Best Time to Drive from Simi Valley to Santa Monica

Right now (5:03 pm PDT): about 49 minutes via SR-118 East and I-405 South, usually 48 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 40-mile drive from Simi Valley to Santa Monica (via SR-118 East and I-405 South) usually takes as little as 36 minutes and up to 61 minutes, when leaving around 7:30 am on Wednesdays. The fastest times to leave are before 6 am or after 7 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 43 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 1 pm on Saturdays (45 minutes).

⇄ Reverse trip: Santa Monica to Simi Valley

Freeway, about 39 miles: times follow typical and live traffic from our sensors. Surface streets, about 1.5 miles: 2 to 3 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 downtown Santa Monica 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 Monica 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	37	45	57	56	51	44	43	42	41	42	44	45	44	40	38	37	37
Tue	36	46	59	59	54	47	44	43	42	42	45	48	48	42	38	37	37
Wed	36	46	60	60	54	49	45	43	42	43	46	50	49	43	38	37	37
Thu	36	46	58	58	54	48	45	44	43	44	47	51	50	44	39	38	37
Fri	36	44	54	52	47	46	45	45	46	47	51	53	51	44	40	38	37
Sat	36	37	38	39	39	41	44	45	45	45	44	43	42	41	39	38	37
Sun	36	36	37	37	37	39	41	42	43	44	43	41	41	40	39	38	37

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 Monica?

On weekdays, leave before 6 am or after 7 pm. The drive usually takes about 36 minutes then, versus up to 61 minutes at the worst times.

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

The 40-mile drive usually takes 36 to 61 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 43 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Simi Valley to Santa Monica?

Leaving around 7:30 am on Wednesdays is usually slowest, about 61 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

Santa Monica to Simi Valley (return trip) · Simi Valley to Los Angeles · 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 · 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	37	45	57	56	51	44	43	42	41	42	44	45	44	40	38	37	37
Tue	36	46	59	59	54	47	44	43	42	42	45	48	48	42	38	37	37
Wed	36	46	60	60	54	49	45	43	42	43	46	50	49	43	38	37	37
Thu	36	46	58	58	54	48	45	44	43	44	47	51	50	44	39	38	37
Fri	36	44	54	52	47	46	45	45	46	47	51	53	51	44	40	38	37
Sat	36	37	38	39	39	41	44	45	45	45	44	43	42	41	39	38	37
Sun	36	36	37	37	37	39	41	42	43	44	43	41	41	40	39	38	37

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	37	45	57	56	51	44	43	42	41	42	44	45	44	40	38	37	37
Tue	36	46	59	59	54	47	44	43	42	42	45	48	48	42	38	37	37
Wed	36	46	60	60	54	49	45	43	42	43	46	50	49	43	38	37	37
Thu	36	46	58	58	54	48	45	44	43	44	47	51	50	44	39	38	37
Fri	36	44	54	52	47	46	45	45	46	47	51	53	51	44	40	38	37
Sat	36	37	38	39	39	41	44	45	45	45	44	43	42	41	39	38	37
Sun	36	36	37	37	37	39	41	42	43	44	43	41	41	40	39	38	37

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	37	45	57	56	51	44	43	42	41	42	44	45	44	40	38	37	37
Tue	36	46	59	59	54	47	44	43	42	42	45	48	48	42	38	37	37
Wed	36	46	60	60	54	49	45	43	42	43	46	50	49	43	38	37	37
Thu	36	46	58	58	54	48	45	44	43	44	47	51	50	44	39	38	37
Fri	36	44	54	52	47	46	45	45	46	47	51	53	51	44	40	38	37
Sat	36	37	38	39	39	41	44	45	45	45	44	43	42	41	39	38	37
Sun	36	36	37	37	37	39	41	42	43	44	43	41	41	40	39	38	37