Best Time to Drive from Santa Monica to Santa Barbara

Right now (5:15 pm PDT): about 100 minutes via US-101 North, usually 98 at this time.

On weekdays the 92-mile drive from Santa Monica to Santa Barbara (via US-101 North) usually takes as little as 90 minutes and up to 127 minutes, when leaving around 2:30 pm on Fridays. The fastest times to leave are before 6:30 am or after 7 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 103 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 3 pm on Saturdays (105 minutes).

Drive times are measured from downtown Santa Monica to central Santa Barbara (Anacapa Street) 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 Santa Barbara 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	91	96	101	101	98	98	99	99	100	103	110	113	113	104	95	92	91
Tue	91	98	106	105	100	99	98	98	99	104	112	119	119	110	97	92	91
Wed	90	98	107	106	100	98	98	98	100	106	115	121	122	112	99	93	91
Thu	91	99	106	105	101	99	99	100	103	111	119	123	124	114	100	94	91
Fri	91	95	100	101	99	101	105	107	113	124	127	124	120	108	97	93	91
Sat	91	91	92	93	96	100	102	104	104	105	105	104	100	95	93	93	91
Sun	91	91	91	91	92	95	97	98	99	99	98	96	94	93	93	94	91

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 Santa Barbara?

On weekdays, leave before 6:30 am or after 7 pm. The drive usually takes about 90 minutes then, versus up to 127 minutes at the worst times.

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

The 92-mile drive usually takes 90 to 127 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 103 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Santa Monica to Santa Barbara?

Leaving around 2:30 pm on Fridays is usually slowest, about 127 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

Santa Barbara 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	91	96	101	101	98	98	99	99	100	103	110	113	113	104	95	92	91
Tue	91	98	106	105	100	99	98	98	99	104	112	119	119	110	97	92	91
Wed	90	98	107	106	100	98	98	98	100	106	115	121	122	112	99	93	91
Thu	91	99	106	105	101	99	99	100	103	111	119	123	124	114	100	94	91
Fri	91	95	100	101	99	101	105	107	113	124	127	124	120	108	97	93	91
Sat	91	91	92	93	96	100	102	104	104	105	105	104	100	95	93	93	91
Sun	91	91	91	91	92	95	97	98	99	99	98	96	94	93	93	94	91

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	91	96	101	101	98	98	99	99	100	103	110	113	113	104	95	92	91
Tue	91	98	106	105	100	99	98	98	99	104	112	119	119	110	97	92	91
Wed	90	98	107	106	100	98	98	98	100	106	115	121	122	112	99	93	91
Thu	91	99	106	105	101	99	99	100	103	111	119	123	124	114	100	94	91
Fri	91	95	100	101	99	101	105	107	113	124	127	124	120	108	97	93	91
Sat	91	91	92	93	96	100	102	104	104	105	105	104	100	95	93	93	91
Sun	91	91	91	91	92	95	97	98	99	99	98	96	94	93	93	94	91

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	91	96	101	101	98	98	99	99	100	103	110	113	113	104	95	92	91
Tue	91	98	106	105	100	99	98	98	99	104	112	119	119	110	97	92	91
Wed	90	98	107	106	100	98	98	98	100	106	115	121	122	112	99	93	91
Thu	91	99	106	105	101	99	99	100	103	111	119	123	124	114	100	94	91
Fri	91	95	100	101	99	101	105	107	113	124	127	124	120	108	97	93	91
Sat	91	91	92	93	96	100	102	104	104	105	105	104	100	95	93	93	91
Sun	91	91	91	91	92	95	97	98	99	99	98	96	94	93	93	94	91