Best Time to Drive from Van Nuys to Santa Barbara

Right now (5:00 pm PDT): about 88 minutes via US-101 North, usually 87 at this time.

On weekdays the 81-mile drive from Van Nuys to Santa Barbara (via US-101 North) usually takes as little as 81 minutes and up to 107 minutes, when leaving around 2:30 pm on Fridays. The fastest times to leave are before 6:30 am or after 6:30 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 90 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 11:30 am on Saturdays (93 minutes).

Drive times are measured from central Van Nuys (Haynes 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 Van Nuys 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	82	87	92	92	88	87	88	89	89	89	93	93	93	88	83	83	82
Tue	82	89	97	96	91	89	88	88	87	89	93	96	98	91	84	83	82
Wed	81	89	99	97	91	88	88	87	88	90	95	96	98	93	85	83	82
Thu	82	90	98	98	91	89	89	89	90	94	98	98	99	94	86	83	82
Fri	82	86	91	91	89	90	93	95	98	104	106	100	98	92	85	83	82
Sat	82	82	83	84	86	89	93	93	92	92	92	91	87	85	83	83	82
Sun	82	82	82	82	83	85	87	88	89	89	87	86	84	84	84	84	82

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 Van Nuys to Santa Barbara?

On weekdays, leave before 6:30 am or after 6:30 pm. The drive usually takes about 81 minutes then, versus up to 107 minutes at the worst times.

How long does it take to drive from Van Nuys to Santa Barbara?

The 81-mile drive usually takes 81 to 107 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 90 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Van Nuys to Santa Barbara?

Leaving around 2:30 pm on Fridays is usually slowest, about 107 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

Santa Barbara to Van Nuys (return trip) · Van Nuys to Los Angeles · Van Nuys to Santa Monica · Van Nuys to Pasadena · Van Nuys to Long Beach · Van Nuys to West Covina · Van Nuys to Glendale · Van Nuys to Santa Clarita · Van Nuys to Torrance · Van Nuys to LAX · Van Nuys to Culver City · Van Nuys to El Monte

Open the live traffic map →

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	82	87	92	92	88	87	88	89	89	89	93	93	93	88	83	83	82
Tue	82	89	97	96	91	89	88	88	87	89	93	96	98	91	84	83	82
Wed	81	89	99	97	91	88	88	87	88	90	95	96	98	93	85	83	82
Thu	82	90	98	98	91	89	89	89	90	94	98	98	99	94	86	83	82
Fri	82	86	91	91	89	90	93	95	98	104	106	100	98	92	85	83	82
Sat	82	82	83	84	86	89	93	93	92	92	92	91	87	85	83	83	82
Sun	82	82	82	82	83	85	87	88	89	89	87	86	84	84	84	84	82

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	82	87	92	92	88	87	88	89	89	89	93	93	93	88	83	83	82
Tue	82	89	97	96	91	89	88	88	87	89	93	96	98	91	84	83	82
Wed	81	89	99	97	91	88	88	87	88	90	95	96	98	93	85	83	82
Thu	82	90	98	98	91	89	89	89	90	94	98	98	99	94	86	83	82
Fri	82	86	91	91	89	90	93	95	98	104	106	100	98	92	85	83	82
Sat	82	82	83	84	86	89	93	93	92	92	92	91	87	85	83	83	82
Sun	82	82	82	82	83	85	87	88	89	89	87	86	84	84	84	84	82

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	82	87	92	92	88	87	88	89	89	89	93	93	93	88	83	83	82
Tue	82	89	97	96	91	89	88	88	87	89	93	96	98	91	84	83	82
Wed	81	89	99	97	91	88	88	87	88	90	95	96	98	93	85	83	82
Thu	82	90	98	98	91	89	89	89	90	94	98	98	99	94	86	83	82
Fri	82	86	91	91	89	90	93	95	98	104	106	100	98	92	85	83	82
Sat	82	82	83	84	86	89	93	93	92	92	92	91	87	85	83	83	82
Sun	82	82	82	82	83	85	87	88	89	89	87	86	84	84	84	84	82