Best Time to Drive from Santa Barbara to Van Nuys

Right now (5:00 pm PDT): about 91 minutes via US-101 South, usually 87 at this time.

On weekdays the 81-mile drive from Santa Barbara to Van Nuys (via US-101 South) usually takes as little as 82 minutes and up to 102 minutes, when leaving around 4:30 pm on Thursdays. The fastest times to leave are before 7 am or after 6 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 91 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 2 pm on Sundays (94 minutes).

Drive times are measured from central Santa Barbara (Anacapa Street) to central Van Nuys (Haynes 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 Van Nuys 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	83	87	90	90	88	88	89	90	91	91	95	95	92	86	83	83	82
Tue	83	88	91	91	90	88	88	88	89	89	94	97	95	87	83	83	83
Wed	83	88	91	91	90	88	88	89	91	91	94	97	95	86	83	83	82
Thu	83	88	91	91	90	89	90	90	91	93	95	100	98	89	84	83	82
Fri	83	86	89	89	89	90	92	93	95	96	97	100	97	88	84	83	82
Sat	82	83	83	83	85	87	90	93	92	92	92	89	87	84	83	83	82
Sun	82	82	82	83	83	84	88	91	93	94	92	89	87	85	84	84	82

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 Van Nuys?

On weekdays, leave before 7 am or after 6 pm. The drive usually takes about 82 minutes then, versus up to 102 minutes at the worst times.

How long does it take to drive from Santa Barbara to Van Nuys?

The 81-mile drive usually takes 82 to 102 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 91 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Santa Barbara to Van Nuys?

Leaving around 4:30 pm on Thursdays is usually slowest, about 102 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

Van Nuys to Santa Barbara (return trip) · Santa Barbara to LAX · Santa Barbara to Los Angeles · Santa Barbara to Santa Monica · Santa Barbara to Pasadena · 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	83	87	90	90	88	88	89	90	91	91	95	95	92	86	83	83	82
Tue	83	88	91	91	90	88	88	88	89	89	94	97	95	87	83	83	83
Wed	83	88	91	91	90	88	88	89	91	91	94	97	95	86	83	83	82
Thu	83	88	91	91	90	89	90	90	91	93	95	100	98	89	84	83	82
Fri	83	86	89	89	89	90	92	93	95	96	97	100	97	88	84	83	82
Sat	82	83	83	83	85	87	90	93	92	92	92	89	87	84	83	83	82
Sun	82	82	82	83	83	84	88	91	93	94	92	89	87	85	84	84	82

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	83	87	90	90	88	88	89	90	91	91	95	95	92	86	83	83	82
Tue	83	88	91	91	90	88	88	88	89	89	94	97	95	87	83	83	83
Wed	83	88	91	91	90	88	88	89	91	91	94	97	95	86	83	83	82
Thu	83	88	91	91	90	89	90	90	91	93	95	100	98	89	84	83	82
Fri	83	86	89	89	89	90	92	93	95	96	97	100	97	88	84	83	82
Sat	82	83	83	83	85	87	90	93	92	92	92	89	87	84	83	83	82
Sun	82	82	82	83	83	84	88	91	93	94	92	89	87	85	84	84	82

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	83	87	90	90	88	88	89	90	91	91	95	95	92	86	83	83	82
Tue	83	88	91	91	90	88	88	88	89	89	94	97	95	87	83	83	83
Wed	83	88	91	91	90	88	88	89	91	91	94	97	95	86	83	83	82
Thu	83	88	91	91	90	89	90	90	91	93	95	100	98	89	84	83	82
Fri	83	86	89	89	89	90	92	93	95	96	97	100	97	88	84	83	82
Sat	82	83	83	83	85	87	90	93	92	92	92	89	87	84	83	83	82
Sun	82	82	82	83	83	84	88	91	93	94	92	89	87	85	84	84	82