Best Time to Drive from San Francisco to SFO

Right now (10:01 am PDT): about 15 minutes via US-101 South, usually 14 at this time.

On weekdays the 13-mile drive from San Francisco to SFO (via US-101 South) usually takes as little as 13 minutes and up to 17 minutes, when leaving around 8:30 am on Tuesdays. The fastest times to leave are before 8 am or after 6 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 14 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 4 pm on Saturdays (14 minutes).

⇄ Reverse trip: SFO to San Francisco

Drive times are measured from downtown San Francisco (Market Street) to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) (Departures) along the route shown. Starting or ending elsewhere in a big city can add or save several minutes.

Typical drive time by departure time

Minutes from San Francisco to SFO 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	13	14	14	15	16	15	14	14	14	14	14	14	15	14	14	14	13
Tue	13	13	14	16	16	15	14	14	14	14	14	14	15	14	14	14	13
Wed	13	13	14	15	16	14	14	14	14	14	15	15	16	15	14	14	13
Thu	13	13	14	16	16	15	14	14	14	14	15	15	16	15	14	14	13
Fri	13	13	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	15	14	15	14	13	13	13
Sat	13	13	13	13	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	14
Sun	13	13	13	13	13	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	14

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 SFO?

On weekdays, leave before 8 am or after 6 pm. The drive usually takes about 13 minutes then, versus up to 17 minutes at the worst times.

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

The 13-mile drive usually takes 13 to 17 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 14 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from San Francisco to SFO?

Leaving around 8:30 am on Tuesdays is usually slowest, about 17 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

SFO 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	13	14	14	15	16	15	14	14	14	14	14	14	15	14	14	14	13
Tue	13	13	14	16	16	15	14	14	14	14	14	14	15	14	14	14	13
Wed	13	13	14	15	16	14	14	14	14	14	15	15	16	15	14	14	13
Thu	13	13	14	16	16	15	14	14	14	14	15	15	16	15	14	14	13
Fri	13	13	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	15	14	15	14	13	13	13
Sat	13	13	13	13	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	14
Sun	13	13	13	13	13	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	14

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	13	14	14	15	16	15	14	14	14	14	14	14	15	14	14	14	13
Tue	13	13	14	16	16	15	14	14	14	14	14	14	15	14	14	14	13
Wed	13	13	14	15	16	14	14	14	14	14	15	15	16	15	14	14	13
Thu	13	13	14	16	16	15	14	14	14	14	15	15	16	15	14	14	13
Fri	13	13	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	15	14	15	14	13	13	13
Sat	13	13	13	13	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	14
Sun	13	13	13	13	13	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	14

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	13	14	14	15	16	15	14	14	14	14	14	14	15	14	14	14	13
Tue	13	13	14	16	16	15	14	14	14	14	14	14	15	14	14	14	13
Wed	13	13	14	15	16	14	14	14	14	14	15	15	16	15	14	14	13
Thu	13	13	14	16	16	15	14	14	14	14	15	15	16	15	14	14	13
Fri	13	13	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	15	14	15	14	13	13	13
Sat	13	13	13	13	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	14
Sun	13	13	13	13	13	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	14