Best Time to Drive from Mountain View to San Francisco

Right now (9:01 am PDT): about 51 minutes via US-101 North, usually 38 at this time.

On weekdays the 39-mile drive from Mountain View to San Francisco (via US-101 North) usually takes as little as 36 minutes and up to 53 minutes, when leaving around 5 pm on Thursdays. The fastest times to leave are before 7 am or after 7 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 39 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 12:30 pm on Saturdays (40 minutes).

Typical drive time by departure time

Minutes from Mountain View to San Francisco 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	36	37	41	44	42	40	39	39	38	39	40	42	43	41	38	37	36
Tue	36	37	43	48	45	40	40	39	38	39	41	45	50	45	39	37	37
Wed	36	38	43	47	45	40	40	39	39	40	41	45	50	45	40	37	37
Thu	36	37	42	47	45	41	40	39	38	40	42	47	53	48	40	37	37
Fri	36	37	40	42	41	40	40	39	39	40	42	43	45	43	39	37	36
Sat	36	36	37	37	38	38	40	40	40	40	39	39	39	38	38	38	37
Sun	36	36	36	36	37	38	38	39	39	39	39	39	38	38	38	38	37

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 Mountain View to San Francisco?

On weekdays, leave before 7 am or after 7 pm. The drive usually takes about 36 minutes then, versus up to 53 minutes at the worst times.

How long does it take to drive from Mountain View to San Francisco?

The 39-mile drive usually takes 36 to 53 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 39 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Mountain View to San Francisco?

Leaving around 5 pm on Thursdays is usually slowest, about 53 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

San Francisco to Mountain View (return trip) · Mountain View to Oakland · Mountain View to San Jose · Mountain View to Berkeley · Mountain View to Fremont · Mountain View to Walnut Creek · Mountain View to San Mateo · Mountain View to Hayward · Mountain View to Pleasanton · Mountain View to Richmond

Open the live traffic map →

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	36	37	41	44	42	40	39	39	38	39	40	42	43	41	38	37	36
Tue	36	37	43	48	45	40	40	39	38	39	41	45	50	45	39	37	37
Wed	36	38	43	47	45	40	40	39	39	40	41	45	50	45	40	37	37
Thu	36	37	42	47	45	41	40	39	38	40	42	47	53	48	40	37	37
Fri	36	37	40	42	41	40	40	39	39	40	42	43	45	43	39	37	36
Sat	36	36	37	37	38	38	40	40	40	40	39	39	39	38	38	38	37
Sun	36	36	36	36	37	38	38	39	39	39	39	39	38	38	38	38	37

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	36	37	41	44	42	40	39	39	38	39	40	42	43	41	38	37	36
Tue	36	37	43	48	45	40	40	39	38	39	41	45	50	45	39	37	37
Wed	36	38	43	47	45	40	40	39	39	40	41	45	50	45	40	37	37
Thu	36	37	42	47	45	41	40	39	38	40	42	47	53	48	40	37	37
Fri	36	37	40	42	41	40	40	39	39	40	42	43	45	43	39	37	36
Sat	36	36	37	37	38	38	40	40	40	40	39	39	39	38	38	38	37
Sun	36	36	36	36	37	38	38	39	39	39	39	39	38	38	38	38	37

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	36	37	41	44	42	40	39	39	38	39	40	42	43	41	38	37	36
Tue	36	37	43	48	45	40	40	39	38	39	41	45	50	45	39	37	37
Wed	36	38	43	47	45	40	40	39	39	40	41	45	50	45	40	37	37
Thu	36	37	42	47	45	41	40	39	38	40	42	47	53	48	40	37	37
Fri	36	37	40	42	41	40	40	39	39	40	42	43	45	43	39	37	36
Sat	36	36	37	37	38	38	40	40	40	40	39	39	39	38	38	38	37
Sun	36	36	36	36	37	38	38	39	39	39	39	39	38	38	38	38	37