Best Time to Drive from Santa Ana to Thousand Oaks

Right now (9:01 am PDT): about 70 minutes via I-5 North and US-101 North, usually 72 at this time.

On weekdays the 73-mile drive from Santa Ana to Thousand Oaks (via I-5 North and US-101 North) usually takes as little as 65 minutes and up to 109 minutes, when leaving around 4:30 pm on Thursdays. The fastest times to leave are before 6 am or after 7:30 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 82 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 3:30 pm on Saturdays (85 minutes).

Typical drive time by departure time

Minutes from Santa Ana to Thousand Oaks 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	65	73	82	83	80	77	76	77	79	83	90	95	93	79	69	68	66
Tue	65	74	85	87	82	80	78	78	79	84	93	102	100	85	72	68	66
Wed	65	74	85	86	82	79	78	78	80	87	96	106	104	89	73	69	66
Thu	65	74	84	87	83	79	78	79	82	90	100	108	106	89	75	69	66
Fri	65	72	81	82	80	79	81	83	91	99	106	106	101	86	73	70	66
Sat	66	67	68	69	72	75	78	79	81	82	85	84	79	74	72	70	67
Sun	66	65	66	66	68	71	73	75	77	78	77	76	74	73	72	73	67

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 Thousand Oaks?

On weekdays, leave before 6 am or after 7:30 pm. The drive usually takes about 65 minutes then, versus up to 109 minutes at the worst times.

How long does it take to drive from Santa Ana to Thousand Oaks?

The 73-mile drive usually takes 65 to 109 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 82 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Santa Ana to Thousand Oaks?

Leaving around 4:30 pm on Thursdays is usually slowest, about 109 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

Thousand Oaks to Santa Ana (return trip) · Santa Ana to Los Angeles · Santa Ana to Santa Monica · 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

Open the live traffic map →

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	65	73	82	83	80	77	76	77	79	83	90	95	93	79	69	68	66
Tue	65	74	85	87	82	80	78	78	79	84	93	102	100	85	72	68	66
Wed	65	74	85	86	82	79	78	78	80	87	96	106	104	89	73	69	66
Thu	65	74	84	87	83	79	78	79	82	90	100	108	106	89	75	69	66
Fri	65	72	81	82	80	79	81	83	91	99	106	106	101	86	73	70	66
Sat	66	67	68	69	72	75	78	79	81	82	85	84	79	74	72	70	67
Sun	66	65	66	66	68	71	73	75	77	78	77	76	74	73	72	73	67

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	65	73	82	83	80	77	76	77	79	83	90	95	93	79	69	68	66
Tue	65	74	85	87	82	80	78	78	79	84	93	102	100	85	72	68	66
Wed	65	74	85	86	82	79	78	78	80	87	96	106	104	89	73	69	66
Thu	65	74	84	87	83	79	78	79	82	90	100	108	106	89	75	69	66
Fri	65	72	81	82	80	79	81	83	91	99	106	106	101	86	73	70	66
Sat	66	67	68	69	72	75	78	79	81	82	85	84	79	74	72	70	67
Sun	66	65	66	66	68	71	73	75	77	78	77	76	74	73	72	73	67

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	65	73	82	83	80	77	76	77	79	83	90	95	93	79	69	68	66
Tue	65	74	85	87	82	80	78	78	79	84	93	102	100	85	72	68	66
Wed	65	74	85	86	82	79	78	78	80	87	96	106	104	89	73	69	66
Thu	65	74	84	87	83	79	78	79	82	90	100	108	106	89	75	69	66
Fri	65	72	81	82	80	79	81	83	91	99	106	106	101	86	73	70	66
Sat	66	67	68	69	72	75	78	79	81	82	85	84	79	74	72	70	67
Sun	66	65	66	66	68	71	73	75	77	78	77	76	74	73	72	73	67