Best Time to Drive from Santa Monica to Downey

Right now (9:01 am PDT): about 26 minutes via I-10 East and I-5 South, usually 27 at this time.

On weekdays the 26-mile drive from Santa Monica to Downey (via I-10 East and I-5 South) usually takes as little as 24 minutes and up to 62 minutes, when leaving around 4:30 pm on Thursdays. The fastest times to leave are before 6:30 am or after 8:30 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 36 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 3:30 pm on Saturdays (43 minutes).

Typical drive time by departure time

Minutes from Santa Monica to Downey 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	24	26	31	34	30	29	30	30	32	38	48	52	52	44	31	26	25
Tue	24	26	32	37	33	31	30	31	32	40	49	56	57	49	35	26	25
Wed	24	26	32	36	33	30	31	31	35	43	53	58	60	51	37	27	25
Thu	24	26	32	37	34	31	32	33	38	45	55	60	62	52	38	28	25
Fri	24	26	30	35	32	32	34	38	45	53	60	60	57	48	36	27	25
Sat	25	25	25	26	27	29	31	35	39	41	43	43	40	34	27	27	25
Sun	25	24	24	25	25	26	27	29	30	32	32	31	29	27	27	27	25

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 Monica to Downey?

On weekdays, leave before 6:30 am or after 8:30 pm. The drive usually takes about 24 minutes then, versus up to 62 minutes at the worst times.

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

The 26-mile drive usually takes 24 to 62 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 36 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Santa Monica to Downey?

Leaving around 4:30 pm on Thursdays is usually slowest, about 62 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

Downey to Santa Monica (return trip) · Santa Monica to Los Angeles · Santa Monica to Pasadena · Santa Monica to Long Beach · Santa Monica to West Covina · Santa Monica to Burbank · Santa Monica to Glendale · Santa Monica to Santa Clarita · Santa Monica to Van Nuys · Santa Monica to Torrance · Santa Monica to Culver City · Santa Monica to El Monte

Open the live traffic map →

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	24	26	31	34	30	29	30	30	32	38	48	52	52	44	31	26	25
Tue	24	26	32	37	33	31	30	31	32	40	49	56	57	49	35	26	25
Wed	24	26	32	36	33	30	31	31	35	43	53	58	60	51	37	27	25
Thu	24	26	32	37	34	31	32	33	38	45	55	60	62	52	38	28	25
Fri	24	26	30	35	32	32	34	38	45	53	60	60	57	48	36	27	25
Sat	25	25	25	26	27	29	31	35	39	41	43	43	40	34	27	27	25
Sun	25	24	24	25	25	26	27	29	30	32	32	31	29	27	27	27	25

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	24	26	31	34	30	29	30	30	32	38	48	52	52	44	31	26	25
Tue	24	26	32	37	33	31	30	31	32	40	49	56	57	49	35	26	25
Wed	24	26	32	36	33	30	31	31	35	43	53	58	60	51	37	27	25
Thu	24	26	32	37	34	31	32	33	38	45	55	60	62	52	38	28	25
Fri	24	26	30	35	32	32	34	38	45	53	60	60	57	48	36	27	25
Sat	25	25	25	26	27	29	31	35	39	41	43	43	40	34	27	27	25
Sun	25	24	24	25	25	26	27	29	30	32	32	31	29	27	27	27	25

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	24	26	31	34	30	29	30	30	32	38	48	52	52	44	31	26	25
Tue	24	26	32	37	33	31	30	31	32	40	49	56	57	49	35	26	25
Wed	24	26	32	36	33	30	31	31	35	43	53	58	60	51	37	27	25
Thu	24	26	32	37	34	31	32	33	38	45	55	60	62	52	38	28	25
Fri	24	26	30	35	32	32	34	38	45	53	60	60	57	48	36	27	25
Sat	25	25	25	26	27	29	31	35	39	41	43	43	40	34	27	27	25
Sun	25	24	24	25	25	26	27	29	30	32	32	31	29	27	27	27	25