Origin
Santa Maria, CA
Morning in Santa Maria on Sunday
Local time
8:53 AM
PDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Santa Maria, CA to Los Angeles, CA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
42m
Distance
27.8 mi
45 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 39m
★
6 AM
0h 42m
8 AM
0h 49m
10 AM
0h 45m
12 PM
0h 44m
3 PM
0h 45m
5 PM
0h 49m
8 PM
0h 40m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Santa Maria, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Los Angeles, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel from Santa Maria to Los Angeles, this 27.8-mile trip is a quick journey that typically takes about 42 minutes. Because the distance is quite short, it is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight accommodations. Budgeting approximately $4 for fuel will cover your transit across these Pacific Coast regions. Since the route relies heavily on major thoroughfares, you can expect a straightforward transition between these two California hubs. It is a highly practical drive for those who prioritize efficiency over a long, winding adventure.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Ventura Freeway | 12.5 mi | 14m |
| Hollywood Freeway | 10.3 mi | 14m |
| Canoga Avenue | 1.2 mi | 3m |
| Mulholland Drive | 1.1 mi | 3m |
| Route 101 | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Santa Maria Road | 0.6 mi | 2m |
| Saltillo Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| North Spring Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Ventura Freeway
— 12.5 mi, about 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Santa Maria, CA and Los Angeles, CA.
1
Start on Santa Maria Road
0.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Santa Maria Road
2
Continue on Mulholland Drive
1.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Mulholland Drive
3
Turn right onto Alhama Drive
427 ft
·
15 sec
·
Alhama Drive
4
Turn left onto Golondrina Street
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Golondrina Street
5
Turn right onto Saltillo Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Saltillo Street
6
At end of road, turn right onto Canoga Avenue
1.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Canoga Avenue
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
Toward US 101 South: Ventura Freeway, Los Angeles
Use the right lane.
8
Merge onto US 101
12 mi
·
14 min
·
Ventura Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto US 101
0.6 mi
·
43 sec
·
Route 101
Toward US 101 South: Los Angeles, Tujunga Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto US 101
10 mi
·
14 min
·
Hollywood Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Exit 2C
Toward Broadway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on West Aliso Street
409 ft
·
18 sec
·
West Aliso Street
Use the straight lane.
13
Turn right onto North Spring Street
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
North Spring Street
Use the right lane.
14
Turn left onto West 1st Street
354 ft
·
12 sec
·
West 1st Street
Use the left lane.
15
Arrive at destination
West 1st Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 3.6 and 27.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
3.6 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Take the ramp toward US 101 South: Ventura Freeway, Los Angeles
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward US 101 South: Ventura Freeway, Los Angel...
8
16.3 mi into trip
|
~26m in
|
US 101 / Route 101
Keep slight right at fork onto US 101 / Route 101 toward US 101 South: Los Angeles, Tujunga Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 101 South: Los Angeles, Tujunga Avenu...
7
27.3 mi into trip
|
~40m in
Take the exit toward Broadway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 2C
Toward Broadway
7
27.5 mi into trip
|
~41m in
|
North Spring Street
Turn right onto North Spring Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
27.8 mi into trip
|
~42m in
|
West 1st Street
Turn left onto West 1st Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.39 one way
$12.78 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $6.58 | $13.17 |
| premium | $6.18 | $6.76 | $13.52 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.14 | $12.28 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.3 | 0 | $2.92 | $1.33 |
| Efficient EV | 7 | 0 | $2.43 | $1.11 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.1 | 0 | $3.89 | $1.78 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
Los Angeles, CA
Morning in Los Angeles on Sunday
Local time
8:53 AM
PDT
Current temp
84°F
Sunny
S 5 to 10 mph
0% chance
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
16 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
42m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is heavily highway-focused, with 84% of your time spent on major roads like the Ventura Freeway, Hollywood Freeway, and Canoga Avenue. You will spend the bulk of your time in a fast-paced environment, including a significant 12.5-mile stretch on the Ventura Freeway that serves as the longest uninterrupted portion of the drive. The personality of the route is defined by this interstate intensity rather than winding local roads. Behind the wheel, you should be prepared for a consistent flow of traffic as you navigate these primary arteries connecting the two cities.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 12.5 mi on Ventura Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Ventura Freeway and Hollywood Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.6 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 11 decision points packed into just 27.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 42m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.3 miles (US 101 / Route 101): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,321 ft
285 ft
Total Climb
225 ft
Total Descent
1,262 ft
Highest Point
1,321 ft
Elevation Range
1,037 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Santa Maria, CA
Full guide →Founded 1874
Santa Maria is a city in Santa Barbara County in California.
Arriving in Los Angeles, CA
Full guide →“Tinseltown” · Founded 1781
Frank Lloyd Wright is said to have quipped, "Tip the world over on its side and everything loose will land in Los Angeles," a quote that has since been repeated both by those who love and hate L.A. The "City of Angels" is home to people who hail from all parts of the globe and an important center of culture, business, media, and international trade. However, it's most famous for being a major center of the world's television, motion picture, and music industry, which forms the base of the city's status and lures visitors for its show business history and celebrity culture. Visitors are also drawn to Los Angeles for its Mediterranean climate and numerous beaches, which gave birth to California's famed surf culture.
Top landmarks
- • Hollywood Walk of Fame — more than 2,700 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks...
- • Hollywood Sign — sign reading "HOLLYWOOD" located in Los Angeles, California, United States
- • Getty Center — campus of the Getty Museum and other programs of the Getty Trust in Los Angeles
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 42m. Total distance: 27.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 12.5 miles on Ventura 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 Los Angeles, 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 3.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.3 miles (US 101 / Route 101): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Los Angeles, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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