Santa Barbara is about 95–110 miles (roughly 150–175 km) from Los Angeles by road, typically a 2 to 2.5 hour drive depending on traffic.

Quick Scoop

Basic distance

  • Straight-line distance (as the crow flies): about 87–89 miles (around 140–143 km) between the two cities.
  • Common driving distance range: roughly 95–110 miles (about 153–175 km), depending on your exact start and end points and the route.
  • Usual drive time in light to moderate traffic: around 2 hours via US‑101.

Why numbers differ

Different sources list slightly different distances because they:

  • Measure city-center to city-center vs. airport-to-airport (LAX ↔ SBA gives about 108 miles / 174 km by road).
  • Use the shortest highway routing vs. more scenic or alternate routes on US‑101.

Simple rule of thumb

If you are planning a trip, a safe planning estimate is:

  • Distance: about 100 miles (160 km) between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara.
  • Time: budget at least 2 hours, and more during rush hour or weekend traffic. Reddit users report that morning traffic, especially near the 405, can significantly slow the trip.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.