Origin
Santa Monica, CA
Afternoon in Santa Monica on Sunday
Local time
2:52 PM
PDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Santa Monica, CA to Torrance, CA
Drive Time
27m
Distance
20.5 mi
33 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 25m
★
6 AM
0h 27m
8 AM
0h 32m
10 AM
0h 29m
12 PM
0h 28m
3 PM
0h 29m
5 PM
0h 32m
8 PM
0h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Santa Monica, CA
Bjorn Pierre
Torrance, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Trip Overview
The drive from Santa Monica, CA to Torrance, CA covers 20.5 miles and takes about 27m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Olympic Boulevard, I 10 East, Santa Monica Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $4.75 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
10.3 miles from Santa Monica, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 13m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 27m drive with frequent turns across 20.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Olympic Boulevard is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Santa Monica, CA to Torrance, CA is easy. At 27m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Santa Monica, CA to Torrance, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Olympic Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 10 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Santa Monica Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 405 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| San Diego Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Redondo Beach Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Prairie Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Madrona Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Olympic Boulevard
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Santa Monica, CA and Torrance, CA.
1
Start on Lincoln Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Lincoln Boulevard
2
Turn left onto Olympic Boulevard
367 ft
·
11 sec
·
Olympic Boulevard
3
Take the ramp straight toward I 10 East: Santa Monica Freeway, Los Angeles
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
I 10 East: Santa Monica Freeway, Los Angeles
4
Merge slight left onto Santa Monica Freeway
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Santa Monica Freeway
5
Take the exit slight right toward I 405 South: Long Beach
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
I 405 South: Long Beach
6
Merge slight left onto San Diego Freeway
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
San Diego Freeway
7
Keep slight right to continue on San Diego Freeway
8.7 mi
·
10 min
·
San Diego Freeway
8
Take the exit slight right toward Redondo Beach Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Redondo Beach Boulevard
9
Continue straight
164 ft
·
11 sec
10
Turn left onto Redondo Beach Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Redondo Beach Boulevard
11
Turn right onto Prairie Avenue
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Prairie Avenue
12
Continue on Madrona Avenue
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Madrona Avenue
13
Turn left onto Torrance Boulevard
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
Torrance Boulevard
14
Turn right onto Maple Avenue
302 ft
·
11 sec
·
Maple Avenue
15
Turn right onto Opal Street
207 ft
·
9 sec
·
Opal Street
16
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 10.3 miles from Santa Monica, CA, or about 13m into the drive.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 20.5 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 10.3 miles or 13m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Torrance, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Santa Monica, CA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Santa Monica, CA
This is one driving day of about 20.5 miles and 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Santa Monica, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 10.3 mi from Santa Monica, CA · 13m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
10 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 20.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 10.3 miles from Santa Monica, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Torrance, CA
The final approach into Torrance, CA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Torrance, CA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.75 one way
$9.49 round trip
$5.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $4.90 | $9.79 |
| premium | $6.24 | $5.04 | $10.08 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $4.55 | $9.11 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$30–$55
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.1 | 0 | $2.15 | $0.98 |
| Efficient EV | 5.1 | 0 | $1.79 | $0.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.2 | 0 | $2.87 | $1.31 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
Torrance, CA
Afternoon in Torrance on Sunday
Local time
2:52 PM
PDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
6 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
27m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Santa Monica, CA to Torrance, CA covers 20.5 miles and takes about 27m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Olympic Boulevard, I 10 East, Santa Monica Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 10.3 miles from Santa Monica, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.75 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
The drive from Santa Monica, CA to Torrance, CA is easy. At 27m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Santa Monica, CA to Torrance, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Santa Monica, CA to Torrance, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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