Best Time to Drive from Palo Alto to San Francisco

Right now (9:01 am PDT): about 32 minutes via US-101 North, usually 31 at this time.

On weekdays the 33-mile drive from Palo Alto to San Francisco (via US-101 North) usually takes as little as 30 minutes and up to 43 minutes, when leaving around 5:30 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 32 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 12:30 pm on Saturdays (34 minutes).

Typical drive time by departure time

Minutes from Palo Alto 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	30	31	33	36	35	33	33	33	32	32	33	33	35	34	32	31	31
Tue	30	31	33	39	38	34	33	33	32	32	33	35	39	37	33	32	31
Wed	30	31	34	39	38	34	33	33	32	32	33	35	39	37	32	31	31
Thu	30	31	34	39	38	34	33	32	32	32	33	37	42	40	34	32	31
Fri	30	31	33	34	34	33	33	33	32	33	34	35	37	36	33	31	30
Sat	31	31	31	31	31	33	33	34	34	33	33	33	32	32	32	32	31
Sun	31	31	31	30	31	32	32	33	33	33	33	33	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 San Francisco?

On weekdays, leave before 7 am or after 7 pm. The drive usually takes about 30 minutes then, versus up to 43 minutes at the worst times.

How long does it take to drive from Palo Alto to San Francisco?

The 33-mile drive usually takes 30 to 43 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 32 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Palo Alto to San Francisco?

Leaving around 5:30 pm on Thursdays is usually slowest, about 43 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

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