Best Time to Drive from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara

Right now (5:15 pm PDT): about 103 minutes via US-101 North, usually 100 at this time.

On weekdays the 95-mile drive from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara (via US-101 North) usually takes as little as 93 minutes and up to 132 minutes, when leaving around 3 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 107 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 2 pm on Saturdays (109 minutes).

Drive times are measured from Downtown LA (City Hall) (West 1st Street) 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 Los Angeles 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	93	101	108	108	104	103	103	103	104	106	111	113	113	103	95	94	93
Tue	93	104	114	112	106	104	103	102	102	105	113	118	118	108	97	95	93
Wed	93	104	115	113	106	104	103	103	103	108	116	121	121	111	98	95	93
Thu	93	104	113	112	108	105	104	105	106	113	120	126	124	114	99	95	93
Fri	93	100	106	108	105	107	111	112	118	127	132	127	123	109	98	95	93
Sat	93	94	95	96	99	104	108	109	108	109	109	107	104	98	96	95	93
Sun	93	93	93	94	95	98	100	102	104	103	102	100	97	96	96	97	93

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 Los Angeles to Santa Barbara?

On weekdays, leave before 6 am or after 7 pm. The drive usually takes about 93 minutes then, versus up to 132 minutes at the worst times.

How long does it take to drive from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara?

The 95-mile drive usually takes 93 to 132 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 107 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara?

Leaving around 3 pm on Fridays is usually slowest, about 132 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

Santa Barbara 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	93	101	108	108	104	103	103	103	104	106	111	113	113	103	95	94	93
Tue	93	104	114	112	106	104	103	102	102	105	113	118	118	108	97	95	93
Wed	93	104	115	113	106	104	103	103	103	108	116	121	121	111	98	95	93
Thu	93	104	113	112	108	105	104	105	106	113	120	126	124	114	99	95	93
Fri	93	100	106	108	105	107	111	112	118	127	132	127	123	109	98	95	93
Sat	93	94	95	96	99	104	108	109	108	109	109	107	104	98	96	95	93
Sun	93	93	93	94	95	98	100	102	104	103	102	100	97	96	96	97	93

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	93	101	108	108	104	103	103	103	104	106	111	113	113	103	95	94	93
Tue	93	104	114	112	106	104	103	102	102	105	113	118	118	108	97	95	93
Wed	93	104	115	113	106	104	103	103	103	108	116	121	121	111	98	95	93
Thu	93	104	113	112	108	105	104	105	106	113	120	126	124	114	99	95	93
Fri	93	100	106	108	105	107	111	112	118	127	132	127	123	109	98	95	93
Sat	93	94	95	96	99	104	108	109	108	109	109	107	104	98	96	95	93
Sun	93	93	93	94	95	98	100	102	104	103	102	100	97	96	96	97	93

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	93	101	108	108	104	103	103	103	104	106	111	113	113	103	95	94	93
Tue	93	104	114	112	106	104	103	102	102	105	113	118	118	108	97	95	93
Wed	93	104	115	113	106	104	103	103	103	108	116	121	121	111	98	95	93
Thu	93	104	113	112	108	105	104	105	106	113	120	126	124	114	99	95	93
Fri	93	100	106	108	105	107	111	112	118	127	132	127	123	109	98	95	93
Sat	93	94	95	96	99	104	108	109	108	109	109	107	104	98	96	95	93
Sun	93	93	93	94	95	98	100	102	104	103	102	100	97	96	96	97	93