Best Time to Drive from Palo Alto to Oakland

Right now (9:01 am PDT): about 34 minutes via I-880 North, usually 34 at this time.

On weekdays the 34-mile drive from Palo Alto to Oakland (via I-880 North) usually takes as little as 33 minutes and up to 48 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 38 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 2:30 pm on Saturdays (39 minutes).

Typical drive time by departure time

Minutes from Palo Alto to Oakland 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	33	35	36	41	39	37	37	36	37	39	41	40	39	38	35	34	33
Tue	33	34	37	48	42	37	36	36	37	40	43	45	45	43	38	35	33
Wed	33	34	37	47	41	37	37	37	38	42	45	46	45	42	38	35	33
Thu	33	34	37	48	42	37	37	37	39	40	45	47	47	43	38	36	33
Fri	33	34	36	40	37	37	37	38	39	41	44	45	43	41	38	35	33
Sat	33	33	33	34	34	35	36	37	37	38	39	38	38	37	35	35	33
Sun	33	33	33	33	33	34	34	35	35	35	36	35	35	35	35	35	33

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 Oakland?

On weekdays, leave before 7 am or after 8 pm. The drive usually takes about 33 minutes then, versus up to 48 minutes at the worst times.

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

The 34-mile drive usually takes 33 to 48 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 38 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Palo Alto to Oakland?

Leaving around 8 am on Tuesdays is usually slowest, about 48 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

Oakland to Palo Alto (return trip) · Palo Alto to San Francisco · 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	33	35	36	41	39	37	37	36	37	39	41	40	39	38	35	34	33
Tue	33	34	37	48	42	37	36	36	37	40	43	45	45	43	38	35	33
Wed	33	34	37	47	41	37	37	37	38	42	45	46	45	42	38	35	33
Thu	33	34	37	48	42	37	37	37	39	40	45	47	47	43	38	36	33
Fri	33	34	36	40	37	37	37	38	39	41	44	45	43	41	38	35	33
Sat	33	33	33	34	34	35	36	37	37	38	39	38	38	37	35	35	33
Sun	33	33	33	33	33	34	34	35	35	35	36	35	35	35	35	35	33

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	33	35	36	41	39	37	37	36	37	39	41	40	39	38	35	34	33
Tue	33	34	37	48	42	37	36	36	37	40	43	45	45	43	38	35	33
Wed	33	34	37	47	41	37	37	37	38	42	45	46	45	42	38	35	33
Thu	33	34	37	48	42	37	37	37	39	40	45	47	47	43	38	36	33
Fri	33	34	36	40	37	37	37	38	39	41	44	45	43	41	38	35	33
Sat	33	33	33	34	34	35	36	37	37	38	39	38	38	37	35	35	33
Sun	33	33	33	33	33	34	34	35	35	35	36	35	35	35	35	35	33

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	33	35	36	41	39	37	37	36	37	39	41	40	39	38	35	34	33
Tue	33	34	37	48	42	37	36	36	37	40	43	45	45	43	38	35	33
Wed	33	34	37	47	41	37	37	37	38	42	45	46	45	42	38	35	33
Thu	33	34	37	48	42	37	37	37	39	40	45	47	47	43	38	36	33
Fri	33	34	36	40	37	37	37	38	39	41	44	45	43	41	38	35	33
Sat	33	33	33	34	34	35	36	37	37	38	39	38	38	37	35	35	33
Sun	33	33	33	33	33	34	34	35	35	35	36	35	35	35	35	35	33