Best Time to Drive from Santa Monica to Ventura

Right now (5:15 pm PDT): about 69 minutes via US-101 North, usually 67 at this time.

On weekdays the 62-mile drive from Santa Monica to Ventura (via US-101 North) usually takes as little as 59 minutes and up to 94 minutes, when leaving around 4:30 pm on Thursdays. The fastest times to leave are before 7:30 am or after 7:30 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 68 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 3:30 pm on Saturdays (72 minutes).

Drive times are measured from downtown Santa Monica to central Ventura 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 Ventura 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	59	61	64	67	65	65	65	65	67	69	76	80	82	74	64	61	60
Tue	59	61	65	68	66	66	65	65	66	70	78	86	88	80	67	61	60
Wed	59	61	65	67	66	65	65	65	67	72	80	87	91	83	69	62	60
Thu	59	61	64	68	67	65	65	66	69	76	84	91	93	85	71	63	60
Fri	59	61	64	67	65	66	67	70	75	83	88	91	89	79	67	62	60
Sat	60	60	60	61	62	65	67	67	68	70	71	72	69	65	62	61	60
Sun	60	59	59	60	61	62	63	65	65	65	65	64	63	62	62	63	60

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 Ventura?

On weekdays, leave before 7:30 am or after 7:30 pm. The drive usually takes about 59 minutes then, versus up to 94 minutes at the worst times.

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

The 62-mile drive usually takes 59 to 94 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 68 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Santa Monica to Ventura?

Leaving around 4:30 pm on Thursdays is usually slowest, about 94 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

Ventura 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	59	61	64	67	65	65	65	65	67	69	76	80	82	74	64	61	60
Tue	59	61	65	68	66	66	65	65	66	70	78	86	88	80	67	61	60
Wed	59	61	65	67	66	65	65	65	67	72	80	87	91	83	69	62	60
Thu	59	61	64	68	67	65	65	66	69	76	84	91	93	85	71	63	60
Fri	59	61	64	67	65	66	67	70	75	83	88	91	89	79	67	62	60
Sat	60	60	60	61	62	65	67	67	68	70	71	72	69	65	62	61	60
Sun	60	59	59	60	61	62	63	65	65	65	65	64	63	62	62	63	60

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	59	61	64	67	65	65	65	65	67	69	76	80	82	74	64	61	60
Tue	59	61	65	68	66	66	65	65	66	70	78	86	88	80	67	61	60
Wed	59	61	65	67	66	65	65	65	67	72	80	87	91	83	69	62	60
Thu	59	61	64	68	67	65	65	66	69	76	84	91	93	85	71	63	60
Fri	59	61	64	67	65	66	67	70	75	83	88	91	89	79	67	62	60
Sat	60	60	60	61	62	65	67	67	68	70	71	72	69	65	62	61	60
Sun	60	59	59	60	61	62	63	65	65	65	65	64	63	62	62	63	60

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	59	61	64	67	65	65	65	65	67	69	76	80	82	74	64	61	60
Tue	59	61	65	68	66	66	65	65	66	70	78	86	88	80	67	61	60
Wed	59	61	65	67	66	65	65	65	67	72	80	87	91	83	69	62	60
Thu	59	61	64	68	67	65	65	66	69	76	84	91	93	85	71	63	60
Fri	59	61	64	67	65	66	67	70	75	83	88	91	89	79	67	62	60
Sat	60	60	60	61	62	65	67	67	68	70	71	72	69	65	62	61	60
Sun	60	59	59	60	61	62	63	65	65	65	65	64	63	62	62	63	60