Best Time to Drive from Pasadena to Santa Barbara

Right now (5:00 pm PDT): about 105 minutes via US-101 North, usually 102 at this time.

On weekdays the 98-mile drive from Pasadena to Santa Barbara (via US-101 North) usually takes as little as 96 minutes and up to 126 minutes, when leaving around 2:30 pm on Fridays. The fastest times to leave are before 6:30 am or after 6:30 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 107 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 12 pm on Saturdays (109 minutes).

Drive times are measured from Old Pasadena (East Holly 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 Pasadena 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	96	102	107	106	104	103	104	104	104	106	110	112	113	103	97	97	96
Tue	96	106	113	111	107	104	103	103	103	105	112	117	118	109	98	97	96
Wed	96	105	114	111	106	104	103	103	104	107	114	119	121	112	100	97	96
Thu	96	106	113	111	107	105	104	105	106	112	118	122	123	113	100	97	96
Fri	96	101	106	106	104	106	110	111	116	124	125	122	118	108	99	97	96
Sat	96	96	97	98	101	105	108	109	108	108	108	106	102	99	98	97	96
Sun	96	95	96	96	98	100	102	103	104	103	102	100	99	98	98	98	95

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 Pasadena to Santa Barbara?

On weekdays, leave before 6:30 am or after 6:30 pm. The drive usually takes about 96 minutes then, versus up to 126 minutes at the worst times.

How long does it take to drive from Pasadena to Santa Barbara?

The 98-mile drive usually takes 96 to 126 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 107 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Pasadena to Santa Barbara?

Leaving around 2:30 pm on Fridays is usually slowest, about 126 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

Santa Barbara to Pasadena (return trip) · Pasadena to Santa Monica · Pasadena to Long Beach · Pasadena to West Covina · Pasadena to Burbank · Pasadena to Santa Clarita · Pasadena to Van Nuys · Pasadena to Torrance · Pasadena to Hollywood · Pasadena to Culver City · Pasadena to Whittier · Pasadena to Thousand Oaks

Open the live traffic map →

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	96	102	107	106	104	103	104	104	104	106	110	112	113	103	97	97	96
Tue	96	106	113	111	107	104	103	103	103	105	112	117	118	109	98	97	96
Wed	96	105	114	111	106	104	103	103	104	107	114	119	121	112	100	97	96
Thu	96	106	113	111	107	105	104	105	106	112	118	122	123	113	100	97	96
Fri	96	101	106	106	104	106	110	111	116	124	125	122	118	108	99	97	96
Sat	96	96	97	98	101	105	108	109	108	108	108	106	102	99	98	97	96
Sun	96	95	96	96	98	100	102	103	104	103	102	100	99	98	98	98	95

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	96	102	107	106	104	103	104	104	104	106	110	112	113	103	97	97	96
Tue	96	106	113	111	107	104	103	103	103	105	112	117	118	109	98	97	96
Wed	96	105	114	111	106	104	103	103	104	107	114	119	121	112	100	97	96
Thu	96	106	113	111	107	105	104	105	106	112	118	122	123	113	100	97	96
Fri	96	101	106	106	104	106	110	111	116	124	125	122	118	108	99	97	96
Sat	96	96	97	98	101	105	108	109	108	108	108	106	102	99	98	97	96
Sun	96	95	96	96	98	100	102	103	104	103	102	100	99	98	98	98	95

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	96	102	107	106	104	103	104	104	104	106	110	112	113	103	97	97	96
Tue	96	106	113	111	107	104	103	103	103	105	112	117	118	109	98	97	96
Wed	96	105	114	111	106	104	103	103	104	107	114	119	121	112	100	97	96
Thu	96	106	113	111	107	105	104	105	106	112	118	122	123	113	100	97	96
Fri	96	101	106	106	104	106	110	111	116	124	125	122	118	108	99	97	96
Sat	96	96	97	98	101	105	108	109	108	108	108	106	102	99	98	97	96
Sun	96	95	96	96	98	100	102	103	104	103	102	100	99	98	98	98	95