Best Time to Drive from Simi Valley to Santa Barbara

Right now (5:03 pm PDT): about 107 minutes via US-101 North, usually 102 at this time.

Only 18% 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 60-mile drive from Simi Valley to Santa Barbara (via US-101 North) usually takes as little as 83 minutes and up to 108 minutes, when leaving around 4:30 pm on Fridays. The fastest times to leave are before 6:30 am or after 6 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 91 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 11:30 am on Saturdays (95 minutes).

⇄ Reverse trip: Santa Barbara to Simi Valley

Freeway, about 20 miles: times follow typical and live traffic from our sensors. Surface streets, about 40 miles: 65 to 86 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 Barbara (Anacapa 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 Barbara 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	83	88	91	91	88	88	90	90	89	91	93	96	93	86	83	83	83
Tue	84	90	96	97	91	87	88	87	87	89	93	98	102	91	84	83	83
Wed	83	90	99	102	92	88	88	88	88	90	96	101	102	92	84	83	83
Thu	84	91	96	98	90	90	90	90	90	93	99	103	104	92	84	83	83
Fri	83	87	90	88	90	93	96	96	97	101	106	108	103	90	84	83	83
Sat	83	83	83	84	86	90	93	94	93	91	88	86	84	83	83	83	83
Sun	83	83	83	83	84	87	89	90	90	89	87	85	84	83	83	83	83

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 Barbara?

On weekdays, leave before 6:30 am or after 6 pm. The drive usually takes about 83 minutes then, versus up to 108 minutes at the worst times.

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

The 60-mile drive usually takes 83 to 108 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 91 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Simi Valley to Santa Barbara?

Leaving around 4:30 pm on Fridays is usually slowest, about 108 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

Santa Barbara 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	83	88	91	91	88	88	90	90	89	91	93	96	93	86	83	83	83
Tue	84	90	96	97	91	87	88	87	87	89	93	98	102	91	84	83	83
Wed	83	90	99	102	92	88	88	88	88	90	96	101	102	92	84	83	83
Thu	84	91	96	98	90	90	90	90	90	93	99	103	104	92	84	83	83
Fri	83	87	90	88	90	93	96	96	97	101	106	108	103	90	84	83	83
Sat	83	83	83	84	86	90	93	94	93	91	88	86	84	83	83	83	83
Sun	83	83	83	83	84	87	89	90	90	89	87	85	84	83	83	83	83

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	83	88	91	91	88	88	90	90	89	91	93	96	93	86	83	83	83
Tue	84	90	96	97	91	87	88	87	87	89	93	98	102	91	84	83	83
Wed	83	90	99	102	92	88	88	88	88	90	96	101	102	92	84	83	83
Thu	84	91	96	98	90	90	90	90	90	93	99	103	104	92	84	83	83
Fri	83	87	90	88	90	93	96	96	97	101	106	108	103	90	84	83	83
Sat	83	83	83	84	86	90	93	94	93	91	88	86	84	83	83	83	83
Sun	83	83	83	83	84	87	89	90	90	89	87	85	84	83	83	83	83

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	83	88	91	91	88	88	90	90	89	91	93	96	93	86	83	83	83
Tue	84	90	96	97	91	87	88	87	87	89	93	98	102	91	84	83	83
Wed	83	90	99	102	92	88	88	88	88	90	96	101	102	92	84	83	83
Thu	84	91	96	98	90	90	90	90	90	93	99	103	104	92	84	83	83
Fri	83	87	90	88	90	93	96	96	97	101	106	108	103	90	84	83	83
Sat	83	83	83	84	86	90	93	94	93	91	88	86	84	83	83	83	83
Sun	83	83	83	83	84	87	89	90	90	89	87	85	84	83	83	83	83