Best Time to Drive from OAK to Palo Alto

Right now (10:01 am PDT): about 31 minutes via I-880 South and SR-84 South, usually 31 at this time.

On weekdays the 30-mile drive from OAK to Palo Alto (via I-880 South and SR-84 South) usually takes as little as 29 minutes and up to 51 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 34 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 4:30 pm on Saturdays (36 minutes).

⇄ Reverse trip: Palo Alto to OAK

Drive times are measured from Oakland International Airport (OAK) (John Glenn Drive) to central Palo Alto (Middlefield Road) along the route shown. Starting or ending elsewhere in a big city can add or save several minutes.

Typical drive time by departure time

Minutes from OAK 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	29	34	41	42	38	36	35	34	33	34	34	34	34	32	31	30	30
Tue	29	36	46	50	42	38	36	34	34	34	34	35	37	35	31	30	30
Wed	29	36	49	50	42	38	36	34	34	35	35	36	38	35	31	30	30
Thu	29	36	45	46	40	37	35	34	33	34	35	37	40	36	32	30	30
Fri	29	33	37	37	34	34	34	33	34	36	36	37	38	35	33	31	30
Sat	30	30	30	31	31	31	33	34	35	35	35	35	36	35	33	31	30
Sun	30	30	30	30	30	31	32	33	33	33	33	33	33	32	31	31	30

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 OAK to Palo Alto?

On weekdays, leave before 6 am or after 7 pm. The drive usually takes about 29 minutes then, versus up to 51 minutes at the worst times.

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

The 30-mile drive usually takes 29 to 51 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 34 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from OAK to Palo Alto?

Leaving around 7:30 am on Wednesdays is usually slowest, about 51 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

Palo Alto to OAK (return trip) · OAK to SFO · OAK to SJC · OAK to San Francisco · OAK to Oakland · OAK to San Jose · OAK to Berkeley · OAK to Fremont · OAK to Walnut Creek · OAK to San Mateo · OAK to Mountain View · OAK to Pleasanton

Open the live traffic map →

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	29	34	41	42	38	36	35	34	33	34	34	34	34	32	31	30	30
Tue	29	36	46	50	42	38	36	34	34	34	34	35	37	35	31	30	30
Wed	29	36	49	50	42	38	36	34	34	35	35	36	38	35	31	30	30
Thu	29	36	45	46	40	37	35	34	33	34	35	37	40	36	32	30	30
Fri	29	33	37	37	34	34	34	33	34	36	36	37	38	35	33	31	30
Sat	30	30	30	31	31	31	33	34	35	35	35	35	36	35	33	31	30
Sun	30	30	30	30	30	31	32	33	33	33	33	33	33	32	31	31	30

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	29	34	41	42	38	36	35	34	33	34	34	34	34	32	31	30	30
Tue	29	36	46	50	42	38	36	34	34	34	34	35	37	35	31	30	30
Wed	29	36	49	50	42	38	36	34	34	35	35	36	38	35	31	30	30
Thu	29	36	45	46	40	37	35	34	33	34	35	37	40	36	32	30	30
Fri	29	33	37	37	34	34	34	33	34	36	36	37	38	35	33	31	30
Sat	30	30	30	31	31	31	33	34	35	35	35	35	36	35	33	31	30
Sun	30	30	30	30	30	31	32	33	33	33	33	33	33	32	31	31	30

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	29	34	41	42	38	36	35	34	33	34	34	34	34	32	31	30	30
Tue	29	36	46	50	42	38	36	34	34	34	34	35	37	35	31	30	30
Wed	29	36	49	50	42	38	36	34	34	35	35	36	38	35	31	30	30
Thu	29	36	45	46	40	37	35	34	33	34	35	37	40	36	32	30	30
Fri	29	33	37	37	34	34	34	33	34	36	36	37	38	35	33	31	30
Sat	30	30	30	31	31	31	33	34	35	35	35	35	36	35	33	31	30
Sun	30	30	30	30	30	31	32	33	33	33	33	33	33	32	31	31	30