Best Time to Drive from Santa Monica to LGB

Right now (10:01 am PDT): about 27 minutes via I-405 South, usually 28 at this time.

On weekdays the 29-mile drive from Santa Monica to LGB (via I-405 South) usually takes as little as 26 minutes and up to 57 minutes, when leaving around 5 pm on Wednesdays. The fastest times to leave are before 7 am or after 8:30 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 34 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 3:30 pm on Saturdays (38 minutes).

⇄ Reverse trip: LGB to Santa Monica

Drive times are measured from downtown Santa Monica to Long Beach Airport (LGB) (Globemaster Avenue) 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 LGB 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	26	27	29	31	30	30	30	30	31	35	40	44	46	42	33	28	27
Tue	26	27	29	32	31	30	30	30	33	38	45	51	55	50	37	29	27
Wed	26	27	29	32	31	30	30	31	33	39	48	54	57	52	38	30	27
Thu	26	27	29	32	31	30	30	31	35	42	50	56	57	51	39	32	27
Fri	26	27	28	30	30	30	31	35	40	47	52	51	51	45	36	30	27
Sat	27	27	27	28	28	29	30	32	34	36	38	38	36	32	28	28	27
Sun	27	27	27	27	27	28	28	29	30	30	31	31	29	29	28	29	27

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 LGB?

On weekdays, leave before 7 am or after 8:30 pm. The drive usually takes about 26 minutes then, versus up to 57 minutes at the worst times.

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

The 29-mile drive usually takes 26 to 57 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 34 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Santa Monica to LGB?

Leaving around 5 pm on Wednesdays is usually slowest, about 57 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

LGB 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	26	27	29	31	30	30	30	30	31	35	40	44	46	42	33	28	27
Tue	26	27	29	32	31	30	30	30	33	38	45	51	55	50	37	29	27
Wed	26	27	29	32	31	30	30	31	33	39	48	54	57	52	38	30	27
Thu	26	27	29	32	31	30	30	31	35	42	50	56	57	51	39	32	27
Fri	26	27	28	30	30	30	31	35	40	47	52	51	51	45	36	30	27
Sat	27	27	27	28	28	29	30	32	34	36	38	38	36	32	28	28	27
Sun	27	27	27	27	27	28	28	29	30	30	31	31	29	29	28	29	27

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	26	27	29	31	30	30	30	30	31	35	40	44	46	42	33	28	27
Tue	26	27	29	32	31	30	30	30	33	38	45	51	55	50	37	29	27
Wed	26	27	29	32	31	30	30	31	33	39	48	54	57	52	38	30	27
Thu	26	27	29	32	31	30	30	31	35	42	50	56	57	51	39	32	27
Fri	26	27	28	30	30	30	31	35	40	47	52	51	51	45	36	30	27
Sat	27	27	27	28	28	29	30	32	34	36	38	38	36	32	28	28	27
Sun	27	27	27	27	27	28	28	29	30	30	31	31	29	29	28	29	27

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	26	27	29	31	30	30	30	30	31	35	40	44	46	42	33	28	27
Tue	26	27	29	32	31	30	30	30	33	38	45	51	55	50	37	29	27
Wed	26	27	29	32	31	30	30	31	33	39	48	54	57	52	38	30	27
Thu	26	27	29	32	31	30	30	31	35	42	50	56	57	51	39	32	27
Fri	26	27	28	30	30	30	31	35	40	47	52	51	51	45	36	30	27
Sat	27	27	27	28	28	29	30	32	34	36	38	38	36	32	28	28	27
Sun	27	27	27	27	27	28	28	29	30	30	31	31	29	29	28	29	27