Best Time to Drive from Palm Springs to Carlsbad

Right now (6:51 pm PDT): about 121 minutes via I-15 South and I-10 West and SR-76 West, usually 121 at this time.

Only 19% 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.

About this drive

On weekdays the 99-mile drive from Palm Springs to Carlsbad (via I-15 South and I-10 West and SR-76 West) usually takes as little as 117 minutes and up to 134 minutes, when leaving around 2 pm on Fridays. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 124 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 10 am on Sundays (137 minutes).

About 31 miles of it is freeway, where times follow typical and live traffic from our sensors, and about 69 miles surface streets (77 to 90 minutes on weekdays), estimated from how jammed the freeways around them are at that time. Drive times are measured from central Palm Springs to central Carlsbad along the route on the map. Starting or ending elsewhere in a big city can add or save several minutes.

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 Palm Springs to Carlsbad?

On weekdays, leave early in the morning or late in the evening. The drive usually takes about 117 minutes then, versus up to 134 minutes at the worst times.

How long does it take to drive from Palm Springs to Carlsbad?

The 99-mile drive usually takes 117 to 134 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 124 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Palm Springs to Carlsbad?

Leaving around 2 pm on Fridays is usually slowest, about 134 minutes.

Freeways on this drive

I-15 South in Inland Empire (9 miles) · I-10 West in Inland Empire (7 miles) · SR-76 West in San Diego (7 miles) · I-15 South in San Diego (4 miles) · I-5 South in San Diego (3 miles)

San Diego traffic right now · San Diego traffic tomorrow

More drives

Carlsbad to Palm Springs (return trip) · Palm Springs to Mission Viejo · Palm Springs to Riverside · Palm Springs to San Bernardino · Palm Springs to Ontario · Palm Springs to Corona · Palm Springs to LAX · Palm Springs to Los Angeles · Palm Springs to Irvine · Palm Springs to ONT · Palm Springs to Claremont · Palm Springs to Rancho Cucamonga

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