Best Time to Drive from San Francisco to Santa Clara

Right now (9:01 am PDT): about 43 minutes via US-101 South, usually 43 at this time.

On weekdays the 44-mile drive from San Francisco to Santa Clara (via US-101 South) usually takes as little as 41 minutes and up to 68 minutes, when leaving around 4:30 pm on Wednesdays. The fastest times to leave are before 7 am or after 7 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 46 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 4 pm on Saturdays (46 minutes).

Typical drive time by departure time

Minutes from San Francisco to Santa Clara 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	42	43	45	51	50	46	45	46	46	47	49	50	51	45	44	43	42
Tue	41	43	46	56	56	48	46	46	46	49	56	64	63	52	45	43	42
Wed	41	42	46	56	53	49	46	46	46	49	56	65	66	52	45	43	42
Thu	41	42	46	55	55	48	45	45	46	49	57	65	64	52	45	43	41
Fri	41	42	44	46	46	45	45	46	46	49	51	53	51	47	44	43	42
Sat	42	42	42	42	43	43	44	44	45	45	45	46	45	45	43	43	42
Sun	42	42	41	42	42	43	44	44	44	44	44	44	44	44	43	44	42

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 Santa Clara?

On weekdays, leave before 7 am or after 7 pm. The drive usually takes about 41 minutes then, versus up to 68 minutes at the worst times.

How long does it take to drive from San Francisco to Santa Clara?

The 44-mile drive usually takes 41 to 68 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 46 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from San Francisco to Santa Clara?

Leaving around 4:30 pm on Wednesdays is usually slowest, about 68 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

Santa Clara 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 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	42	43	45	51	50	46	45	46	46	47	49	50	51	45	44	43	42
Tue	41	43	46	56	56	48	46	46	46	49	56	64	63	52	45	43	42
Wed	41	42	46	56	53	49	46	46	46	49	56	65	66	52	45	43	42
Thu	41	42	46	55	55	48	45	45	46	49	57	65	64	52	45	43	41
Fri	41	42	44	46	46	45	45	46	46	49	51	53	51	47	44	43	42
Sat	42	42	42	42	43	43	44	44	45	45	45	46	45	45	43	43	42
Sun	42	42	41	42	42	43	44	44	44	44	44	44	44	44	43	44	42

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	42	43	45	51	50	46	45	46	46	47	49	50	51	45	44	43	42
Tue	41	43	46	56	56	48	46	46	46	49	56	64	63	52	45	43	42
Wed	41	42	46	56	53	49	46	46	46	49	56	65	66	52	45	43	42
Thu	41	42	46	55	55	48	45	45	46	49	57	65	64	52	45	43	41
Fri	41	42	44	46	46	45	45	46	46	49	51	53	51	47	44	43	42
Sat	42	42	42	42	43	43	44	44	45	45	45	46	45	45	43	43	42
Sun	42	42	41	42	42	43	44	44	44	44	44	44	44	44	43	44	42

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	42	43	45	51	50	46	45	46	46	47	49	50	51	45	44	43	42
Tue	41	43	46	56	56	48	46	46	46	49	56	64	63	52	45	43	42
Wed	41	42	46	56	53	49	46	46	46	49	56	65	66	52	45	43	42
Thu	41	42	46	55	55	48	45	45	46	49	57	65	64	52	45	43	41
Fri	41	42	44	46	46	45	45	46	46	49	51	53	51	47	44	43	42
Sat	42	42	42	42	43	43	44	44	45	45	45	46	45	45	43	43	42
Sun	42	42	41	42	42	43	44	44	44	44	44	44	44	44	43	44	42