Best Time to Drive from San Jose to Oakland

Right now (9:01 am PDT): about 40 minutes via I-880 North, usually 39 at this time.

On weekdays the 41-mile drive from San Jose to Oakland (via I-880 North) usually takes as little as 37 minutes and up to 60 minutes, when leaving around 5 pm on Tuesdays. The fastest times to leave are before 7 am or after 8:30 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 44 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 2:30 pm on Saturdays (45 minutes).

Typical drive time by departure time

Minutes from San Jose to Oakland 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	37	39	42	47	44	42	42	42	43	45	49	49	50	47	43	39	38
Tue	37	39	44	54	46	43	42	42	43	46	53	58	60	55	48	41	37
Wed	37	39	43	53	45	43	43	43	44	48	54	59	59	55	49	42	38
Thu	37	39	44	53	47	42	42	42	44	47	56	59	60	54	48	43	37
Fri	37	39	42	45	42	42	42	43	44	49	54	55	53	50	46	41	37
Sat	37	38	38	38	39	40	41	42	43	44	44	45	44	42	41	40	38
Sun	38	38	38	38	38	39	39	40	40	41	41	41	41	41	41	40	38

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 Jose to Oakland?

On weekdays, leave before 7 am or after 8:30 pm. The drive usually takes about 37 minutes then, versus up to 60 minutes at the worst times.

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

The 41-mile drive usually takes 37 to 60 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 44 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from San Jose to Oakland?

Leaving around 5 pm on Tuesdays is usually slowest, about 60 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

Oakland to San Jose (return trip) · San Jose to San Francisco · San Jose to Palo Alto · San Jose to Berkeley · San Jose to Fremont · San Jose to Walnut Creek · San Jose to San Mateo · San Jose to Hayward · San Jose to Mountain View · San Jose to Pleasanton · San Jose 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	37	39	42	47	44	42	42	42	43	45	49	49	50	47	43	39	38
Tue	37	39	44	54	46	43	42	42	43	46	53	58	60	55	48	41	37
Wed	37	39	43	53	45	43	43	43	44	48	54	59	59	55	49	42	38
Thu	37	39	44	53	47	42	42	42	44	47	56	59	60	54	48	43	37
Fri	37	39	42	45	42	42	42	43	44	49	54	55	53	50	46	41	37
Sat	37	38	38	38	39	40	41	42	43	44	44	45	44	42	41	40	38
Sun	38	38	38	38	38	39	39	40	40	41	41	41	41	41	41	40	38

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	37	39	42	47	44	42	42	42	43	45	49	49	50	47	43	39	38
Tue	37	39	44	54	46	43	42	42	43	46	53	58	60	55	48	41	37
Wed	37	39	43	53	45	43	43	43	44	48	54	59	59	55	49	42	38
Thu	37	39	44	53	47	42	42	42	44	47	56	59	60	54	48	43	37
Fri	37	39	42	45	42	42	42	43	44	49	54	55	53	50	46	41	37
Sat	37	38	38	38	39	40	41	42	43	44	44	45	44	42	41	40	38
Sun	38	38	38	38	38	39	39	40	40	41	41	41	41	41	41	40	38

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	37	39	42	47	44	42	42	42	43	45	49	49	50	47	43	39	38
Tue	37	39	44	54	46	43	42	42	43	46	53	58	60	55	48	41	37
Wed	37	39	43	53	45	43	43	43	44	48	54	59	59	55	49	42	38
Thu	37	39	44	53	47	42	42	42	44	47	56	59	60	54	48	43	37
Fri	37	39	42	45	42	42	42	43	44	49	54	55	53	50	46	41	37
Sat	37	38	38	38	39	40	41	42	43	44	44	45	44	42	41	40	38
Sun	38	38	38	38	38	39	39	40	40	41	41	41	41	41	41	40	38