Best Time to Drive from Santa Monica to Huntington Beach

Right now (9:01 am PDT): about 47 minutes via I-405 South, usually 48 at this time.

On weekdays the 46-mile drive from Santa Monica to Huntington Beach (via I-405 South) usually takes as little as 45 minutes and up to 79 minutes, when leaving around 5 pm on Wednesdays. The fastest times to leave are before 7:30 am or after 8 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 54 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 3 pm on Saturdays (58 minutes).

Typical drive time by departure time

Minutes from Santa Monica to Huntington Beach 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	45	47	48	50	50	49	50	50	51	56	61	65	67	61	51	47	46
Tue	45	47	49	52	51	50	50	50	53	59	66	72	76	68	54	48	46
Wed	45	47	49	51	51	50	50	50	53	60	69	75	79	70	56	49	46
Thu	45	47	49	52	51	50	50	51	55	63	72	75	78	70	58	51	46
Fri	45	47	48	50	50	50	51	55	61	69	73	73	72	64	54	49	46
Sat	45	46	46	47	48	48	50	52	54	56	58	58	55	51	47	47	46
Sun	45	45	45	46	46	47	48	48	49	50	50	50	49	48	48	48	46

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 Huntington Beach?

On weekdays, leave before 7:30 am or after 8 pm. The drive usually takes about 45 minutes then, versus up to 79 minutes at the worst times.

How long does it take to drive from Santa Monica to Huntington Beach?

The 46-mile drive usually takes 45 to 79 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 54 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Santa Monica to Huntington Beach?

Leaving around 5 pm on Wednesdays is usually slowest, about 79 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

Huntington Beach 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	45	47	48	50	50	49	50	50	51	56	61	65	67	61	51	47	46
Tue	45	47	49	52	51	50	50	50	53	59	66	72	76	68	54	48	46
Wed	45	47	49	51	51	50	50	50	53	60	69	75	79	70	56	49	46
Thu	45	47	49	52	51	50	50	51	55	63	72	75	78	70	58	51	46
Fri	45	47	48	50	50	50	51	55	61	69	73	73	72	64	54	49	46
Sat	45	46	46	47	48	48	50	52	54	56	58	58	55	51	47	47	46
Sun	45	45	45	46	46	47	48	48	49	50	50	50	49	48	48	48	46

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	45	47	48	50	50	49	50	50	51	56	61	65	67	61	51	47	46
Tue	45	47	49	52	51	50	50	50	53	59	66	72	76	68	54	48	46
Wed	45	47	49	51	51	50	50	50	53	60	69	75	79	70	56	49	46
Thu	45	47	49	52	51	50	50	51	55	63	72	75	78	70	58	51	46
Fri	45	47	48	50	50	50	51	55	61	69	73	73	72	64	54	49	46
Sat	45	46	46	47	48	48	50	52	54	56	58	58	55	51	47	47	46
Sun	45	45	45	46	46	47	48	48	49	50	50	50	49	48	48	48	46

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	45	47	48	50	50	49	50	50	51	56	61	65	67	61	51	47	46
Tue	45	47	49	52	51	50	50	50	53	59	66	72	76	68	54	48	46
Wed	45	47	49	51	51	50	50	50	53	60	69	75	79	70	56	49	46
Thu	45	47	49	52	51	50	50	51	55	63	72	75	78	70	58	51	46
Fri	45	47	48	50	50	50	51	55	61	69	73	73	72	64	54	49	46
Sat	45	46	46	47	48	48	50	52	54	56	58	58	55	51	47	47	46
Sun	45	45	45	46	46	47	48	48	49	50	50	50	49	48	48	48	46