Best Time to Drive from Berkeley to Palo Alto

Right now (9:01 am PDT): about 40 minutes via I-880 South, usually 40 at this time.

On weekdays the 40-mile drive from Berkeley to Palo Alto (via I-880 South) usually takes as little as 38 minutes and up to 61 minutes, when leaving around 7:30 am on Wednesdays. The fastest times to leave are before 6 am or after 7 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 45 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 3:30 pm on Saturdays (46 minutes).

Typical drive time by departure time

Minutes from Berkeley to Palo Alto by day and time you leave (local time)
Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	39	45	51	53	49	46	45	45	44	44	45	45	46	43	40	40	39
Tue	38	48	58	61	53	48	47	45	44	45	46	49	52	49	41	40	39
Wed	38	48	60	60	51	48	46	45	44	46	47	50	53	47	41	39	39
Thu	38	47	56	56	51	47	45	44	44	46	46	51	55	50	41	40	39
Fri	38	44	47	47	45	44	44	45	45	47	48	51	53	48	43	40	39
Sat	39	39	40	40	40	41	43	44	44	45	45	46	46	44	41	40	39
Sun	39	39	39	39	40	41	42	42	43	44	43	44	44	42	41	41	40

Simulated from typical freeway speeds at each point of the drive for the time you would reach it, from every 5-minute reading we have recorded. Surface streets at each end are estimated.

Questions

What is the best time to drive from Berkeley to Palo Alto?

On weekdays, leave before 6 am or after 7 pm. The drive usually takes about 38 minutes then, versus up to 61 minutes at the worst times.

How long does it take to drive from Berkeley to Palo Alto?

The 40-mile drive usually takes 38 to 61 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 45 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Berkeley to Palo Alto?

Leaving around 7:30 am on Wednesdays is usually slowest, about 61 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

Palo Alto to Berkeley (return trip) · Berkeley to San Francisco · Berkeley to San Jose · Berkeley to Fremont · Berkeley to Walnut Creek · Berkeley to San Mateo · Berkeley to Mountain View · Berkeley to Pleasanton · Berkeley to Santa Clara

Open the live traffic map →

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	39	45	51	53	49	46	45	45	44	44	45	45	46	43	40	40	39
Tue	38	48	58	61	53	48	47	45	44	45	46	49	52	49	41	40	39
Wed	38	48	60	60	51	48	46	45	44	46	47	50	53	47	41	39	39
Thu	38	47	56	56	51	47	45	44	44	46	46	51	55	50	41	40	39
Fri	38	44	47	47	45	44	44	45	45	47	48	51	53	48	43	40	39
Sat	39	39	40	40	40	41	43	44	44	45	45	46	46	44	41	40	39
Sun	39	39	39	39	40	41	42	42	43	44	43	44	44	42	41	41	40

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	39	45	51	53	49	46	45	45	44	44	45	45	46	43	40	40	39
Tue	38	48	58	61	53	48	47	45	44	45	46	49	52	49	41	40	39
Wed	38	48	60	60	51	48	46	45	44	46	47	50	53	47	41	39	39
Thu	38	47	56	56	51	47	45	44	44	46	46	51	55	50	41	40	39
Fri	38	44	47	47	45	44	44	45	45	47	48	51	53	48	43	40	39
Sat	39	39	40	40	40	41	43	44	44	45	45	46	46	44	41	40	39
Sun	39	39	39	39	40	41	42	42	43	44	43	44	44	42	41	41	40

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	39	45	51	53	49	46	45	45	44	44	45	45	46	43	40	40	39
Tue	38	48	58	61	53	48	47	45	44	45	46	49	52	49	41	40	39
Wed	38	48	60	60	51	48	46	45	44	46	47	50	53	47	41	39	39
Thu	38	47	56	56	51	47	45	44	44	46	46	51	55	50	41	40	39
Fri	38	44	47	47	45	44	44	45	45	47	48	51	53	48	43	40	39
Sat	39	39	40	40	40	41	43	44	44	45	45	46	46	44	41	40	39
Sun	39	39	39	39	40	41	42	42	43	44	43	44	44	42	41	41	40