Traffic Predict

Best Time to Drive from Van Nuys to Santa Monica

Right now (10:47 pm PDT): about 17 minutes via I-405 South and I-10 West.

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 16-mile drive from Van Nuys to Santa Monica (via I-405 South and I-10 West) usually takes as little as 17 minutes and up to 32 minutes, when leaving around 4 pm on Fridays. The fastest times to leave are before 6 am or after 8 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 23 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 1:30 pm on Saturdays (27 minutes).

⇄ Reverse trip: Santa Monica to Van Nuys

Freeway, about 14 miles: times follow typical and live traffic from our sensors. Surface streets, about 3 miles: 5 to 12 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 Van Nuys (Haynes 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 Van Nuys to Santa Monica by day and time you leave (local time)
Leave5am6am7am8am9am10am11am12pm1pm2pm3pm4pm5pm6pm7pm8pm9pm
Mon1720273128242121202124262623191717
Tue1720283230262322212225282725201817
Wed1720273130272422212226292825201817
Thu1720273130272423222428302926211817
Fri1719262927242425262831323026211817
Sat1717181819212426272726252322201817
Sun1717171718182022242525232221191918

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 Van Nuys to Santa Monica?

On weekdays, leave before 6 am or after 8 pm. The drive usually takes about 17 minutes then, versus up to 32 minutes at the worst times.

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

The 16-mile drive usually takes 17 to 32 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 23 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Van Nuys to Santa Monica?

Leaving around 4 pm on Fridays is usually slowest, about 32 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

Freeways on this drive

I-405 South in Los Angeles (11 miles) · I-10 West in Los Angeles (3 miles)

Los Angeles traffic right now · Los Angeles traffic tomorrow

More drives

Santa Monica to Van Nuys (return trip) · Van Nuys to Los Angeles · 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 · Van Nuys to Downey

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