Best Time to Drive from Santa Barbara to Santa Monica

Right now (5:15 pm PDT): about 103 minutes via US-101 South, usually 95 at this time.

On weekdays the 92-mile drive from Santa Barbara to Santa Monica (via US-101 South) usually takes as little as 90 minutes and up to 118 minutes, when leaving around 4:30 pm on Thursdays. The fastest times to leave are before 5:30 am or after 6 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 105 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 12:30 pm on Saturdays (110 minutes).

Drive times are measured from central Santa Barbara (Anacapa Street) to downtown Santa Monica 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 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	92	105	112	109	105	102	102	102	102	104	108	109	105	96	91	91	90
Tue	92	108	115	112	107	103	101	99	101	103	107	112	108	98	92	91	90
Wed	92	108	115	112	107	103	102	103	103	105	108	113	110	97	92	91	90
Thu	92	107	114	112	108	105	104	105	105	109	110	117	113	100	93	91	90
Fri	91	103	108	107	105	105	108	110	113	115	113	116	111	99	92	91	90
Sat	90	91	91	93	97	100	105	109	109	108	107	101	97	93	92	92	90
Sun	90	90	90	91	92	94	100	105	107	108	104	100	96	94	93	93	90

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 Santa Monica?

On weekdays, leave before 5:30 am or after 6 pm. The drive usually takes about 90 minutes then, versus up to 118 minutes at the worst times.

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

The 92-mile drive usually takes 90 to 118 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 105 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Santa Barbara to Santa Monica?

Leaving around 4:30 pm on Thursdays is usually slowest, about 118 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

Santa Monica to Santa Barbara (return trip) · Santa Barbara to LAX · Santa Barbara to Los Angeles · 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	92	105	112	109	105	102	102	102	102	104	108	109	105	96	91	91	90
Tue	92	108	115	112	107	103	101	99	101	103	107	112	108	98	92	91	90
Wed	92	108	115	112	107	103	102	103	103	105	108	113	110	97	92	91	90
Thu	92	107	114	112	108	105	104	105	105	109	110	117	113	100	93	91	90
Fri	91	103	108	107	105	105	108	110	113	115	113	116	111	99	92	91	90
Sat	90	91	91	93	97	100	105	109	109	108	107	101	97	93	92	92	90
Sun	90	90	90	91	92	94	100	105	107	108	104	100	96	94	93	93	90

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	92	105	112	109	105	102	102	102	102	104	108	109	105	96	91	91	90
Tue	92	108	115	112	107	103	101	99	101	103	107	112	108	98	92	91	90
Wed	92	108	115	112	107	103	102	103	103	105	108	113	110	97	92	91	90
Thu	92	107	114	112	108	105	104	105	105	109	110	117	113	100	93	91	90
Fri	91	103	108	107	105	105	108	110	113	115	113	116	111	99	92	91	90
Sat	90	91	91	93	97	100	105	109	109	108	107	101	97	93	92	92	90
Sun	90	90	90	91	92	94	100	105	107	108	104	100	96	94	93	93	90

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	92	105	112	109	105	102	102	102	102	104	108	109	105	96	91	91	90
Tue	92	108	115	112	107	103	101	99	101	103	107	112	108	98	92	91	90
Wed	92	108	115	112	107	103	102	103	103	105	108	113	110	97	92	91	90
Thu	92	107	114	112	108	105	104	105	105	109	110	117	113	100	93	91	90
Fri	91	103	108	107	105	105	108	110	113	115	113	116	111	99	92	91	90
Sat	90	91	91	93	97	100	105	109	109	108	107	101	97	93	92	92	90
Sun	90	90	90	91	92	94	100	105	107	108	104	100	96	94	93	93	90