Best Time to Drive from Sacramento to San Francisco

Right now (9:01 am PDT): about 84 minutes via I-80 West, usually 87 at this time.

On weekdays the 88-mile drive from Sacramento to San Francisco (via I-80 West) usually takes as little as 82 minutes and up to 105 minutes, when leaving around 7 am on Tuesdays. The fastest times to leave are before 5:30 am or after 5 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 90 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 1 pm on Sundays (106 minutes).

Typical drive time by departure time

Minutes from Sacramento 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	86	95	98	94	91	91	91	91	90	92	90	88	86	84	84	83	83
Tue	87	99	105	100	95	93	90	89	88	90	87	89	87	84	83	83	83
Wed	86	98	103	99	95	94	90	89	88	90	89	90	87	84	83	83	83
Thu	86	97	102	97	94	93	90	89	90	91	90	93	90	84	83	83	82
Fri	84	92	94	92	91	92	92	92	93	95	93	95	92	86	84	83	82
Sat	81	81	82	84	87	94	104	105	103	101	99	97	92	87	86	85	82
Sun	82	82	82	83	85	89	98	104	106	104	102	100	96	91	89	86	82

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 San Francisco?

On weekdays, leave before 5:30 am or after 5 pm. The drive usually takes about 82 minutes then, versus up to 105 minutes at the worst times.

How long does it take to drive from Sacramento to San Francisco?

The 88-mile drive usually takes 82 to 105 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 90 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Sacramento to San Francisco?

Leaving around 7 am on Tuesdays is usually slowest, about 105 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

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

Open the live traffic map →

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	86	95	98	94	91	91	91	91	90	92	90	88	86	84	84	83	83
Tue	87	99	105	100	95	93	90	89	88	90	87	89	87	84	83	83	83
Wed	86	98	103	99	95	94	90	89	88	90	89	90	87	84	83	83	83
Thu	86	97	102	97	94	93	90	89	90	91	90	93	90	84	83	83	82
Fri	84	92	94	92	91	92	92	92	93	95	93	95	92	86	84	83	82
Sat	81	81	82	84	87	94	104	105	103	101	99	97	92	87	86	85	82
Sun	82	82	82	83	85	89	98	104	106	104	102	100	96	91	89	86	82

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	86	95	98	94	91	91	91	91	90	92	90	88	86	84	84	83	83
Tue	87	99	105	100	95	93	90	89	88	90	87	89	87	84	83	83	83
Wed	86	98	103	99	95	94	90	89	88	90	89	90	87	84	83	83	83
Thu	86	97	102	97	94	93	90	89	90	91	90	93	90	84	83	83	82
Fri	84	92	94	92	91	92	92	92	93	95	93	95	92	86	84	83	82
Sat	81	81	82	84	87	94	104	105	103	101	99	97	92	87	86	85	82
Sun	82	82	82	83	85	89	98	104	106	104	102	100	96	91	89	86	82

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	86	95	98	94	91	91	91	91	90	92	90	88	86	84	84	83	83
Tue	87	99	105	100	95	93	90	89	88	90	87	89	87	84	83	83	83
Wed	86	98	103	99	95	94	90	89	88	90	89	90	87	84	83	83	83
Thu	86	97	102	97	94	93	90	89	90	91	90	93	90	84	83	83	82
Fri	84	92	94	92	91	92	92	92	93	95	93	95	92	86	84	83	82
Sat	81	81	82	84	87	94	104	105	103	101	99	97	92	87	86	85	82
Sun	82	82	82	83	85	89	98	104	106	104	102	100	96	91	89	86	82