Best Time to Drive from Simi Valley to Pasadena

Right now (3:20 pm PST): about 44 minutes via SR-118 East and I-5 South, usually 44 at this time.

Only 12% 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.

Typical drive time by departure time

Minutes from Simi Valley to Pasadena 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	38	42	44	52	52	48	47	46	45	46	48	48	49	46	41	41	39
Tue	38	42	44	63	65	51	45	46	45	47	49	50	52	48	42	41	39
Wed	38	42	44	61	71	51	45	45	45	48	51	51	53	47	43	41	39
Thu	38	42	45	57	60	48	46	46	47	49	51	50	52	48	44	43	39
Fri	38	42	45	49	48	47	47	48	50	51	50	49	50	46	45	43	39
Sat	39	40	41	41	41	42	43	45	44	45	44	43	43	42	42	41	39
Sun	38	39	39	38	39	40	41	42	42	41	42	42	42	42	42	43	40

About this drive

On weekdays the 42-mile drive from Simi Valley to Pasadena (via SR-118 East and I-5 South) usually takes as little as 38 minutes and up to 71 minutes, when leaving around 9 am on Wednesdays. The fastest times to leave are before 6 am or after 8:30 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 46 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 12 pm on Saturdays (45 minutes).

About 40 miles of it is freeway, where times follow typical and live traffic from our sensors, and about 2 miles surface streets (3 to 6 minutes on weekdays), estimated from how jammed the freeways around them are at that time. Drive times are measured from central Simi Valley (3rd Street) to Old Pasadena (East Holly Street) along the route on the map. Starting or ending elsewhere in a big city can add or save several minutes.

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 Simi Valley to Pasadena?

On weekdays, leave before 6 am or after 8:30 pm. The drive usually takes about 38 minutes then, versus up to 71 minutes at the worst times.

How long does it take to drive from Simi Valley to Pasadena?

The 42-mile drive usually takes 38 to 71 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 46 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Simi Valley to Pasadena?

Leaving around 9 am on Wednesdays is usually slowest, about 71 minutes.

Freeways on this drive

SR-118 East in Los Angeles (21 miles) · I-5 South in Los Angeles (12 miles) · SR-134 East in Los Angeles (8 miles)

Los Angeles traffic right now · Los Angeles traffic tomorrow

Simi Valley to Pasadena over Thanksgiving: when to leave →

More drives

Pasadena to Simi Valley (return trip) · Simi Valley to Los Angeles · Simi Valley to Santa Monica · Simi Valley to Long Beach · Simi Valley to West Covina · Simi Valley to Burbank · Simi Valley to Glendale · Simi Valley to Santa Clarita · Simi Valley to Van Nuys · Simi Valley to Torrance · Simi Valley to LAX · Simi Valley to Hollywood

Open the live traffic map →

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	38	42	44	52	52	48	47	46	45	46	48	48	49	46	41	41	39
Tue	38	42	44	63	65	51	45	46	45	47	49	50	52	48	42	41	39
Wed	38	42	44	61	71	51	45	45	45	48	51	51	53	47	43	41	39
Thu	38	42	45	57	60	48	46	46	47	49	51	50	52	48	44	43	39
Fri	38	42	45	49	48	47	47	48	50	51	50	49	50	46	45	43	39
Sat	39	40	41	41	41	42	43	45	44	45	44	43	43	42	42	41	39
Sun	38	39	39	38	39	40	41	42	42	41	42	42	42	42	42	43	40

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	38	42	44	52	52	48	47	46	45	46	48	48	49	46	41	41	39
Tue	38	42	44	63	65	51	45	46	45	47	49	50	52	48	42	41	39
Wed	38	42	44	61	71	51	45	45	45	48	51	51	53	47	43	41	39
Thu	38	42	45	57	60	48	46	46	47	49	51	50	52	48	44	43	39
Fri	38	42	45	49	48	47	47	48	50	51	50	49	50	46	45	43	39
Sat	39	40	41	41	41	42	43	45	44	45	44	43	43	42	42	41	39
Sun	38	39	39	38	39	40	41	42	42	41	42	42	42	42	42	43	40

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	38	42	44	52	52	48	47	46	45	46	48	48	49	46	41	41	39
Tue	38	42	44	63	65	51	45	46	45	47	49	50	52	48	42	41	39
Wed	38	42	44	61	71	51	45	45	45	48	51	51	53	47	43	41	39
Thu	38	42	45	57	60	48	46	46	47	49	51	50	52	48	44	43	39
Fri	38	42	45	49	48	47	47	48	50	51	50	49	50	46	45	43	39
Sat	39	40	41	41	41	42	43	45	44	45	44	43	43	42	42	41	39
Sun	38	39	39	38	39	40	41	42	42	41	42	42	42	42	42	43	40