Best Time to Drive from Santa Barbara to LAX

Right now (5:00 pm PDT): about 114 minutes via US-101 South and I-405 South, usually 103 at this time.

On weekdays the 96-mile drive from Santa Barbara to LAX (via US-101 South and I-405 South) usually takes as little as 95 minutes and up to 135 minutes, when leaving around 4:30 pm on Thursdays. The fastest times to leave are before 5:30 am or after 6:30 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 114 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 12:30 pm on Saturdays (118 minutes).

Drive times are measured from central Santa Barbara (Anacapa Street) to LAX airport 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 Santa Barbara to LAX 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	97	111	117	114	110	107	107	108	111	115	121	122	116	103	96	96	95
Tue	97	113	121	117	113	108	106	106	111	115	123	128	123	107	97	96	95
Wed	97	114	120	118	113	109	108	110	114	119	124	130	125	108	98	96	95
Thu	97	112	120	118	113	110	111	113	117	123	127	135	128	112	100	96	95
Fri	96	108	114	112	110	111	117	120	126	129	129	131	124	109	98	96	95
Sat	95	96	97	98	102	105	112	118	118	118	117	110	103	99	97	96	95
Sun	95	95	95	96	97	99	105	111	114	115	111	105	102	99	99	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 Santa Barbara to LAX?

On weekdays, leave before 5:30 am or after 6:30 pm. The drive usually takes about 95 minutes then, versus up to 135 minutes at the worst times.

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

The 96-mile drive usually takes 95 to 135 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 114 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Santa Barbara to LAX?

Leaving around 4:30 pm on Thursdays is usually slowest, about 135 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

LAX to Santa Barbara (return trip) · Santa Barbara to Los Angeles · Santa Barbara to Santa Monica · Santa Barbara to Pasadena · Santa Barbara to Van Nuys · Santa Barbara to Irvine

Open the live traffic map →

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	97	111	117	114	110	107	107	108	111	115	121	122	116	103	96	96	95
Tue	97	113	121	117	113	108	106	106	111	115	123	128	123	107	97	96	95
Wed	97	114	120	118	113	109	108	110	114	119	124	130	125	108	98	96	95
Thu	97	112	120	118	113	110	111	113	117	123	127	135	128	112	100	96	95
Fri	96	108	114	112	110	111	117	120	126	129	129	131	124	109	98	96	95
Sat	95	96	97	98	102	105	112	118	118	118	117	110	103	99	97	96	95
Sun	95	95	95	96	97	99	105	111	114	115	111	105	102	99	99	98	95

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	97	111	117	114	110	107	107	108	111	115	121	122	116	103	96	96	95
Tue	97	113	121	117	113	108	106	106	111	115	123	128	123	107	97	96	95
Wed	97	114	120	118	113	109	108	110	114	119	124	130	125	108	98	96	95
Thu	97	112	120	118	113	110	111	113	117	123	127	135	128	112	100	96	95
Fri	96	108	114	112	110	111	117	120	126	129	129	131	124	109	98	96	95
Sat	95	96	97	98	102	105	112	118	118	118	117	110	103	99	97	96	95
Sun	95	95	95	96	97	99	105	111	114	115	111	105	102	99	99	98	95

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	97	111	117	114	110	107	107	108	111	115	121	122	116	103	96	96	95
Tue	97	113	121	117	113	108	106	106	111	115	123	128	123	107	97	96	95
Wed	97	114	120	118	113	109	108	110	114	119	124	130	125	108	98	96	95
Thu	97	112	120	118	113	110	111	113	117	123	127	135	128	112	100	96	95
Fri	96	108	114	112	110	111	117	120	126	129	129	131	124	109	98	96	95
Sat	95	96	97	98	102	105	112	118	118	118	117	110	103	99	97	96	95
Sun	95	95	95	96	97	99	105	111	114	115	111	105	102	99	99	98	95