reverse trip: Northwood to Los Angeles

Freeway, about 37 miles: times follow typical and live traffic from our sensors. Surface streets, about 3 miles: 3 to 6 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 Downtown LA (City Hall) to central Northwood 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 Los Angeles to Northwood 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	35	41	54	56	46	42	42	43	45	48	55	61	63	53	43	38	36
Tue	35	44	61	62	48	43	43	44	45	49	57	65	67	57	47	39	36
Wed	35	43	59	61	50	44	44	45	46	51	58	64	68	57	47	39	36
Thu	35	43	59	60	50	45	46	46	48	50	59	66	68	59	48	41	36
Fri	35	42	51	51	46	44	45	46	50	57	64	67	66	60	49	42	38
Sat	36	37	37	39	41	42	44	45	47	50	51	50	50	47	42	40	37
Sun	35	35	35	36	37	39	41	43	44	46	47	46	44	42	41	41	37

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 Los Angeles to Northwood?

On weekdays, leave before 6 am or after 8:30 pm. The drive usually takes about 35 minutes then, versus up to 69 minutes at the worst times.

How long does it take to drive from Los Angeles to Northwood?

The 39-mile drive usually takes 35 to 69 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 46 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Los Angeles to Northwood?

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

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

Freeways on this drive

I-5 South in Orange County (21 miles) · I-5 South in Los Angeles (13 miles) · US-101 South in Los Angeles (3 miles)

Los Angeles traffic right now · Los Angeles traffic tomorrow · Orange County traffic right now · Orange County traffic tomorrow

More drives

Northwood to Los Angeles (return trip) · Los Angeles to Santa Monica · Los Angeles to Long Beach · Los Angeles to West Covina · Los Angeles to Burbank · Los Angeles to Glendale · Los Angeles to Santa Clarita · Los Angeles to Van Nuys · Los Angeles to Torrance · Los Angeles to Hollywood · Los Angeles to Culver City · Los Angeles 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	35	41	54	56	46	42	42	43	45	48	55	61	63	53	43	38	36
Tue	35	44	61	62	48	43	43	44	45	49	57	65	67	57	47	39	36
Wed	35	43	59	61	50	44	44	45	46	51	58	64	68	57	47	39	36
Thu	35	43	59	60	50	45	46	46	48	50	59	66	68	59	48	41	36
Fri	35	42	51	51	46	44	45	46	50	57	64	67	66	60	49	42	38
Sat	36	37	37	39	41	42	44	45	47	50	51	50	50	47	42	40	37
Sun	35	35	35	36	37	39	41	43	44	46	47	46	44	42	41	41	37

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	35	41	54	56	46	42	42	43	45	48	55	61	63	53	43	38	36
Tue	35	44	61	62	48	43	43	44	45	49	57	65	67	57	47	39	36
Wed	35	43	59	61	50	44	44	45	46	51	58	64	68	57	47	39	36
Thu	35	43	59	60	50	45	46	46	48	50	59	66	68	59	48	41	36
Fri	35	42	51	51	46	44	45	46	50	57	64	67	66	60	49	42	38
Sat	36	37	37	39	41	42	44	45	47	50	51	50	50	47	42	40	37
Sun	35	35	35	36	37	39	41	43	44	46	47	46	44	42	41	41	37

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	35	41	54	56	46	42	42	43	45	48	55	61	63	53	43	38	36
Tue	35	44	61	62	48	43	43	44	45	49	57	65	67	57	47	39	36
Wed	35	43	59	61	50	44	44	45	46	51	58	64	68	57	47	39	36
Thu	35	43	59	60	50	45	46	46	48	50	59	66	68	59	48	41	36
Fri	35	42	51	51	46	44	45	46	50	57	64	67	66	60	49	42	38
Sat	36	37	37	39	41	42	44	45	47	50	51	50	50	47	42	40	37
Sun	35	35	35	36	37	39	41	43	44	46	47	46	44	42	41	41	37