Traffic Predict
Best Time to Drive from Santa Monica to Los Angeles
Right now (9:01 am PDT): about 16 minutes via I-10 East, usually 16 at this time.
On weekdays the 16-mile drive from Santa Monica to Los Angeles (via I-10 East) usually takes as little as 15 minutes and up to 32 minutes, when leaving around 5 pm on Thursdays. The fastest times to leave are before 6:30 am or after 8 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 20 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 3:30 pm on Saturdays (25 minutes).
Typical drive time by departure time
| Leave | 5am | 6am | 7am | 8am | 9am | 10am | 11am | 12pm | 1pm | 2pm | 3pm | 4pm | 5pm | 6pm | 7pm | 8pm | 9pm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon | 15 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 21 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 19 | 16 | 16 |
| Tue | 15 | 16 | 19 | 22 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 22 | 26 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 21 | 16 | 16 |
| Wed | 15 | 16 | 19 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 23 | 27 | 29 | 31 | 28 | 22 | 16 | 16 |
| Thu | 15 | 16 | 19 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 21 | 24 | 28 | 31 | 32 | 30 | 23 | 17 | 16 |
| Fri | 15 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 24 | 27 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 27 | 21 | 17 | 16 |
| Sat | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 20 | 16 | 16 | 16 |
| Sun | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 |
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 Los Angeles?
On weekdays, leave before 6:30 am or after 8 pm. The drive usually takes about 15 minutes then, versus up to 32 minutes at the worst times.
How long does it take to drive from Santa Monica to Los Angeles?
The 16-mile drive usually takes 15 to 32 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 20 minutes midday.
When is traffic worst from Santa Monica to Los Angeles?
Leaving around 5 pm on Thursdays is usually slowest, about 32 minutes.
Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →
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