How far is Santa Monica, CA from Torrance, CA?
The driving distance from Santa Monica, CA to Torrance, CA is about 20.5 miles (33 km), with a travel time of about 00h 27m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 15.3 miles (24.7 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 54m 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 27m.
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 most populous city in Los Angeles County, 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 Santa Monica and Torrance.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Santa Monica and Torrance.
-
1
Start on Lincoln Boulevard
2464 ft · 1 min · Lincoln Boulevard
-
2
Turn left onto Olympic Boulevard
112 m · 11 sec · Olympic Boulevard
-
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
2.8 mi · 3 min · Santa Monica Freeway
-
5
Take the exit slight right toward I 405 South: Long Beach
1411 ft · 34 sec
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6
Merge slight left onto San Diego Freeway
3.6 mi · 4 min · San Diego Freeway
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7
Keep slight right to continue on San Diego Freeway
8.7 mi · 10 min · San Diego Freeway
-
8
Take the exit slight right toward Redondo Beach Boulevard
1097 ft · 27 sec
-
9
Continue straight
50 m · 11 sec
-
10
Turn left onto Redondo Beach Boulevard
611 ft · 17 sec · Redondo Beach Boulevard
-
11
Turn right onto Prairie Avenue
2 mi · 4 min · Prairie Avenue
-
12
Continue on Madrona Avenue
1.2 km · 2 min · Madrona Avenue
-
13
Turn left onto Torrance Boulevard
1574 ft · 31 sec · Torrance Boulevard
-
14
Turn right onto Maple Avenue
92 m · 11 sec · Maple Avenue
-
15
Turn right onto Opal Street
63 m · 9 sec · Opal Street
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16
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Opal Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Santa Monica and Torrance.
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.
San Diego Freeway
Keep slight right to continue on San Diego Freeway
8.69 mi · 00h 10m
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 Torrance.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Santa Monica to Torrance?
The road trip is about 20.5 miles (33 km) and usually takes 00h 27m 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?
Inglewood is a useful midpoint, sitting about 9.8 miles from Santa Monica and 10.7 miles from Torrance.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 15.3 miles (24.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 5.2 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:36 PM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $4.51 one way or $9.02 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 6.4 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Santa Monica and Sunny near Torrance.
Stop Ideas Near Inglewood
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
The Manor Hotel
City of Beverly Hills Parking Lot
City of Los Angeles
Palos Verdes Estates City Hall
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Inglewood.
Westchester, CA
El Segundo, CA
Westwood-UCLA, CA
Torrance, CA
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Santa Monica and Torrance. Straight-line distance: 15.34 mi (24.69 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 Torrance
The third most populous city in Los Angeles County, California.
| Population | 141,553 |
| Coordinates | 33.8358500, -118.3406300 |
| Altitude | 27 |
| Country | United States |
End: Torrance Boulevard (-118.340506, 33.836179)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 33 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 00h 40m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 00h 30m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 24m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 20m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 17m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 15m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $6.26 | $4.51 | $9.02 |
| Mid-grade | $6.50 | $4.68 | $9.36 |
| Premium | $6.69 | $4.82 | $9.63 |
| Diesel | $8.41 | $6.06 | $12.11 |
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