Best Time to Drive from Santa Barbara to Pasadena

Right now (5:00 pm PDT): about 109 minutes via US-101 South, usually 103 at this time.

On weekdays the 98-mile drive from Santa Barbara to Pasadena (via US-101 South) usually takes as little as 95 minutes and up to 126 minutes, when leaving around 4 pm on Thursdays. The fastest times to leave are before 6 am or after 6 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 111 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 12:30 pm on Saturdays (115 minutes).

Drive times are measured from central Santa Barbara (Anacapa Street) to Old Pasadena (East Holly 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 Pasadena 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	109	116	114	110	107	108	108	108	110	114	115	110	101	97	96	95
Tue	97	112	120	116	112	108	106	105	108	110	115	120	116	103	97	96	96
Wed	98	112	120	117	113	109	108	109	110	113	116	122	116	103	98	97	96
Thu	97	111	119	117	113	110	110	110	112	117	120	126	120	107	98	97	96
Fri	97	107	113	112	110	111	115	116	120	122	119	123	117	106	99	97	95
Sat	95	96	97	98	102	106	111	115	114	113	111	106	103	99	98	97	95
Sun	95	95	95	96	97	100	106	111	112	113	110	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 Pasadena?

On weekdays, leave before 6 am or after 6 pm. The drive usually takes about 95 minutes then, versus up to 126 minutes at the worst times.

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

The 98-mile drive usually takes 95 to 126 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 111 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Santa Barbara to Pasadena?

Leaving around 4 pm on Thursdays is usually slowest, about 126 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

Pasadena to Santa Barbara (return trip) · Santa Barbara to LAX · Santa Barbara to Los Angeles · Santa Barbara to Santa Monica · 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	109	116	114	110	107	108	108	108	110	114	115	110	101	97	96	95
Tue	97	112	120	116	112	108	106	105	108	110	115	120	116	103	97	96	96
Wed	98	112	120	117	113	109	108	109	110	113	116	122	116	103	98	97	96
Thu	97	111	119	117	113	110	110	110	112	117	120	126	120	107	98	97	96
Fri	97	107	113	112	110	111	115	116	120	122	119	123	117	106	99	97	95
Sat	95	96	97	98	102	106	111	115	114	113	111	106	103	99	98	97	95
Sun	95	95	95	96	97	100	106	111	112	113	110	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	109	116	114	110	107	108	108	108	110	114	115	110	101	97	96	95
Tue	97	112	120	116	112	108	106	105	108	110	115	120	116	103	97	96	96
Wed	98	112	120	117	113	109	108	109	110	113	116	122	116	103	98	97	96
Thu	97	111	119	117	113	110	110	110	112	117	120	126	120	107	98	97	96
Fri	97	107	113	112	110	111	115	116	120	122	119	123	117	106	99	97	95
Sat	95	96	97	98	102	106	111	115	114	113	111	106	103	99	98	97	95
Sun	95	95	95	96	97	100	106	111	112	113	110	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	109	116	114	110	107	108	108	108	110	114	115	110	101	97	96	95
Tue	97	112	120	116	112	108	106	105	108	110	115	120	116	103	97	96	96
Wed	98	112	120	117	113	109	108	109	110	113	116	122	116	103	98	97	96
Thu	97	111	119	117	113	110	110	110	112	117	120	126	120	107	98	97	96
Fri	97	107	113	112	110	111	115	116	120	122	119	123	117	106	99	97	95
Sat	95	96	97	98	102	106	111	115	114	113	111	106	103	99	98	97	95
Sun	95	95	95	96	97	100	106	111	112	113	110	105	102	99	99	98	95