Best Time to Drive from Sacramento to Oakland

Right now (9:01 am PDT): about 77 minutes via I-80 West, usually 80 at this time.

On weekdays the 81-mile drive from Sacramento to Oakland (via I-80 West) usually takes as little as 75 minutes and up to 96 minutes, when leaving around 7 am on Tuesdays. The fastest times to leave are before 6 am or after 4 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 84 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 12:30 pm on Sundays (97 minutes).

Typical drive time by departure time

Minutes from Sacramento 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	77	86	89	86	83	84	84	84	83	85	83	82	79	78	77	77	76
Tue	78	88	96	92	86	85	82	82	82	83	81	81	79	77	77	76	76
Wed	77	88	94	89	86	85	83	83	82	83	82	82	79	77	77	77	76
Thu	77	87	93	89	85	85	83	82	83	84	83	82	80	78	76	76	75
Fri	77	84	86	85	84	85	85	85	86	88	86	85	82	79	77	77	76
Sat	75	75	76	77	80	86	94	94	93	92	90	88	84	80	79	78	76
Sun	76	76	76	76	78	82	90	96	96	95	93	92	89	85	82	79	76

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 Sacramento to Oakland?

On weekdays, leave before 6 am or after 4 pm. The drive usually takes about 75 minutes then, versus up to 96 minutes at the worst times.

How long does it take to drive from Sacramento to Oakland?

The 81-mile drive usually takes 75 to 96 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 84 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Sacramento to Oakland?

Leaving around 7 am on Tuesdays is usually slowest, about 96 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

Oakland to Sacramento (return trip) · Sacramento to Roseville · Sacramento to Elk Grove · Sacramento to Davis · Sacramento to Folsom · Sacramento to San Francisco

Open the live traffic map →

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	77	86	89	86	83	84	84	84	83	85	83	82	79	78	77	77	76
Tue	78	88	96	92	86	85	82	82	82	83	81	81	79	77	77	76	76
Wed	77	88	94	89	86	85	83	83	82	83	82	82	79	77	77	77	76
Thu	77	87	93	89	85	85	83	82	83	84	83	82	80	78	76	76	75
Fri	77	84	86	85	84	85	85	85	86	88	86	85	82	79	77	77	76
Sat	75	75	76	77	80	86	94	94	93	92	90	88	84	80	79	78	76
Sun	76	76	76	76	78	82	90	96	96	95	93	92	89	85	82	79	76

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	77	86	89	86	83	84	84	84	83	85	83	82	79	78	77	77	76
Tue	78	88	96	92	86	85	82	82	82	83	81	81	79	77	77	76	76
Wed	77	88	94	89	86	85	83	83	82	83	82	82	79	77	77	77	76
Thu	77	87	93	89	85	85	83	82	83	84	83	82	80	78	76	76	75
Fri	77	84	86	85	84	85	85	85	86	88	86	85	82	79	77	77	76
Sat	75	75	76	77	80	86	94	94	93	92	90	88	84	80	79	78	76
Sun	76	76	76	76	78	82	90	96	96	95	93	92	89	85	82	79	76

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	77	86	89	86	83	84	84	84	83	85	83	82	79	78	77	77	76
Tue	78	88	96	92	86	85	82	82	82	83	81	81	79	77	77	76	76
Wed	77	88	94	89	86	85	83	83	82	83	82	82	79	77	77	77	76
Thu	77	87	93	89	85	85	83	82	83	84	83	82	80	78	76	76	75
Fri	77	84	86	85	84	85	85	85	86	88	86	85	82	79	77	77	76
Sat	75	75	76	77	80	86	94	94	93	92	90	88	84	80	79	78	76
Sun	76	76	76	76	78	82	90	96	96	95	93	92	89	85	82	79	76