How far is Los Angeles, CA from Santa Maria, CA?
The driving distance from Los Angeles, CA to Santa Maria, CA is about 158.6 miles (255.2 km), with a travel time of about 03h 16m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 139.4 miles (224.4 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 33m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
Gas Cost Calculator
Leave and Arrive Planner
Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.
Drive time stays fixed at 03h 16m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
City in California
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Los Angeles and Santa Maria.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Los Angeles and Santa Maria.
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1
Start on West 1st Street
761 ft · 32 sec · West 1st Street
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2
Turn right onto North Broadway
1959 ft · 49 sec · North Broadway
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3
Take the ramp right toward US 101 North, CA 110
1234 ft · 30 sec
-
4
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
1.1 km · 55 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
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5
Continue on Hollywood Freeway
9.4 mi · 13 min · Hollywood Freeway
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6
Take the exit slight right toward US 101 North: Ventura
3026 ft · 43 sec
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7
Merge slight right onto Ventura Freeway
52.6 mi · 1 hr 1 min · Ventura Freeway
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8
Keep slight left
18.5 mi · 21 min
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9
Continue on El Camino Real
16.4 mi · 19 min · El Camino Real
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10
Take the exit slight right toward CA 154: State Street, Cachuma Lake
1127 ft · 29 sec
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11
Continue on Calle Real
1672 ft · 40 sec · Calle Real
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12
Turn right onto Chumash Highway
23.9 mi · 33 min · Chumash Highway
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13
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Chumash Highway
35 m · 2 sec · Chumash Highway
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14
Exit the roundabout onto Chumash Highway
2.2 mi · 3 min · Chumash Highway
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15
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Chumash Highway
43 m · 2 sec · Chumash Highway
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16
Exit the roundabout onto Chumash Highway
6.3 mi · 10 min · Chumash Highway
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17
Take the ramp right toward US 101 North
1138 ft · 31 sec
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18
Merge slight left
25.1 mi · 29 min
-
19
Take the exit slight right toward CA 166 West: Main Street
918 ft · 28 sec
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20
Turn left onto Nicholson Avenue
156 m · 16 sec · Nicholson Avenue
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21
Turn left onto East Main Street
1.1 mi · 2 min · East Main Street
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22
Continue on East Main Street
53 m · 20 sec · East Main Street
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23
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · East Main Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Los Angeles and Santa Maria.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
Ventura Freeway
Merge slight right onto Ventura Freeway
52.6 mi · 01h 01m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
A longer out-and-back drive
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
Sunny leaving Los Angeles and Sunny near Santa Maria.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Los Angeles to Santa Maria?
The road trip is about 158.6 miles (255.2 km) and usually takes 03h 16m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Carpinteria is a useful midpoint, sitting about 79 miles from Los Angeles and 79.5 miles from Santa Maria.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 139.4 miles (224.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 19.2 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.
When is the best time to leave for this route?
A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:26 AM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $35.06 one way or $70.12 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 49.8 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Los Angeles and Sunny near Santa Maria.
Stop Ideas Near Carpinteria
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Motel 6 Carpinteria, CA - Santa Barbara - South
Ventura City Hall (formerly the Ventura County Courthouse - California Historical Landmark #847)
San Buenaventura City Hall
City of Santa Barbara City Hall
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Carpinteria.
Carpinteria station
Santa Barbara
Ventura
Goleta station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Los Angeles and Santa Maria. Straight-line distance: 139.47 mi (224.45 km).
#1 Los Angeles
The second most populous city in the United States and the center of the Los Angeles metropolitan area.
| Population | 3,970,219 |
| Coordinates | 34.0522300, -118.2436800 |
| Altitude | 89 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Santa Maria
Situated in northern Santa Barbara County at an elevation of 220 feet, this city lies within a wide coastal valley between the Pacific Ocean and inland mountain ranges.
| Population | 0 |
| Coordinates | 34.9530300, -120.4357200 |
| Altitude | 67 |
| Country | United States |
End: Santa Maria (-120.43572, 34.95303)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 255 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 05h 16m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 03h 57m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 03h 10m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 02h 38m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 02h 15m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 01h 58m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $6.26 | $35.06 | $70.12 |
| Mid-grade | $6.50 | $36.39 | $72.79 |
| Premium | $6.69 | $37.46 | $74.92 |
| Diesel | $8.41 | $47.11 | $94.23 |
Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.
Prices in California · Oct 15, 2026