Best Time to Drive from San Francisco to SJC

Right now (10:01 am PDT): about 46 minutes via US-101 South, usually 44 at this time.

On weekdays the 46-mile drive from San Francisco to SJC (via US-101 South) usually takes as little as 42 minutes and up to 71 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 48 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 4 pm on Saturdays (47 minutes).

⇄ Reverse trip: SJC to San Francisco

Drive times are measured from downtown San Francisco (Market Street) to San José Mineta International Airport (SJC) 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 SJC 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	43	44	47	53	51	48	47	47	47	49	51	52	53	47	45	44	43
Tue	43	44	48	57	57	50	47	47	47	51	59	67	66	54	47	44	43
Wed	43	44	48	57	55	50	47	47	47	52	59	68	69	54	47	44	43
Thu	43	44	47	57	57	50	47	46	47	52	60	68	67	55	47	44	43
Fri	43	44	46	48	47	46	46	47	48	52	54	55	53	48	46	44	43
Sat	43	43	43	43	44	45	45	46	46	46	47	47	47	46	45	45	43
Sun	43	43	43	43	43	44	45	46	46	45	46	46	46	45	45	45	43

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 SJC?

On weekdays, leave before 7 am or after 7 pm. The drive usually takes about 42 minutes then, versus up to 71 minutes at the worst times.

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

The 46-mile drive usually takes 42 to 71 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 48 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from San Francisco to SJC?

Leaving around 4:30 pm on Wednesdays is usually slowest, about 71 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

SJC 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	43	44	47	53	51	48	47	47	47	49	51	52	53	47	45	44	43
Tue	43	44	48	57	57	50	47	47	47	51	59	67	66	54	47	44	43
Wed	43	44	48	57	55	50	47	47	47	52	59	68	69	54	47	44	43
Thu	43	44	47	57	57	50	47	46	47	52	60	68	67	55	47	44	43
Fri	43	44	46	48	47	46	46	47	48	52	54	55	53	48	46	44	43
Sat	43	43	43	43	44	45	45	46	46	46	47	47	47	46	45	45	43
Sun	43	43	43	43	43	44	45	46	46	45	46	46	46	45	45	45	43

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	43	44	47	53	51	48	47	47	47	49	51	52	53	47	45	44	43
Tue	43	44	48	57	57	50	47	47	47	51	59	67	66	54	47	44	43
Wed	43	44	48	57	55	50	47	47	47	52	59	68	69	54	47	44	43
Thu	43	44	47	57	57	50	47	46	47	52	60	68	67	55	47	44	43
Fri	43	44	46	48	47	46	46	47	48	52	54	55	53	48	46	44	43
Sat	43	43	43	43	44	45	45	46	46	46	47	47	47	46	45	45	43
Sun	43	43	43	43	43	44	45	46	46	45	46	46	46	45	45	45	43

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	43	44	47	53	51	48	47	47	47	49	51	52	53	47	45	44	43
Tue	43	44	48	57	57	50	47	47	47	51	59	67	66	54	47	44	43
Wed	43	44	48	57	55	50	47	47	47	52	59	68	69	54	47	44	43
Thu	43	44	47	57	57	50	47	46	47	52	60	68	67	55	47	44	43
Fri	43	44	46	48	47	46	46	47	48	52	54	55	53	48	46	44	43
Sat	43	43	43	43	44	45	45	46	46	46	47	47	47	46	45	45	43
Sun	43	43	43	43	43	44	45	46	46	45	46	46	46	45	45	45	43