Best Time to Drive from Santa Monica to Thousand Oaks

Right now (9:01 am PDT): about 34 minutes via US-101 North and I-405 North, usually 35 at this time.

On weekdays the 37-mile drive from Santa Monica to Thousand Oaks (via US-101 North and I-405 North) usually takes as little as 32 minutes and up to 66 minutes, when leaving around 5 pm on Thursdays. The fastest times to leave are before 7 am or after 8 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 40 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 3:30 pm on Saturdays (45 minutes).

Typical drive time by departure time

Minutes from Santa Monica to Thousand Oaks 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	33	34	36	40	37	37	37	37	38	41	48	52	56	48	38	34	33
Tue	33	34	36	40	39	38	37	37	38	42	49	56	61	55	42	35	33
Wed	32	34	37	40	39	37	37	37	38	43	52	58	64	58	43	35	33
Thu	33	34	36	40	40	37	37	38	40	46	55	62	66	60	45	37	33
Fri	33	34	36	39	37	37	38	40	45	53	59	63	63	53	41	35	33
Sat	33	33	34	34	35	35	36	38	40	41	43	45	42	38	35	35	33
Sun	33	33	33	33	34	34	35	35	36	37	37	37	36	35	35	35	34

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 Thousand Oaks?

On weekdays, leave before 7 am or after 8 pm. The drive usually takes about 32 minutes then, versus up to 66 minutes at the worst times.

How long does it take to drive from Santa Monica to Thousand Oaks?

The 37-mile drive usually takes 32 to 66 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 40 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Santa Monica to Thousand Oaks?

Leaving around 5 pm on Thursdays is usually slowest, about 66 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

Thousand Oaks 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	33	34	36	40	37	37	37	37	38	41	48	52	56	48	38	34	33
Tue	33	34	36	40	39	38	37	37	38	42	49	56	61	55	42	35	33
Wed	32	34	37	40	39	37	37	37	38	43	52	58	64	58	43	35	33
Thu	33	34	36	40	40	37	37	38	40	46	55	62	66	60	45	37	33
Fri	33	34	36	39	37	37	38	40	45	53	59	63	63	53	41	35	33
Sat	33	33	34	34	35	35	36	38	40	41	43	45	42	38	35	35	33
Sun	33	33	33	33	34	34	35	35	36	37	37	37	36	35	35	35	34

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	33	34	36	40	37	37	37	37	38	41	48	52	56	48	38	34	33
Tue	33	34	36	40	39	38	37	37	38	42	49	56	61	55	42	35	33
Wed	32	34	37	40	39	37	37	37	38	43	52	58	64	58	43	35	33
Thu	33	34	36	40	40	37	37	38	40	46	55	62	66	60	45	37	33
Fri	33	34	36	39	37	37	38	40	45	53	59	63	63	53	41	35	33
Sat	33	33	34	34	35	35	36	38	40	41	43	45	42	38	35	35	33
Sun	33	33	33	33	34	34	35	35	36	37	37	37	36	35	35	35	34

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	33	34	36	40	37	37	37	37	38	41	48	52	56	48	38	34	33
Tue	33	34	36	40	39	38	37	37	38	42	49	56	61	55	42	35	33
Wed	32	34	37	40	39	37	37	37	38	43	52	58	64	58	43	35	33
Thu	33	34	36	40	40	37	37	38	40	46	55	62	66	60	45	37	33
Fri	33	34	36	39	37	37	38	40	45	53	59	63	63	53	41	35	33
Sat	33	33	34	34	35	35	36	38	40	41	43	45	42	38	35	35	33
Sun	33	33	33	33	34	34	35	35	36	37	37	37	36	35	35	35	34