Origin
Pomona, CA
Late night in Pomona on Sunday
Local time
1:02 AM
PDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Pomona, 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
57m
Distance
45.6 mi
73 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 53m
★
6 AM
0h 58m
8 AM
1h 7m
10 AM
1h 1m
12 PM
1h 0m
3 PM
1h 1m
5 PM
1h 7m
8 PM
0h 55m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Pomona, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Santa Monica, CA
Bjorn Pierre
Trip Overview
Embark on a straightforward 45.6-mile journey from Pomona, CA, to Santa Monica, CA, which should take about 57 minutes. This drive is predominantly highway, with 89% of it utilizing major freeways like the Pomona, San Bernardino, and Santa Monica Freeways. Given its short duration and focused highway profile, it's an ideal day trip, requiring no overnight stops. You can anticipate a fuel cost of around $10 for this route. This drive efficiently connects two areas within the broader Pacific Coast region, offering a direct path across Southern California.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Monica Freeway | 15.3 mi | 18m |
| Pomona Freeway | 11.7 mi | 13m |
| San Bernardino Freeway | 10.3 mi | 11m |
| San Gabriel River Freeway | 2.3 mi | 2m |
| West Mission Boulevard | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Chino Valley Freeway | 1 mi | 1m |
| Lincoln Boulevard | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Olympic Boulevard | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Santa Monica Freeway
— 15.3 mi, about 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pomona, CA and Santa Monica, CA.
1
Start on South Main Street
90 ft
·
8 sec
·
South Main Street
2
Turn right onto West Mission Boulevard
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
West Mission Boulevard
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward CA 71 North
Use the right lane.
4
Merge onto CA 71
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Chino Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight right at fork
1.5 mi
·
3 min
Exit 15
Toward I 10 West: Los Angeles
Use the slight right lane.
6
Merge onto I 10
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Exit 31A
Toward I 605: San Gabriel River Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Toward I 605 South: San Bernardino
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto I 605
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
San Gabriel River Freeway
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Exit 19
Toward CA 60 East, CA 60 West: Pomona Freeway, Pomona, Los Angeles
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward CA 60 West: Los Angeles, Pomona Freeway
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
18
Merge onto CA 60
10 mi
·
12 min
·
Pomona Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on CA 60
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Pomona Freeway
Exit 1A
Toward I 10 West: Santa Monica
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Merge onto I 10
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Santa Monica Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
12 mi
·
14 min
·
Santa Monica Freeway
Toward Hoover Street, Vermont Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Exit 1B
Toward CA 1 South: Lincoln Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Turn straight onto Olympic Boulevard
478 ft
·
14 sec
·
Olympic Boulevard
24
Turn right onto US 66 Hist
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Lincoln Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
25
Arrive at destination
US 66 Hist
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.8 miles from Pomona, 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 225 decision points cluster between mile 2.9 and 32.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
2.9 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 10 West: Los Angeles
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 15
Toward I 10 West: Los Angeles
7
14.6 mi into trip
|
~19m in
Take the exit toward I 605: San Gabriel River Freeway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 31A
Toward I 605: San Gabriel River Freeway
8
17.4 mi into trip
|
~23m in
Take the exit toward CA 60 East, CA 60 West: Pomona Freeway, Pomona, Los Angeles
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 19
Toward CA 60 East, CA 60 West: Pomona Freeway,...
9
17.6 mi into trip
|
~23m in
Keep slight right at fork toward CA 60 West: Los Angeles, Pomona Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward CA 60 West: Los Angeles, Pomona Freeway
8
32.5 mi into trip
|
~41m in
|
I 10 / Santa Monica Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10 / Santa Monica Freeway toward Hoover Street, Vermont Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Hoover Street, Vermont Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.48 one way
$20.96 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $10.80 | $21.60 |
| premium | $6.18 | $11.09 | $22.18 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.07 | $20.14 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 16 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.7 | 0 | $4.79 | $2.19 |
| Efficient EV | 11.4 | 0 | $3.99 | $1.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.2 | 0 | $6.38 | $2.92 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
1:02 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
14 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
57m 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 is a highway-focused drive, with the vast majority of your travel occurring on major freeways. Expect a consistent driving experience for most of the 45.6 miles, with an 89% highway share. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 15.3 miles on the Santa Monica Freeway. While primarily a freeway experience, this route is designed for efficient transit rather than scenic detours, meaning you'll be navigating high-speed traffic for the bulk of your trip.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 15.3 mi on Santa Monica Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Santa Monica Freeway and Pomona Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.9 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 22 decision points packed into just 45.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 57m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 17.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Pomona, CA to Santa Monica, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Los Angeles along the way.
Los Angeles
17.4 mi in
|
~23m
About the Cities
Starting in Pomona, CA
Full guide →Pomona is in the San Gabriel Valley, near Los Angeles, California. Named after the Roman goddess of fruit, in the 1920s it was indeed known as "the Queen of the Citrus Belt." However, its origins preceded that epoch as an allotment given to two ranchers, Ricardo Véjar and Ygnacio Palomares, in the 1830s, when the territory was still part of Mexico. After the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo and becoming part of the USA, it eventually became absorbed into the megalopolis of southern California, with perhaps its main standout nowadays being the site of the LA County Fair, or the location of Cal Polytechnic U.
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 57m. Total distance: 45.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 15.3 miles on Santa Monica 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 2.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 17.4 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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