Origin
Lancaster, CA
Late night in Lancaster on Sunday
Local time
12:59 AM
PDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lancaster, CA to Santa Monica, CA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 23m
Distance
70.9 mi
114 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 17m
★
6 AM
1h 24m
8 AM
1h 37m
10 AM
1h 28m
12 PM
1h 27m
3 PM
1h 29m
5 PM
1h 36m
8 PM
1h 20m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lancaster, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Santa Monica, CA
Bjorn Pierre
Trip Overview
Lancaster, CA to Santa Monica, CA is 70.9 miles and takes about 1 hour 23 minutes via the Antelope Valley Freeway and I 405 Truck, with a fuel budget near $16 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This highway-focused drive will take you from the Pacific Coast region of California to another part of the same region. Expect a relatively quick trip with a high percentage of highway driving, making it a straightforward journey. It's a good option if you need to get from the Antelope Valley area to the coast without a lot of fuss.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Antelope Valley Freeway | 41 mi | 45m |
| I 405 Truck | 18.8 mi | 21m |
| Golden State Freeway | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| Santa Monica Freeway | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| 10th Street West | 2 mi | 3m |
| West Avenue J | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Sierra Highway | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Lincoln Boulevard | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Antelope Valley Freeway
— 41 mi, about 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lancaster, CA and Santa Monica, CA.
1
Start on US 6 Hist
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
·
Sierra Highway
2
Turn right
311 ft
·
12 sec
3
Turn slight right onto N5
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West Avenue J
4
Turn left onto 10th Street West
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
10th Street West
5
Turn right onto West Avenue L
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
West Avenue L
Use the right lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Toward CA 14 South, CA 138 East: Los Angeles
Use the slight right lane.
7
Merge onto CA 14; CA 138
40 mi
·
44 min
·
Antelope Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 14
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Antelope Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
36 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 5
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
0.3 mi
·
17 sec
·
I 5 Truck
Exit 158
Toward I 405 South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405 Truck
19 mi
·
21 min
·
I 405 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Exit 53
Toward I 10: Los Angeles, Santa Monica
Use the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
Toward I 10 West: Santa Monica
Use the slight right lane.
15
Merge onto I 10
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Santa Monica Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Exit 1B
Toward CA 1 South: Lincoln Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Turn straight onto Olympic Boulevard
478 ft
·
14 sec
·
Olympic Boulevard
18
Turn right onto US 66 Hist
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Lincoln Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Arrive at destination
US 66 Hist
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
35 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 35.5 miles from Lancaster, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 3.3 and 70.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
3.3 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
West Avenue L
Turn right onto West Avenue L
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
8
48 mi into trip
|
~56m in
|
I 5 Truck
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck toward I 405 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 158
Toward I 405 South
8
67 mi into trip
|
~1h 17m in
Take the exit toward I 10: Los Angeles, Santa Monica
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 53
Toward I 10: Los Angeles, Santa Monica
7
67.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 18m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 10 West: Santa Monica
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 10 West: Santa Monica
7
70.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 22m in
Take the exit toward CA 1 South: Lincoln Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 1B
Toward CA 1 South: Lincoln Boulevard
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.30 one way
$32.59 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $16.79 | $33.59 |
| premium | $6.18 | $17.24 | $34.48 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.65 | $31.31 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$16
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.3 | 0 | $7.44 | $3.40 |
| Efficient EV | 17.7 | 0 | $6.20 | $2.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.4 | 0 | $9.93 | $4.54 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Santa Monica, CA
Late night in Santa Monica on Sunday
Local time
12:59 AM
PDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
22 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 23m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly a highway drive, with 92% of the journey on major freeways like the Antelope Valley Freeway and the Golden State Freeway. You'll experience one continuous stretch of 41 miles on the Antelope Valley Freeway, offering a consistent pace. The character of the drive is largely about covering ground efficiently, so don't expect many winding roads or slow sections. It's designed for steady progress towards your destination.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 41 mi on Antelope Valley Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Antelope Valley Freeway and I 405 Truck. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.3 miles in near West Avenue L.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 70.9 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.3 miles (West Avenue L): Lane positioning matters here; at 48 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 67 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
Starting in Lancaster, CA
Full guide →Founded 1977
Lancaster is a city in far northern Los Angeles County in Southern California, 8 miles (13 km) from the Kern County line.
Top landmarks
- • Antelope Valley Indian Museum State Historic Park — state historic park in California, USA
- • Western Hotel — building in Lancaster, California, United States
Arriving in Santa Monica, CA
Full guide →Founded 1769
Anchoring the Westside of Los Angeles County, Santa Monica is a beachfront city popular with tourists for its expansive beach and its famous pier, which are among the most popular coastal attractions in Southern California. Within the city, visitors will find a number of urban shopping districts and plenty of restaurants and nightlife.
Top landmarks
- • Santa Monica Pier — Pier in Santa Monica, California, USA
- • Muscle Beach — outdoor acrobatics and gymnastics platform
- • Pacific Park — amusement park in Santa Monica, California, United States
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 23m. Total distance: 70.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 41 miles on Antelope Valley Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Santa Monica, CA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.3 miles (West Avenue L): Lane positioning matters here; at 48 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 67 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Santa Monica, CA before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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