Best Time to Drive from San Francisco to San Jose

Right now (9:01 am PDT): about 46 minutes via US-101 South, usually 45 at this time.

On weekdays the 48-mile drive from San Francisco to San Jose (via US-101 South) usually takes as little as 44 minutes and up to 76 minutes, when leaving around 4:30 pm on Wednesdays. The fastest times to leave are before 7:30 am or after 7 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 49 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 4 pm on Saturdays (48 minutes).

Typical drive time by departure time

Minutes from San Francisco to San Jose 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	44	45	48	54	52	49	48	48	49	51	54	56	57	49	46	45	44
Tue	44	45	49	59	59	51	49	49	49	53	62	71	71	58	48	46	44
Wed	44	45	48	58	56	51	49	49	49	53	62	73	73	58	49	46	44
Thu	44	45	49	58	59	51	48	48	49	54	63	72	72	58	48	45	44
Fri	44	45	47	49	49	48	48	49	50	54	57	59	57	50	47	45	44
Sat	44	44	44	45	45	46	47	47	48	48	48	48	48	48	46	46	45
Sun	44	44	44	44	45	46	47	47	47	47	47	47	47	47	46	47	44

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 San Jose?

On weekdays, leave before 7:30 am or after 7 pm. The drive usually takes about 44 minutes then, versus up to 76 minutes at the worst times.

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

The 48-mile drive usually takes 44 to 76 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 49 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from San Francisco to San Jose?

Leaving around 4:30 pm on Wednesdays is usually slowest, about 76 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

San Jose to San Francisco (return trip) · 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 · San Francisco to Sacramento

Open the live traffic map →

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	44	45	48	54	52	49	48	48	49	51	54	56	57	49	46	45	44
Tue	44	45	49	59	59	51	49	49	49	53	62	71	71	58	48	46	44
Wed	44	45	48	58	56	51	49	49	49	53	62	73	73	58	49	46	44
Thu	44	45	49	58	59	51	48	48	49	54	63	72	72	58	48	45	44
Fri	44	45	47	49	49	48	48	49	50	54	57	59	57	50	47	45	44
Sat	44	44	44	45	45	46	47	47	48	48	48	48	48	48	46	46	45
Sun	44	44	44	44	45	46	47	47	47	47	47	47	47	47	46	47	44

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	44	45	48	54	52	49	48	48	49	51	54	56	57	49	46	45	44
Tue	44	45	49	59	59	51	49	49	49	53	62	71	71	58	48	46	44
Wed	44	45	48	58	56	51	49	49	49	53	62	73	73	58	49	46	44
Thu	44	45	49	58	59	51	48	48	49	54	63	72	72	58	48	45	44
Fri	44	45	47	49	49	48	48	49	50	54	57	59	57	50	47	45	44
Sat	44	44	44	45	45	46	47	47	48	48	48	48	48	48	46	46	45
Sun	44	44	44	44	45	46	47	47	47	47	47	47	47	47	46	47	44

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	44	45	48	54	52	49	48	48	49	51	54	56	57	49	46	45	44
Tue	44	45	49	59	59	51	49	49	49	53	62	71	71	58	48	46	44
Wed	44	45	48	58	56	51	49	49	49	53	62	73	73	58	49	46	44
Thu	44	45	49	58	59	51	48	48	49	54	63	72	72	58	48	45	44
Fri	44	45	47	49	49	48	48	49	50	54	57	59	57	50	47	45	44
Sat	44	44	44	45	45	46	47	47	48	48	48	48	48	48	46	46	45
Sun	44	44	44	44	45	46	47	47	47	47	47	47	47	47	46	47	44