Best Time to Drive from Palo Alto to Walnut Creek

Right now (9:01 am PDT): about 46 minutes via I-880 North and SR-24 East, usually 47 at this time.

On weekdays the 47-mile drive from Palo Alto to Walnut Creek (via I-880 North and SR-24 East) usually takes as little as 45 minutes and up to 76 minutes, when leaving around 5 pm on Thursdays. The fastest times to leave are before 7:30 am or after 7:30 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 51 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 2:30 pm on Saturdays (53 minutes).

Typical drive time by departure time

Minutes from Palo Alto to Walnut Creek 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	45	47	48	49	49	49	49	49	50	53	59	57	56	51	48	47	46
Tue	45	46	49	52	49	49	49	50	51	55	64	72	72	60	51	48	46
Wed	45	47	49	51	50	50	50	50	51	57	66	72	70	59	52	48	46
Thu	45	46	49	52	50	49	50	50	51	56	66	73	76	61	52	49	46
Fri	45	46	48	49	49	49	49	50	53	60	69	70	67	56	51	48	46
Sat	45	45	46	46	47	47	49	50	50	52	53	52	52	49	47	47	46
Sun	45	45	45	46	46	47	47	48	48	49	49	48	48	48	47	47	46

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 Walnut Creek?

On weekdays, leave before 7:30 am or after 7:30 pm. The drive usually takes about 45 minutes then, versus up to 76 minutes at the worst times.

How long does it take to drive from Palo Alto to Walnut Creek?

The 47-mile drive usually takes 45 to 76 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 51 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Palo Alto to Walnut Creek?

Leaving around 5 pm on Thursdays is usually slowest, about 76 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

Walnut Creek 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 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	45	47	48	49	49	49	49	49	50	53	59	57	56	51	48	47	46
Tue	45	46	49	52	49	49	49	50	51	55	64	72	72	60	51	48	46
Wed	45	47	49	51	50	50	50	50	51	57	66	72	70	59	52	48	46
Thu	45	46	49	52	50	49	50	50	51	56	66	73	76	61	52	49	46
Fri	45	46	48	49	49	49	49	50	53	60	69	70	67	56	51	48	46
Sat	45	45	46	46	47	47	49	50	50	52	53	52	52	49	47	47	46
Sun	45	45	45	46	46	47	47	48	48	49	49	48	48	48	47	47	46

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	45	47	48	49	49	49	49	49	50	53	59	57	56	51	48	47	46
Tue	45	46	49	52	49	49	49	50	51	55	64	72	72	60	51	48	46
Wed	45	47	49	51	50	50	50	50	51	57	66	72	70	59	52	48	46
Thu	45	46	49	52	50	49	50	50	51	56	66	73	76	61	52	49	46
Fri	45	46	48	49	49	49	49	50	53	60	69	70	67	56	51	48	46
Sat	45	45	46	46	47	47	49	50	50	52	53	52	52	49	47	47	46
Sun	45	45	45	46	46	47	47	48	48	49	49	48	48	48	47	47	46

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	45	47	48	49	49	49	49	49	50	53	59	57	56	51	48	47	46
Tue	45	46	49	52	49	49	49	50	51	55	64	72	72	60	51	48	46
Wed	45	47	49	51	50	50	50	50	51	57	66	72	70	59	52	48	46
Thu	45	46	49	52	50	49	50	50	51	56	66	73	76	61	52	49	46
Fri	45	46	48	49	49	49	49	50	53	60	69	70	67	56	51	48	46
Sat	45	45	46	46	47	47	49	50	50	52	53	52	52	49	47	47	46
Sun	45	45	45	46	46	47	47	48	48	49	49	48	48	48	47	47	46