How far is Santa Monica, CA from Los Angeles, CA?
The driving distance from Santa Monica, CA to Los Angeles, CA is about 15.8 miles (25.5 km), with a travel time of about 00h 24m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 14.4 miles (23.1 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 49m 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 24m.
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.
City in Los Angeles County, California, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Patchy Fog then Partly Sunny
Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Santa Monica and Los Angeles.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Santa Monica and Los Angeles.
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1
Start on Lincoln Boulevard
2464 ft · 1 min · Lincoln Boulevard
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2
Turn left onto Olympic Boulevard
112 m · 11 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
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4
Merge slight left onto Santa Monica Freeway
9.8 mi · 11 min · Santa Monica Freeway
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5
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Monica Freeway
2.7 mi · 3 min · Santa Monica Freeway
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6
Take the exit slight right toward Grand Avenue, Olive Street, Convention Center
1301 ft · 32 sec
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7
Turn straight onto West 18th Street
1452 ft · 39 sec · West 18th Street
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8
Turn left onto South Main Street
1.8 mi · 4 min · South Main Street
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9
Turn left onto West 1st Street
21 m · 4 sec · West 1st Street
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10
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · West 1st Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Santa Monica and Los Angeles.
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.
Patchy Fog then Partly Sunny leaving Santa Monica and Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny near Los Angeles.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Santa Monica to Los Angeles?
The road trip is about 15.8 miles (25.5 km) and usually takes 00h 24m 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?
Culver City is a useful midpoint, sitting about 7.8 miles from Santa Monica and 8 miles from Los Angeles.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 14.4 miles (23.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 1.4 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 7:40 PM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $3.23 one way or $6.46 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 5 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Patchy Fog then Partly Sunny around Santa Monica and Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny near Los Angeles.
Stop Ideas Near Culver City
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Bell Gardens Inn Los Angeles
City of Beverly Hills Parking Lot
City of Los Angeles
City of Torrance - Housing
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Culver City.
Westchester, CA
Westwood-UCLA, CA
El Segundo, CA
Los Angeles Union Station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Santa Monica and Los Angeles. Straight-line distance: 14.35 mi (23.1 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 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 |
End: West 1st Street (-118.243569, 34.052341)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 25 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 00h 31m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 00h 23m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 18m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 15m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 13m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 11m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $3.23 | $6.46 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $3.40 | $6.79 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $3.50 | $6.99 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $4.24 | $8.48 |
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 · Jun 02, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.