How far is Santa Monica, CA from Glendale, CA?
The driving distance from Santa Monica, CA to Glendale, CA is about 26.5 miles (42.7 km), with a travel time of about 00h 35m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 16 miles (25.7 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 11m 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 35m.
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 Santa Monica and Glendale.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Santa Monica and Glendale.
-
1
Start on Lincoln Boulevard
2464 ft · 1 min · Lincoln Boulevard
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2
Turn left onto Olympic Boulevard
112 m · 9 sec · Olympic Boulevard
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3
Take the ramp straight toward I 10 East: Santa Monica Freeway, Los Angeles
1351 ft · 35 sec
-
4
Merge slight left onto Santa Monica Freeway
9.8 mi · 11 min · Santa Monica Freeway
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5
Keep slight left to continue on Santa Monica Freeway
2.3 mi · 3 min · Santa Monica Freeway
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6
Take the exit slight left toward CA 110 North: Pasadena
3032 ft · 1 min
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7
Merge slight left onto Harbor Freeway
2.2 mi · 3 min · Harbor Freeway
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8
Continue on Arroyo Seco Parkway
1.5 mi · 2 min · Arroyo Seco Parkway
-
9
Take the exit slight left toward I 5 North
1567 ft · 38 sec
-
10
Keep slight left to continue on I 5 North
2336 ft · 57 sec
-
11
Merge slight left onto Golden State Freeway
4.5 mi · 5 min · Golden State Freeway
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12
Take the exit slight right toward Colorado Street
1111 ft · 43 sec
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13
Continue on Colorado Street Freeway Extension
3013 ft · 38 sec · Colorado Street Freeway Extension
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14
Turn slight right onto West Colorado Street
1.1 km · 1 min · West Colorado Street
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15
Turn right onto South Brand Boulevard
9 m · 1 sec · South Brand Boulevard
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16
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · South Brand Boulevard
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Santa Monica and Glendale.
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
9.85 mi · 00h 11m
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 Santa Monica and Sunny near Glendale.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Santa Monica to Glendale?
The road trip is about 26.5 miles (42.7 km) and usually takes 00h 35m 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 11.9 miles from Santa Monica and 14.5 miles from Glendale.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 16 miles (25.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 10.5 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 7:18 PM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $5.42 one way or $10.85 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 8.4 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Santa Monica and Sunny near Glendale.
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 Los Angeles
City of Torrance - Housing
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 Santa Monica and Glendale. Straight-line distance: 15.96 mi (25.69 km).
#1 Santa Monica
A city in Los Angeles County, California.
| Population | 90,024 |
| Coordinates | 34.0194500, -118.4911900 |
| Altitude | 32 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Glendale
The second most populous city in Los Angeles County, California.
| Population | 197,747 |
| Coordinates | 34.1425100, -118.2550800 |
| Altitude | 159 |
| Country | United States |
End: South Brand Boulevard (-118.255076, 34.14251)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 43 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 00h 52m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 00h 39m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 31m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 26m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 22m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 19m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $5.42 | $10.85 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $5.70 | $11.40 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $5.87 | $11.74 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $7.11 | $14.23 |
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 · May 01, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.