Best Time to Drive from Palo Alto to OAK

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

On weekdays the 29-mile drive from Palo Alto to OAK (via I-880 North and SR-84 North) usually takes as little as 30 minutes and up to 44 minutes, when leaving around 4 pm on Thursdays. The fastest times to leave are before 7:30 am or after 8 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 34 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 2:30 pm on Saturdays (36 minutes).

⇄ Reverse trip: OAK to Palo Alto

Drive times are measured from central Palo Alto (Middlefield Road) to Oakland International Airport (OAK) (John Glenn Drive) 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 Palo Alto to OAK 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	30	31	32	35	34	33	33	33	34	35	38	37	36	35	32	31	30
Tue	30	31	33	41	35	33	33	33	34	36	40	41	42	40	35	32	30
Wed	30	31	33	38	35	33	34	33	34	38	41	43	42	39	36	32	30
Thu	30	31	33	39	35	33	33	34	35	37	42	44	43	40	35	33	30
Fri	30	31	32	34	33	33	33	34	35	37	41	42	40	38	35	32	30
Sat	30	30	31	31	31	32	33	34	34	35	35	35	35	34	32	32	31
Sun	30	30	30	30	31	31	31	32	32	32	33	32	32	32	32	32	31

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 OAK?

On weekdays, leave before 7:30 am or after 8 pm. The drive usually takes about 30 minutes then, versus up to 44 minutes at the worst times.

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

The 29-mile drive usually takes 30 to 44 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 34 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Palo Alto to OAK?

Leaving around 4 pm on Thursdays is usually slowest, about 44 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

OAK to Palo Alto (return trip) · Palo Alto to San Francisco · Palo Alto to Oakland · Palo Alto to San Jose · Palo Alto to Berkeley · 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	30	31	32	35	34	33	33	33	34	35	38	37	36	35	32	31	30
Tue	30	31	33	41	35	33	33	33	34	36	40	41	42	40	35	32	30
Wed	30	31	33	38	35	33	34	33	34	38	41	43	42	39	36	32	30
Thu	30	31	33	39	35	33	33	34	35	37	42	44	43	40	35	33	30
Fri	30	31	32	34	33	33	33	34	35	37	41	42	40	38	35	32	30
Sat	30	30	31	31	31	32	33	34	34	35	35	35	35	34	32	32	31
Sun	30	30	30	30	31	31	31	32	32	32	33	32	32	32	32	32	31

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	30	31	32	35	34	33	33	33	34	35	38	37	36	35	32	31	30
Tue	30	31	33	41	35	33	33	33	34	36	40	41	42	40	35	32	30
Wed	30	31	33	38	35	33	34	33	34	38	41	43	42	39	36	32	30
Thu	30	31	33	39	35	33	33	34	35	37	42	44	43	40	35	33	30
Fri	30	31	32	34	33	33	33	34	35	37	41	42	40	38	35	32	30
Sat	30	30	31	31	31	32	33	34	34	35	35	35	35	34	32	32	31
Sun	30	30	30	30	31	31	31	32	32	32	33	32	32	32	32	32	31

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	30	31	32	35	34	33	33	33	34	35	38	37	36	35	32	31	30
Tue	30	31	33	41	35	33	33	33	34	36	40	41	42	40	35	32	30
Wed	30	31	33	38	35	33	34	33	34	38	41	43	42	39	36	32	30
Thu	30	31	33	39	35	33	33	34	35	37	42	44	43	40	35	33	30
Fri	30	31	32	34	33	33	33	34	35	37	41	42	40	38	35	32	30
Sat	30	30	31	31	31	32	33	34	34	35	35	35	35	34	32	32	31
Sun	30	30	30	30	31	31	31	32	32	32	33	32	32	32	32	32	31