Traffic Predict

Best Time to Drive from Santa Monica to LAX

On weekdays the 12-mile drive from Santa Monica to LAX (via I-405 South and I-10 East) usually takes as little as 16 minutes and up to 35 minutes, when leaving around 5:30 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 21 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 2:30 pm on Saturdays (26 minutes).

⇄ Reverse trip: LAX to Santa Monica

Freeway, about 7 miles: times follow typical and live traffic from our sensors. Surface streets, about 4 miles: 10 to 18 minutes on weekdays, estimated from how jammed the freeways around them are at that time (we don't have street sensors yet). Drive times are measured from downtown Santa Monica to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) 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 Monica to LAX by day and time you leave (local time)
Leave5am6am7am8am9am10am11am12pm1pm2pm3pm4pm5pm6pm7pm8pm9pm
Mon1616222424222019192124272827211616
Tue1617232525232120192225293231241716
Wed1617232526232120212327303332251816
Thu1617232526232121222429323433272016
Fri1616212322212123252831323230251816
Sat1616161616181921232526252420171716
Sun1616161616161719202121201817171716

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. We don't have sensors on surface streets yet, so the time on them is estimated from how congested the freeways around each end of the drive are at that time, in both directions: streets jam when the freeways do.

Questions

What is the best time to drive from Santa Monica to LAX?

On weekdays, leave before 6:30 am or after 8:30 pm. The drive usually takes about 16 minutes then, versus up to 35 minutes at the worst times.

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

The 12-mile drive usually takes 16 to 35 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 21 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Santa Monica to LAX?

Leaving around 5:30 pm on Thursdays is usually slowest, about 35 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

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