Santa Monica, CA Road Trips
Santa Monica, CA serves as a quiet starting point in the Pacific Coast, connecting drivers to 5 outbound routes across the area. Most drives stay under 114 miles, making this area well-suited for day trips and weekend getaways. Routes from Santa Monica, CA spread mainly east and north, covering a wide geographic range.
Photo: Bjorn Pierre
Trip Routes
7
Longest Drive
355.4 mi
Fremont, CA
Quickest Drive
21m
Los Angeles, CA
Plan Around Santa Monica, CA
Popular Incoming Routes
Useful if Santa Monica, CA is the arrival point and you want the strongest routes into the city first.
Continue From Santa Monica, CA
Good next legs if this city is only one stop in a longer road trip.
Trips from Santa Monica, CA
Driving from Santa Monica, CA
The typical drive from Santa Monica, CA covers about 114 miles and takes around 2h 13m. The majority of routes are short drives — quick enough to finish before lunch and be back for dinner. The longest mapped route runs 355 miles (6h 42m), while the shortest is just 16 miles.
Popular Destinations
The most popular drives from Santa Monica, CA include Fremont, CA (355.4 mi, 6h 42m), San Diego, CA (133.2 mi, 2h 37m), Santa Ana, CA (46.2 mi, 57m), Torrance, CA (20.5 mi, 27m), and Los Angeles, CA (15.7 mi, 21m). Most destinations stay within the same state, perfect for exploring the local region thoroughly.
Planning & Costs
For the average 114-mile drive from Santa Monica, CA, expect to burn about 4.5 gallons of fuel one way at 25 MPG. Check local pump prices before you go to lock in your budget.
Routes tend to go east, so afternoon departures put the sun at your back on the return leg. With an average drive under three hours, you have plenty of flexibility — leave whenever it suits you.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are 5 mapped routes leaving Santa Monica, CA and 2 routes heading into Santa Monica, CA, covering 7 total connections. Distances range from 16 to 355 miles.
The longest mapped route from Santa Monica, CA covers 355 miles and takes approximately 6h 42m. Shorter options start at just 16 miles.
The average route from Santa Monica, CA runs about 114 miles with a drive time of roughly 2h 13m. This includes both short day trips and longer multi-day drives.
The most popular road trip destinations from Santa Monica, CA include Fremont, CA, San Diego, CA, Santa Ana, CA and Torrance, CA. Each route page has detailed drive times, fuel estimates, stop suggestions, and turn-by-turn directions.
Short Drives from Santa Monica, CA
Longer Road Trips from Santa Monica, CA
Trips to Santa Monica, CA
Nearby Hubs
Other cities within driving distance of Santa Monica, CA that also have route pages.
Browse more CA road trips or choose a route from Santa Monica, CA above.