Best Time to Drive from San Jose to San Francisco

Right now (9:01 am PDT): about 59 minutes via US-101 North, usually 46 at this time.

On weekdays the 48-mile drive from San Jose to San Francisco (via US-101 North) usually takes as little as 43 minutes and up to 65 minutes, when leaving around 8:30 am on Tuesdays. The fastest times to leave are before 6:30 am or after 7 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 48 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 11:30 am on Saturdays (48 minutes).

Typical drive time by departure time

Minutes from San Jose to San Francisco 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	46	52	56	53	50	48	47	47	47	49	50	52	49	46	45	44
Tue	43	46	54	64	61	53	49	48	47	47	50	54	58	53	47	45	45
Wed	43	47	55	64	59	52	49	48	47	48	50	54	58	54	47	45	45
Thu	43	46	54	62	58	52	49	48	47	48	51	56	62	57	48	45	45
Fri	43	46	50	53	50	49	48	48	47	48	50	52	54	51	47	45	44
Sat	44	44	44	45	46	47	48	48	48	48	48	47	47	46	46	46	44
Sun	44	44	44	44	45	46	47	48	47	47	48	47	47	47	47	46	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 Jose to San Francisco?

On weekdays, leave before 6:30 am or after 7 pm. The drive usually takes about 43 minutes then, versus up to 65 minutes at the worst times.

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

The 48-mile drive usually takes 43 to 65 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 48 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from San Jose to San Francisco?

Leaving around 8:30 am on Tuesdays is usually slowest, about 65 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

San Francisco to San Jose (return trip) · San Jose to Oakland · 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	44	46	52	56	53	50	48	47	47	47	49	50	52	49	46	45	44
Tue	43	46	54	64	61	53	49	48	47	47	50	54	58	53	47	45	45
Wed	43	47	55	64	59	52	49	48	47	48	50	54	58	54	47	45	45
Thu	43	46	54	62	58	52	49	48	47	48	51	56	62	57	48	45	45
Fri	43	46	50	53	50	49	48	48	47	48	50	52	54	51	47	45	44
Sat	44	44	44	45	46	47	48	48	48	48	48	47	47	46	46	46	44
Sun	44	44	44	44	45	46	47	48	47	47	48	47	47	47	47	46	44

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	44	46	52	56	53	50	48	47	47	47	49	50	52	49	46	45	44
Tue	43	46	54	64	61	53	49	48	47	47	50	54	58	53	47	45	45
Wed	43	47	55	64	59	52	49	48	47	48	50	54	58	54	47	45	45
Thu	43	46	54	62	58	52	49	48	47	48	51	56	62	57	48	45	45
Fri	43	46	50	53	50	49	48	48	47	48	50	52	54	51	47	45	44
Sat	44	44	44	45	46	47	48	48	48	48	48	47	47	46	46	46	44
Sun	44	44	44	44	45	46	47	48	47	47	48	47	47	47	47	46	44

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	44	46	52	56	53	50	48	47	47	47	49	50	52	49	46	45	44
Tue	43	46	54	64	61	53	49	48	47	47	50	54	58	53	47	45	45
Wed	43	47	55	64	59	52	49	48	47	48	50	54	58	54	47	45	45
Thu	43	46	54	62	58	52	49	48	47	48	51	56	62	57	48	45	45
Fri	43	46	50	53	50	49	48	48	47	48	50	52	54	51	47	45	44
Sat	44	44	44	45	46	47	48	48	48	48	48	47	47	46	46	46	44
Sun	44	44	44	44	45	46	47	48	47	47	48	47	47	47	47	46	44