Best Time to Drive from SNA to Santa Monica

Right now (10:01 am PDT): about 46 minutes via I-405 North, usually 47 at this time.

On weekdays the 49-mile drive from SNA to Santa Monica (via I-405 North) usually takes as little as 43 minutes and up to 67 minutes, when leaving around 8 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 54 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 1 pm on Saturdays (56 minutes).

⇄ Reverse trip: Santa Monica to SNA

Drive times are measured from John Wayne Airport, Orange County (SNA) (Paularino Avenue) 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 SNA 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	44	52	60	60	58	55	53	52	52	51	51	52	54	50	46	46	45
Tue	44	55	64	66	62	58	55	53	51	52	54	56	59	54	47	45	44
Wed	43	55	65	67	63	59	56	54	52	53	54	57	61	56	47	46	44
Thu	43	54	64	66	62	58	56	54	53	55	57	59	65	56	48	46	44
Fri	44	53	60	60	58	56	57	56	57	59	58	58	58	53	47	46	44
Sat	44	45	45	46	48	52	54	55	56	56	54	53	51	49	47	47	45
Sun	44	44	44	45	46	47	50	52	54	54	53	51	49	48	47	48	45

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 SNA to Santa Monica?

On weekdays, leave before 6 am or after 7 pm. The drive usually takes about 43 minutes then, versus up to 67 minutes at the worst times.

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

The 49-mile drive usually takes 43 to 67 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 54 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from SNA to Santa Monica?

Leaving around 8 am on Wednesdays is usually slowest, about 67 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

Santa Monica to SNA (return trip) · SNA to Los Angeles · SNA to Pasadena · SNA to Long Beach · SNA to West Covina · SNA to Burbank · SNA to Glendale · SNA to Santa Clarita · SNA to Van Nuys · SNA to Torrance · SNA to LAX · SNA 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	44	52	60	60	58	55	53	52	52	51	51	52	54	50	46	46	45
Tue	44	55	64	66	62	58	55	53	51	52	54	56	59	54	47	45	44
Wed	43	55	65	67	63	59	56	54	52	53	54	57	61	56	47	46	44
Thu	43	54	64	66	62	58	56	54	53	55	57	59	65	56	48	46	44
Fri	44	53	60	60	58	56	57	56	57	59	58	58	58	53	47	46	44
Sat	44	45	45	46	48	52	54	55	56	56	54	53	51	49	47	47	45
Sun	44	44	44	45	46	47	50	52	54	54	53	51	49	48	47	48	45

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	44	52	60	60	58	55	53	52	52	51	51	52	54	50	46	46	45
Tue	44	55	64	66	62	58	55	53	51	52	54	56	59	54	47	45	44
Wed	43	55	65	67	63	59	56	54	52	53	54	57	61	56	47	46	44
Thu	43	54	64	66	62	58	56	54	53	55	57	59	65	56	48	46	44
Fri	44	53	60	60	58	56	57	56	57	59	58	58	58	53	47	46	44
Sat	44	45	45	46	48	52	54	55	56	56	54	53	51	49	47	47	45
Sun	44	44	44	45	46	47	50	52	54	54	53	51	49	48	47	48	45

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	44	52	60	60	58	55	53	52	52	51	51	52	54	50	46	46	45
Tue	44	55	64	66	62	58	55	53	51	52	54	56	59	54	47	45	44
Wed	43	55	65	67	63	59	56	54	52	53	54	57	61	56	47	46	44
Thu	43	54	64	66	62	58	56	54	53	55	57	59	65	56	48	46	44
Fri	44	53	60	60	58	56	57	56	57	59	58	58	58	53	47	46	44
Sat	44	45	45	46	48	52	54	55	56	56	54	53	51	49	47	47	45
Sun	44	44	44	45	46	47	50	52	54	54	53	51	49	48	47	48	45