Best Time to Drive from Santa Ana to Santa Monica

Right now (9:01 am PDT): about 44 minutes via I-5 North and I-10 West, usually 45 at this time.

On weekdays the 46-mile drive from Santa Ana to Santa Monica (via I-5 North and I-10 West) usually takes as little as 41 minutes and up to 63 minutes, when leaving around 7:30 am on Tuesdays. The fastest times to leave are before 6 am or after 7:30 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 51 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 1:30 pm on Saturdays (53 minutes).

Typical drive time by departure time

Minutes from Santa Ana to Santa Monica 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	41	49	57	60	55	52	50	49	49	49	51	52	53	49	44	43	42
Tue	41	50	59	63	58	54	52	50	49	49	51	53	56	51	45	43	42
Wed	41	50	60	62	58	54	51	51	50	50	52	55	57	53	46	43	42
Thu	41	50	59	62	58	54	52	51	51	53	53	55	58	52	46	43	42
Fri	41	48	54	56	54	53	53	53	55	57	58	57	57	53	45	44	42
Sat	42	42	43	44	45	48	50	51	52	52	52	51	48	46	44	44	42
Sun	41	41	42	42	43	44	47	49	51	51	50	48	47	46	45	46	42

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 Santa Ana to Santa Monica?

On weekdays, leave before 6 am or after 7:30 pm. The drive usually takes about 41 minutes then, versus up to 63 minutes at the worst times.

How long does it take to drive from Santa Ana to Santa Monica?

The 46-mile drive usually takes 41 to 63 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 51 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Santa Ana to Santa Monica?

Leaving around 7:30 am on Tuesdays is usually slowest, about 63 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

Santa Monica to Santa Ana (return trip) · Santa Ana to Los Angeles · Santa Ana to Pasadena · Santa Ana to Long Beach · Santa Ana to West Covina · Santa Ana to Burbank · Santa Ana to Glendale · Santa Ana to Santa Clarita · Santa Ana to Van Nuys · Santa Ana to Torrance · Santa Ana to LAX · Santa Ana to Hollywood

Open the live traffic map →

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	41	49	57	60	55	52	50	49	49	49	51	52	53	49	44	43	42
Tue	41	50	59	63	58	54	52	50	49	49	51	53	56	51	45	43	42
Wed	41	50	60	62	58	54	51	51	50	50	52	55	57	53	46	43	42
Thu	41	50	59	62	58	54	52	51	51	53	53	55	58	52	46	43	42
Fri	41	48	54	56	54	53	53	53	55	57	58	57	57	53	45	44	42
Sat	42	42	43	44	45	48	50	51	52	52	52	51	48	46	44	44	42
Sun	41	41	42	42	43	44	47	49	51	51	50	48	47	46	45	46	42

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	41	49	57	60	55	52	50	49	49	49	51	52	53	49	44	43	42
Tue	41	50	59	63	58	54	52	50	49	49	51	53	56	51	45	43	42
Wed	41	50	60	62	58	54	51	51	50	50	52	55	57	53	46	43	42
Thu	41	50	59	62	58	54	52	51	51	53	53	55	58	52	46	43	42
Fri	41	48	54	56	54	53	53	53	55	57	58	57	57	53	45	44	42
Sat	42	42	43	44	45	48	50	51	52	52	52	51	48	46	44	44	42
Sun	41	41	42	42	43	44	47	49	51	51	50	48	47	46	45	46	42

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	41	49	57	60	55	52	50	49	49	49	51	52	53	49	44	43	42
Tue	41	50	59	63	58	54	52	50	49	49	51	53	56	51	45	43	42
Wed	41	50	60	62	58	54	51	51	50	50	52	55	57	53	46	43	42
Thu	41	50	59	62	58	54	52	51	51	53	53	55	58	52	46	43	42
Fri	41	48	54	56	54	53	53	53	55	57	58	57	57	53	45	44	42
Sat	42	42	43	44	45	48	50	51	52	52	52	51	48	46	44	44	42
Sun	41	41	42	42	43	44	47	49	51	51	50	48	47	46	45	46	42