How far is Pasadena, CA from Santa Monica, CA?
The driving distance from Pasadena, CA to Santa Monica, CA is about 25 miles (40.3 km), with a travel time of about 00h 34m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 21.7 miles (35 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 09m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM PDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This is an easy same-day return drive.
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 00h 34m.
This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.
This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
The second most populous city in the United States and the center of the Los Angeles metropolitan area.
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 Pasadena and Santa Monica.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pasadena and Santa Monica.
-
1
Start on East Holly Street
22 m · 5 sec · East Holly Street
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2
Turn right onto North Garfield Avenue
658 ft · 24 sec · North Garfield Avenue
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3
At the end of the road, turn right onto East Colorado Boulevard
992 ft · 26 sec · East Colorado Boulevard
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4
Turn left onto South Arroyo Parkway
1.3 mi · 3 min · South Arroyo Parkway
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5
Continue on Arroyo Seco Parkway
7.9 mi · 11 min · Arroyo Seco Parkway
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6
Continue on Harbor Freeway
2 mi · 3 min · Harbor Freeway
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7
Take the exit slight right toward I 10: Santa Monica Freeway
1647 ft · 40 sec
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8
Keep slight right to continue on I 10 West: Washington Boulevard
1353 ft · 33 sec
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9
Keep slight left to continue on I 10 West: Santa Monica
629 ft · 15 sec
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10
Merge slight left onto Santa Monica Freeway
12.2 mi · 14 min · Santa Monica Freeway
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11
Take the exit slight right toward CA 1 South: Lincoln Boulevard
1062 ft · 26 sec
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12
Turn straight onto Olympic Boulevard
146 m · 15 sec · Olympic Boulevard
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13
Turn right onto Lincoln Boulevard
2126 ft · 1 min · Lincoln Boulevard
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14
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Lincoln Boulevard
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Pasadena and Santa Monica.
Turn-heavy local drive
The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.
Santa Monica Freeway
Merge slight left onto Santa Monica Freeway
12.2 mi · 00h 14m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
A short regional drive
This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.
Sunny leaving Pasadena and Sunny near Santa Monica.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Pasadena to Santa Monica?
The road trip is about 25 miles (40.3 km) and usually takes 00h 34m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Los Angeles is a useful midpoint, sitting about 12.5 miles from Pasadena and 12.6 miles from Santa Monica.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 21.7 miles (35 km), while the road route adds roughly 3.3 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:20 PM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $5.51 one way or $11.02 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 7.8 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Pasadena and Sunny near Santa Monica.
Stop Ideas Near Los Angeles
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Bell Gardens Inn Los Angeles
City of South El Monte City Hall
City Of El Monte Public Works Department
Topanga Town Council
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Los Angeles.
Los Angeles Union Station
Glendale Transportation Center
Pasadena, California
Westchester, CA
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Pasadena and Santa Monica. Straight-line distance: 21.73 mi (34.97 km).
#1 Pasadena
The second most populous city in Los Angeles County, California.
| Population | 141,045 |
| Coordinates | 34.1477800, -118.1445200 |
| Altitude | 263 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Santa Monica
A city in Los Angeles County, California.
| Population | 90,024 |
| Coordinates | 34.0194500, -118.4911900 |
| Altitude | 32 |
| Country | United States |
End: Santa Monica (-118.49119, 34.01945)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 40 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 00h 50m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 00h 37m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 30m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 25m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 21m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 18m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $6.26 | $5.51 | $11.02 |
| Mid-grade | $6.50 | $5.72 | $11.44 |
| Premium | $6.69 | $5.89 | $11.77 |
| Diesel | $8.41 | $7.40 | $14.81 |
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