Traffic Predict

Best Time to Drive from Santa Barbara to Los Angeles

Right now (5:15 pm PDT): about 110 minutes via US-101 South, usually 99 at this time.

On weekdays the 95-mile drive from Santa Barbara to Los Angeles (via US-101 South) usually takes as little as 93 minutes and up to 128 minutes, when leaving around 2 pm on Fridays. The fastest times to leave are before 5:30 am or after 6:30 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 112 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 12:30 pm on Saturdays (116 minutes).

Drive times are measured from central Santa Barbara (Anacapa Street) to Downtown LA (City Hall) (West 1st 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 Santa Barbara to Los Angeles by day and time you leave (local time)
Leave5am6am7am8am9am10am11am12pm1pm2pm3pm4pm5pm6pm7pm8pm9pm
Mon9511011711410910610710810911311711711099949493
Tue96114122117112107106104108111117121115102959493
Wed96115121118112108107108110114119123117101959493
Thu95113121118113110110111113119124128121105969493
Fri95107114112110111115118122128124125119104969493
Sat9394959610110511111511611611411010297969593
Sun93939394959810411011311310910410097979693

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 Los Angeles?

On weekdays, leave before 5:30 am or after 6:30 pm. The drive usually takes about 93 minutes then, versus up to 128 minutes at the worst times.

How long does it take to drive from Santa Barbara to Los Angeles?

The 95-mile drive usually takes 93 to 128 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 112 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Santa Barbara to Los Angeles?

Leaving around 2 pm on Fridays is usually slowest, about 128 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

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

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