Best Time to Drive from Santa Monica to Simi Valley

Right now (5:17 pm PDT): about 65 minutes via SR-118 West and I-405 North, usually 63 at this time.

None of this drive is measured by working traffic sensors right now. The rest is estimated from nearby sensors, typical speeds and street traffic, so times can be off. Why so few sensors work.

On weekdays the 41-mile drive from Santa Monica to Simi Valley (via SR-118 West and I-405 North) usually takes as little as 37 minutes and up to 73 minutes, when leaving around 4:30 pm on Thursdays. The fastest times to leave are before 7:30 am or after 8 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 44 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 4 pm on Saturdays (45 minutes).

⇄ Reverse trip: Simi Valley to Santa Monica

Freeway, about 39 miles: times follow typical and live traffic from our sensors. Surface streets, about 1.9 miles: 3 to 5 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 central Simi Valley (3rd 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 Simi Valley 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	37	39	40	42	42	42	42	42	43	48	57	64	63	55	43	39	38
Tue	37	39	40	42	42	42	42	42	44	49	59	68	67	58	46	40	38
Wed	37	39	41	43	42	42	42	42	44	49	61	70	69	59	48	41	38
Thu	37	39	40	42	42	42	42	42	45	51	62	71	70	60	48	41	38
Fri	37	39	40	41	42	42	42	44	47	53	63	70	65	55	45	40	38
Sat	37	37	38	38	39	40	41	42	42	43	44	45	45	44	42	40	38
Sun	37	37	37	37	38	38	39	40	41	41	41	42	42	42	41	40	38

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 Simi Valley?

On weekdays, leave before 7:30 am or after 8 pm. The drive usually takes about 37 minutes then, versus up to 73 minutes at the worst times.

How long does it take to drive from Santa Monica to Simi Valley?

The 41-mile drive usually takes 37 to 73 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 44 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Santa Monica to Simi Valley?

Leaving around 4:30 pm on Thursdays is usually slowest, about 73 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

Simi Valley 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	37	39	40	42	42	42	42	42	43	48	57	64	63	55	43	39	38
Tue	37	39	40	42	42	42	42	42	44	49	59	68	67	58	46	40	38
Wed	37	39	41	43	42	42	42	42	44	49	61	70	69	59	48	41	38
Thu	37	39	40	42	42	42	42	42	45	51	62	71	70	60	48	41	38
Fri	37	39	40	41	42	42	42	44	47	53	63	70	65	55	45	40	38
Sat	37	37	38	38	39	40	41	42	42	43	44	45	45	44	42	40	38
Sun	37	37	37	37	38	38	39	40	41	41	41	42	42	42	41	40	38

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	37	39	40	42	42	42	42	42	43	48	57	64	63	55	43	39	38
Tue	37	39	40	42	42	42	42	42	44	49	59	68	67	58	46	40	38
Wed	37	39	41	43	42	42	42	42	44	49	61	70	69	59	48	41	38
Thu	37	39	40	42	42	42	42	42	45	51	62	71	70	60	48	41	38
Fri	37	39	40	41	42	42	42	44	47	53	63	70	65	55	45	40	38
Sat	37	37	38	38	39	40	41	42	42	43	44	45	45	44	42	40	38
Sun	37	37	37	37	38	38	39	40	41	41	41	42	42	42	41	40	38

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	37	39	40	42	42	42	42	42	43	48	57	64	63	55	43	39	38
Tue	37	39	40	42	42	42	42	42	44	49	59	68	67	58	46	40	38
Wed	37	39	41	43	42	42	42	42	44	49	61	70	69	59	48	41	38
Thu	37	39	40	42	42	42	42	42	45	51	62	71	70	60	48	41	38
Fri	37	39	40	41	42	42	42	44	47	53	63	70	65	55	45	40	38
Sat	37	37	38	38	39	40	41	42	42	43	44	45	45	44	42	40	38
Sun	37	37	37	37	38	38	39	40	41	41	41	42	42	42	41	40	38