Best Time to Drive from Santa Monica to Long Beach

Right now (9:01 am PDT): about 29 minutes via I-405 South, usually 29 at this time.

On weekdays the 30-mile drive from Santa Monica to Long Beach (via I-405 South) usually takes as little as 27 minutes and up to 60 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 35 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 3:30 pm on Saturdays (40 minutes).

Typical drive time by departure time

Minutes from Santa Monica to Long 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	27	29	30	32	31	31	31	31	33	37	42	46	48	43	34	29	28
Tue	27	29	30	33	33	31	31	32	34	39	46	53	57	51	38	30	28
Wed	27	29	30	33	33	31	31	32	34	41	50	56	60	54	39	31	28
Thu	27	29	30	33	33	31	32	32	36	43	52	58	59	53	41	33	28
Fri	27	29	30	32	31	31	32	36	41	49	54	54	53	47	37	31	28
Sat	28	28	28	29	29	30	31	33	36	37	40	40	37	33	29	29	28
Sun	28	28	28	28	28	29	29	30	31	31	32	32	31	30	29	30	28

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 Long Beach?

On weekdays, leave before 7 am or after 8:30 pm. The drive usually takes about 27 minutes then, versus up to 60 minutes at the worst times.

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

The 30-mile drive usually takes 27 to 60 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 35 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Santa Monica to Long Beach?

Leaving around 5 pm on Wednesdays is usually slowest, about 60 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

Long Beach to Santa Monica (return trip) · Santa Monica to Los Angeles · Santa Monica to Pasadena · 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 · Santa Monica to Downey

Open the live traffic map →

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	27	29	30	32	31	31	31	31	33	37	42	46	48	43	34	29	28
Tue	27	29	30	33	33	31	31	32	34	39	46	53	57	51	38	30	28
Wed	27	29	30	33	33	31	31	32	34	41	50	56	60	54	39	31	28
Thu	27	29	30	33	33	31	32	32	36	43	52	58	59	53	41	33	28
Fri	27	29	30	32	31	31	32	36	41	49	54	54	53	47	37	31	28
Sat	28	28	28	29	29	30	31	33	36	37	40	40	37	33	29	29	28
Sun	28	28	28	28	28	29	29	30	31	31	32	32	31	30	29	30	28

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	27	29	30	32	31	31	31	31	33	37	42	46	48	43	34	29	28
Tue	27	29	30	33	33	31	31	32	34	39	46	53	57	51	38	30	28
Wed	27	29	30	33	33	31	31	32	34	41	50	56	60	54	39	31	28
Thu	27	29	30	33	33	31	32	32	36	43	52	58	59	53	41	33	28
Fri	27	29	30	32	31	31	32	36	41	49	54	54	53	47	37	31	28
Sat	28	28	28	29	29	30	31	33	36	37	40	40	37	33	29	29	28
Sun	28	28	28	28	28	29	29	30	31	31	32	32	31	30	29	30	28

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	27	29	30	32	31	31	31	31	33	37	42	46	48	43	34	29	28
Tue	27	29	30	33	33	31	31	32	34	39	46	53	57	51	38	30	28
Wed	27	29	30	33	33	31	31	32	34	41	50	56	60	54	39	31	28
Thu	27	29	30	33	33	31	32	32	36	43	52	58	59	53	41	33	28
Fri	27	29	30	32	31	31	32	36	41	49	54	54	53	47	37	31	28
Sat	28	28	28	29	29	30	31	33	36	37	40	40	37	33	29	29	28
Sun	28	28	28	28	28	29	29	30	31	31	32	32	31	30	29	30	28