Best Time to Drive from San Francisco to Sacramento

Right now (9:01 am PDT): about 84 minutes via I-80 East, usually 85 at this time.

On weekdays the 87-mile drive from San Francisco to Sacramento (via I-80 East) usually takes as little as 82 minutes and up to 110 minutes, when leaving around 4:30 pm on Wednesdays. The fastest times to leave are before 2 pm or after 6:30 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 89 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 2 pm on Saturdays (90 minutes).

Typical drive time by departure time

Minutes from San Francisco to Sacramento 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	82	84	85	86	88	89	89	89	89	90	93	94	97	90	84	83	82
Tue	83	84	85	86	87	88	88	89	89	90	97	105	108	99	85	83	83
Wed	83	85	85	86	87	88	88	89	89	90	97	105	110	99	86	84	83
Thu	83	84	84	86	87	87	88	88	89	91	96	105	110	99	86	84	82
Fri	83	84	85	85	87	87	88	89	93	98	105	109	108	97	87	84	83
Sat	81	81	83	84	85	87	89	90	90	90	90	89	88	86	84	84	83
Sun	83	83	82	82	83	84	86	86	87	87	86	86	86	84	85	85	83

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 San Francisco to Sacramento?

On weekdays, leave before 2 pm or after 6:30 pm. The drive usually takes about 82 minutes then, versus up to 110 minutes at the worst times.

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

The 87-mile drive usually takes 82 to 110 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 89 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from San Francisco to Sacramento?

Leaving around 4:30 pm on Wednesdays is usually slowest, about 110 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

Sacramento to San Francisco (return trip) · San Francisco to San Jose · San Francisco to Palo Alto · San Francisco to Berkeley · San Francisco to Fremont · San Francisco to Walnut Creek · San Francisco to San Mateo · San Francisco to Hayward · San Francisco to Mountain View · San Francisco to Pleasanton · San Francisco to Santa Clara · San Francisco 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	82	84	85	86	88	89	89	89	89	90	93	94	97	90	84	83	82
Tue	83	84	85	86	87	88	88	89	89	90	97	105	108	99	85	83	83
Wed	83	85	85	86	87	88	88	89	89	90	97	105	110	99	86	84	83
Thu	83	84	84	86	87	87	88	88	89	91	96	105	110	99	86	84	82
Fri	83	84	85	85	87	87	88	89	93	98	105	109	108	97	87	84	83
Sat	81	81	83	84	85	87	89	90	90	90	90	89	88	86	84	84	83
Sun	83	83	82	82	83	84	86	86	87	87	86	86	86	84	85	85	83

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	82	84	85	86	88	89	89	89	89	90	93	94	97	90	84	83	82
Tue	83	84	85	86	87	88	88	89	89	90	97	105	108	99	85	83	83
Wed	83	85	85	86	87	88	88	89	89	90	97	105	110	99	86	84	83
Thu	83	84	84	86	87	87	88	88	89	91	96	105	110	99	86	84	82
Fri	83	84	85	85	87	87	88	89	93	98	105	109	108	97	87	84	83
Sat	81	81	83	84	85	87	89	90	90	90	90	89	88	86	84	84	83
Sun	83	83	82	82	83	84	86	86	87	87	86	86	86	84	85	85	83

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	82	84	85	86	88	89	89	89	89	90	93	94	97	90	84	83	82
Tue	83	84	85	86	87	88	88	89	89	90	97	105	108	99	85	83	83
Wed	83	85	85	86	87	88	88	89	89	90	97	105	110	99	86	84	83
Thu	83	84	84	86	87	87	88	88	89	91	96	105	110	99	86	84	82
Fri	83	84	85	85	87	87	88	89	93	98	105	109	108	97	87	84	83
Sat	81	81	83	84	85	87	89	90	90	90	90	89	88	86	84	84	83
Sun	83	83	82	82	83	84	86	86	87	87	86	86	86	84	85	85	83