drive time la - santa barbara
 

Need to be in Santa Barbara for an 8:00 am boat tour- what time should we leave LA? We're staying in West Hollywood on Sunset and don't want to go to SB the night before because we booked the hotel thru Hotwire & have to pay for the room even if we don't use it. Oh, this drive will take place on a Friday, if that matters.

Unless you're willing to get up REAL early in the morning, I'd suggest staying the night before in SB. Althouh you should miss the brunt of the rushhour traffic (which usually lasts all day, so I wonder why they call it rush HOUR), it'll still take about 2 1/2 hours. Then you'll need to factor in the potential of getting lost and finding parking and getting to the dock on time (I'd think they'd want you there a little before push-off time.)

But I will defer to the southern Cal experts on this board. I did this drive last May, and it seemed to take a LONG time.

i'd leave at 4:30 - everyone but the driver can sleep in the car. then you have a leasurly drive up before rush hour. then find a restaurant on the beach and enjoy a nice breakfast before your tour. you can enjoy watching the sun rise.

4:30 is just about right. That is when I'd leave and I know the area fairly well. It should give you time for a nice breakfast.

You should leave no later than 5 AM, although at that early hour traffic should not be crawling (there will be lots of cars, but they'll be moving). 4:30 will give you a good "cushion". Traffic in LA on Friday mornings, for whatever reason, isn't quite as heavy as earlier in the week (a phenomenon we call "Friday Morning Light", of course), so barring accidents you should be just fine.

Wow, I had no idea it was that far of a drive. I see 100 miles and think 2 hours tops, but you never know the local traffic & road conditions. I think maybe we'll skip the boat tour for this trip. I get up early for work the rest of the year- on vacation I want to take it easy a bit. Thanks for all the advice!

Artchik, the 4:30 time everyone is giving you is to be on the REALLY safe side. I used to do this drive a lot, and it can be a crap shoot. Last weekend I did the Pismo Beach (about 80 miles north of SB)- LA drive in 2 hours 45 minutes. But that was late at night with NO traffic. I usualy calculate the LA-SB drive at 2 hours, and I drive from about 20 minutes south of where you are staying.

If you still want to do the tour, a 5 am departure should get you there fine. There isn't traffic at that hour.

Enjoy your stay here!

I will be staying in Santa Monica with family and thinking about going up Highway 1 then connecting with 101 thinking it would be a nicer drive. Will that be about the same drive time or slower going through all the towns? I could leave early in the morning.

Snorkelcat,

Hot damn, that's a great name.

Where were you going to pick up the 101? Hwy 1 always takes longer, it's pretty windy. 101 is more straightforward highway driving.

love
roxy

Does anyone have any idea what it takes to get to SB from LA???!!! In the first place, the coast is real iffy from both Malibu and 101 to SB anytime of day, especially from Oxnard. Plan at least 2 hours from La and pray. It is windier and farther than maps imply!

Deloris -
I think all who have replied have an idea of what it takes - hence our recommendations. Why the excessive punctuation?

Hi all!

Roxy: Thanks! I am an avid snorkeler.

I was going to pick up Hwy 1 right along the beach in Santa Monica and then pick up 101 outside of Oxnard. I thought it would be nice to drive through Malibu. When you say windy, do you mean twisty/curvy?

Snorkelcat,

Yes, sorry, I meant it's a curvy road. Yes, it's a pretty drive, but it's also going to take longer because it's curvier, fewer lanes, can't drive as fast. I can't really say how much longer that route will take though. Although, with the way things go here sometimes, by the time you get over to the 101 from Santa Monica through the LA area, it might take you so long that you might as well have gone up hwy 1! But if you're leaving early in the morning, it won't matter. It's a nice drive, just know that it takes longer.

love
roxy

From Santa Monica to Oxnard on the 1, I'd say add an extra 45 minutes to an hour...I did it in reverse, and it seemed to take awhile.

Really fun drive though, especially in a convertible!

Renee, yes, the emphasis is on "to wind"meaning not a straight road and which has nothing to do with the air flow of wind. The added aggravation of traffic flow to SB, accidents and week-end and holiday traffic add to a load on a non freeway road between Oxnard and SB that is bumper to bumper slow on weekends and add other problems. The other aleternate is I 5 with distant connections to SB. A basic "improved" country road, not like to and from San Diego or San Francisco on the I 5.

I've made the trip between Oxnard & Santa Monica on 1 several times and it takes about an hour. During rush hours you can add up to an additional hour.

One caution, however, is the current construction once you reach Oxnard near the 101 junction. I would add 15 minutes to the commute to be safe.

Deloris:

Punctuate all you want!!!!

I'd rather you do that than jab at me through the computer screen :)

Having done this trip dozens of times, you need not leave any earlier than 5:30. If it's a weekend, you could probably leave at 6:00.

West Hollywood to SB is a bout 95-100 miles. Averaging about 65 mph should take you 90 minutes. At that time of the day, traffic should be minimal.

If there's an accident, you're screwed.

Coachboy

I'm planning a drive DOWN the coast in December and wonder if it's viable to take the coast road from Santa Barbara to Santa Monica, stopping for lunch in Malibu. Any thoughts on this idea? Suggestions for a lunch spot? Thanks.

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