Best Time to Drive from Palo Alto to Berkeley

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

On weekdays the 39-mile drive from Palo Alto to Berkeley (via I-880 North) usually takes as little as 39 minutes and up to 55 minutes, when leaving around 8 am on Tuesdays. The fastest times to leave are before 7 am or after 8 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 44 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 2:30 pm on Saturdays (45 minutes).

Typical drive time by departure time

Minutes from Palo Alto to Berkeley 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	41	43	48	45	43	43	43	44	45	48	46	46	44	41	40	39
Tue	39	41	44	55	48	43	43	43	44	46	49	51	51	49	44	41	39
Wed	39	41	43	53	47	43	43	43	44	48	51	53	52	48	44	41	39
Thu	39	41	44	54	48	43	43	43	45	46	52	54	53	49	44	42	39
Fri	39	41	42	46	43	43	43	44	45	47	51	52	49	47	44	41	39
Sat	39	39	40	40	40	41	42	43	44	45	45	45	44	43	41	41	39
Sun	39	39	39	39	40	40	41	41	42	42	42	41	41	42	41	41	39

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 Palo Alto to Berkeley?

On weekdays, leave before 7 am or after 8 pm. The drive usually takes about 39 minutes then, versus up to 55 minutes at the worst times.

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

The 39-mile drive usually takes 39 to 55 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 44 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Palo Alto to Berkeley?

Leaving around 8 am on Tuesdays is usually slowest, about 55 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

Berkeley to Palo Alto (return trip) · Palo Alto to San Francisco · Palo Alto to Oakland · Palo Alto to San Jose · Palo Alto to Walnut Creek · Palo Alto to San Mateo · Palo Alto to Hayward · Palo Alto to Mountain View · Palo Alto to Pleasanton · Palo Alto to Santa Clara · Palo Alto 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	39	41	43	48	45	43	43	43	44	45	48	46	46	44	41	40	39
Tue	39	41	44	55	48	43	43	43	44	46	49	51	51	49	44	41	39
Wed	39	41	43	53	47	43	43	43	44	48	51	53	52	48	44	41	39
Thu	39	41	44	54	48	43	43	43	45	46	52	54	53	49	44	42	39
Fri	39	41	42	46	43	43	43	44	45	47	51	52	49	47	44	41	39
Sat	39	39	40	40	40	41	42	43	44	45	45	45	44	43	41	41	39
Sun	39	39	39	39	40	40	41	41	42	42	42	41	41	42	41	41	39

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	39	41	43	48	45	43	43	43	44	45	48	46	46	44	41	40	39
Tue	39	41	44	55	48	43	43	43	44	46	49	51	51	49	44	41	39
Wed	39	41	43	53	47	43	43	43	44	48	51	53	52	48	44	41	39
Thu	39	41	44	54	48	43	43	43	45	46	52	54	53	49	44	42	39
Fri	39	41	42	46	43	43	43	44	45	47	51	52	49	47	44	41	39
Sat	39	39	40	40	40	41	42	43	44	45	45	45	44	43	41	41	39
Sun	39	39	39	39	40	40	41	41	42	42	42	41	41	42	41	41	39

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	39	41	43	48	45	43	43	43	44	45	48	46	46	44	41	40	39
Tue	39	41	44	55	48	43	43	43	44	46	49	51	51	49	44	41	39
Wed	39	41	43	53	47	43	43	43	44	48	51	53	52	48	44	41	39
Thu	39	41	44	54	48	43	43	43	45	46	52	54	53	49	44	42	39
Fri	39	41	42	46	43	43	43	44	45	47	51	52	49	47	44	41	39
Sat	39	39	40	40	40	41	42	43	44	45	45	45	44	43	41	41	39
Sun	39	39	39	39	40	40	41	41	42	42	42	41	41	42	41	41	39