Best Time to Drive from San Diego to Los Angeles

Right now (9:01 am PDT): about 127 minutes via I-5 North, usually 117 at this time.

On weekdays the 121-mile drive from San Diego to Los Angeles (via I-5 North) usually takes as little as 108 minutes and up to 147 minutes, when leaving around 3 pm on Fridays. The fastest times to leave are before 6 am or after 6 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 124 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 12 pm on Sundays (135 minutes).

Typical drive time by departure time

Minutes from San Diego to Los Angeles 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	114	120	125	122	120	120	120	122	122	124	127	131	122	113	112	110	108
Tue	114	121	126	125	124	122	120	120	121	127	134	140	131	118	112	110	108
Wed	114	121	126	124	123	123	122	121	123	128	137	144	136	119	114	110	108
Thu	114	120	124	124	122	122	121	121	123	126	136	143	135	120	113	110	109
Fri	113	118	120	120	121	122	123	128	134	140	147	144	129	116	114	111	108
Sat	109	110	111	114	117	124	132	133	129	127	124	122	117	114	114	112	109
Sun	108	108	109	111	114	121	131	135	133	129	126	123	120	117	117	112	108

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 San Diego to Los Angeles?

On weekdays, leave before 6 am or after 6 pm. The drive usually takes about 108 minutes then, versus up to 147 minutes at the worst times.

How long does it take to drive from San Diego to Los Angeles?

The 121-mile drive usually takes 108 to 147 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 124 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from San Diego to Los Angeles?

Leaving around 3 pm on Fridays is usually slowest, about 147 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

Los Angeles to San Diego (return trip) · San Diego to Escondido · San Diego to Oceanside · San Diego to El Cajon · San Diego to Carlsbad · San Diego to Irvine · San Diego to Temecula

Open the live traffic map →

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	114	120	125	122	120	120	120	122	122	124	127	131	122	113	112	110	108
Tue	114	121	126	125	124	122	120	120	121	127	134	140	131	118	112	110	108
Wed	114	121	126	124	123	123	122	121	123	128	137	144	136	119	114	110	108
Thu	114	120	124	124	122	122	121	121	123	126	136	143	135	120	113	110	109
Fri	113	118	120	120	121	122	123	128	134	140	147	144	129	116	114	111	108
Sat	109	110	111	114	117	124	132	133	129	127	124	122	117	114	114	112	109
Sun	108	108	109	111	114	121	131	135	133	129	126	123	120	117	117	112	108

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	114	120	125	122	120	120	120	122	122	124	127	131	122	113	112	110	108
Tue	114	121	126	125	124	122	120	120	121	127	134	140	131	118	112	110	108
Wed	114	121	126	124	123	123	122	121	123	128	137	144	136	119	114	110	108
Thu	114	120	124	124	122	122	121	121	123	126	136	143	135	120	113	110	109
Fri	113	118	120	120	121	122	123	128	134	140	147	144	129	116	114	111	108
Sat	109	110	111	114	117	124	132	133	129	127	124	122	117	114	114	112	109
Sun	108	108	109	111	114	121	131	135	133	129	126	123	120	117	117	112	108

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	114	120	125	122	120	120	120	122	122	124	127	131	122	113	112	110	108
Tue	114	121	126	125	124	122	120	120	121	127	134	140	131	118	112	110	108
Wed	114	121	126	124	123	123	122	121	123	128	137	144	136	119	114	110	108
Thu	114	120	124	124	122	122	121	121	123	126	136	143	135	120	113	110	109
Fri	113	118	120	120	121	122	123	128	134	140	147	144	129	116	114	111	108
Sat	109	110	111	114	117	124	132	133	129	127	124	122	117	114	114	112	109
Sun	108	108	109	111	114	121	131	135	133	129	126	123	120	117	117	112	108