Best Time to Drive from Simi Valley to Santa Ana

Right now (5:03 pm PDT): about 112 minutes via I-5 South and SR-118 East, usually 104 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 73-mile drive from Simi Valley to Santa Ana (via I-5 South and SR-118 East) usually takes as little as 67 minutes and up to 115 minutes, when leaving around 4 pm on Thursdays. The fastest times to leave are before 5:30 am or after 7:30 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 87 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 3 pm on Saturdays (91 minutes).

⇄ Reverse trip: Santa Ana to Simi Valley

Freeway, about 70 miles: times follow typical and live traffic from our sensors. Surface streets, about 3 miles: 4 to 7 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 central Simi Valley (3rd Street) to central Santa Ana (Main 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 Simi Valley to Santa Ana 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	67	81	91	87	81	80	80	81	84	91	99	105	97	83	72	68	67
Tue	68	85	98	91	85	82	82	82	84	93	104	112	104	88	74	69	67
Wed	68	83	98	93	87	84	83	83	86	94	105	113	106	90	76	70	67
Thu	68	85	96	90	86	84	83	85	88	97	108	115	108	93	78	71	67
Fri	68	77	86	85	83	83	85	89	97	106	113	113	108	94	81	74	69
Sat	67	69	70	73	76	80	83	85	88	90	91	88	86	80	75	72	68
Sun	67	67	67	68	69	73	77	80	82	83	82	79	77	76	75	73	68

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 Santa Ana?

On weekdays, leave before 5:30 am or after 7:30 pm. The drive usually takes about 67 minutes then, versus up to 115 minutes at the worst times.

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

The 73-mile drive usually takes 67 to 115 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 87 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Simi Valley to Santa Ana?

Leaving around 4 pm on Thursdays is usually slowest, about 115 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

Santa Ana to Simi Valley (return trip) · Simi Valley to Los Angeles · Simi Valley to Santa Monica · Simi Valley to Pasadena · 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

Open the live traffic map →

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	67	81	91	87	81	80	80	81	84	91	99	105	97	83	72	68	67
Tue	68	85	98	91	85	82	82	82	84	93	104	112	104	88	74	69	67
Wed	68	83	98	93	87	84	83	83	86	94	105	113	106	90	76	70	67
Thu	68	85	96	90	86	84	83	85	88	97	108	115	108	93	78	71	67
Fri	68	77	86	85	83	83	85	89	97	106	113	113	108	94	81	74	69
Sat	67	69	70	73	76	80	83	85	88	90	91	88	86	80	75	72	68
Sun	67	67	67	68	69	73	77	80	82	83	82	79	77	76	75	73	68

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	67	81	91	87	81	80	80	81	84	91	99	105	97	83	72	68	67
Tue	68	85	98	91	85	82	82	82	84	93	104	112	104	88	74	69	67
Wed	68	83	98	93	87	84	83	83	86	94	105	113	106	90	76	70	67
Thu	68	85	96	90	86	84	83	85	88	97	108	115	108	93	78	71	67
Fri	68	77	86	85	83	83	85	89	97	106	113	113	108	94	81	74	69
Sat	67	69	70	73	76	80	83	85	88	90	91	88	86	80	75	72	68
Sun	67	67	67	68	69	73	77	80	82	83	82	79	77	76	75	73	68

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	67	81	91	87	81	80	80	81	84	91	99	105	97	83	72	68	67
Tue	68	85	98	91	85	82	82	82	84	93	104	112	104	88	74	69	67
Wed	68	83	98	93	87	84	83	83	86	94	105	113	106	90	76	70	67
Thu	68	85	96	90	86	84	83	85	88	97	108	115	108	93	78	71	67
Fri	68	77	86	85	83	83	85	89	97	106	113	113	108	94	81	74	69
Sat	67	69	70	73	76	80	83	85	88	90	91	88	86	80	75	72	68
Sun	67	67	67	68	69	73	77	80	82	83	82	79	77	76	75	73	68