Best Time to Drive from Merced to San Jose

Right now (3:20 pm PST): about 142 minutes via US-101 North, usually 145 at this time.

Only 4% of this drive is measured by working traffic sensors right now. The rest is estimated from nearby sensors, typical speeds and street traffic, so times can be off. Why so few sensors work.

Typical drive time by departure time

Minutes from Merced to San Jose 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	172	181	168	156	155	161	163	163	164	163	161	148	144	141	142	140	141
Tue	168	171	157	153	146	149	156	161	163	157	153	143	140	139	140	140	140
Wed	164	165	154	150	150	155	158	163	164	163	156	144	140	138	139	139	138
Thu	161	172	154	151	146	152	155	157	158	163	154	145	140	138	140	141	138
Fri	149	155	149	148	152	156	161	159	162	161	154	145	141	139	146	145	142
Sat	138	139	138	140	145	149	181	190	182	160	147	145	142	141	142	141	138
Sun	137	138	137	138	139	142	156	162	162	155	146	147	148	145	144	138	138

About this drive

On weekdays the 116-mile drive from Merced to San Jose (via US-101 North) usually takes as little as 138 minutes and up to 186 minutes, when leaving around 6:30 am on Mondays. The fastest times to leave are after 4 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 161 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 12 pm on Saturdays (190 minutes).

About 36 miles of it is freeway, where times follow typical and live traffic from our sensors, and about 80 miles surface streets (105 to 143 minutes on weekdays), estimated from how jammed the freeways around them are at that time. Drive times are measured from central Merced to downtown San Jose along the route on the map. Starting or ending elsewhere in a big city can add or save several minutes.

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. We don't have sensors on surface streets yet, so the time on them is estimated from how congested the freeways around each end of the drive are at that time, in both directions: streets jam when the freeways do.

Questions

What is the best time to drive from Merced to San Jose?

On weekdays, leave after 4 pm. The drive usually takes about 138 minutes then, versus up to 186 minutes at the worst times.

How long does it take to drive from Merced to San Jose?

The 116-mile drive usually takes 138 to 186 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 161 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Merced to San Jose?

Leaving around 6:30 am on Mondays is usually slowest, about 186 minutes.

Freeways on this drive

US-101 North in Bay Area (22 miles) · SR-85 North in Bay Area (7 miles) · SR-87 North in Bay Area (3 miles)

Bay Area traffic right now · Bay Area traffic tomorrow

More drives

Open the live traffic map →

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	172	181	168	156	155	161	163	163	164	163	161	148	144	141	142	140	141
Tue	168	171	157	153	146	149	156	161	163	157	153	143	140	139	140	140	140
Wed	164	165	154	150	150	155	158	163	164	163	156	144	140	138	139	139	138
Thu	161	172	154	151	146	152	155	157	158	163	154	145	140	138	140	141	138
Fri	149	155	149	148	152	156	161	159	162	161	154	145	141	139	146	145	142
Sat	138	139	138	140	145	149	181	190	182	160	147	145	142	141	142	141	138
Sun	137	138	137	138	139	142	156	162	162	155	146	147	148	145	144	138	138

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	172	181	168	156	155	161	163	163	164	163	161	148	144	141	142	140	141
Tue	168	171	157	153	146	149	156	161	163	157	153	143	140	139	140	140	140
Wed	164	165	154	150	150	155	158	163	164	163	156	144	140	138	139	139	138
Thu	161	172	154	151	146	152	155	157	158	163	154	145	140	138	140	141	138
Fri	149	155	149	148	152	156	161	159	162	161	154	145	141	139	146	145	142
Sat	138	139	138	140	145	149	181	190	182	160	147	145	142	141	142	141	138
Sun	137	138	137	138	139	142	156	162	162	155	146	147	148	145	144	138	138

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	172	181	168	156	155	161	163	163	164	163	161	148	144	141	142	140	141
Tue	168	171	157	153	146	149	156	161	163	157	153	143	140	139	140	140	140
Wed	164	165	154	150	150	155	158	163	164	163	156	144	140	138	139	139	138
Thu	161	172	154	151	146	152	155	157	158	163	154	145	140	138	140	141	138
Fri	149	155	149	148	152	156	161	159	162	161	154	145	141	139	146	145	142
Sat	138	139	138	140	145	149	181	190	182	160	147	145	142	141	142	141	138
Sun	137	138	137	138	139	142	156	162	162	155	146	147	148	145	144	138	138