Best Time to Drive from San Jose to SFO

Right now (10:01 am PDT): about 35 minutes via US-101 North, usually 34 at this time.

On weekdays the 36-mile drive from San Jose to SFO (via US-101 North) usually takes as little as 32 minutes and up to 50 minutes, when leaving around 8:30 am on Tuesdays. The fastest times to leave are before 6:30 am or after 7:30 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 36 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 12 pm on Saturdays (36 minutes).

⇄ Reverse trip: SFO to San Jose

Drive times are measured from downtown San Jose (East Santa Clara 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 Jose 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	33	35	38	43	41	37	36	36	36	36	37	38	38	36	35	34	34
Tue	32	35	39	47	48	41	38	36	35	36	38	41	44	41	36	34	34
Wed	33	35	39	48	45	40	37	36	35	36	38	41	43	41	37	34	34
Thu	33	35	39	47	45	40	37	36	35	36	39	42	45	42	37	34	34
Fri	33	34	37	40	38	36	36	36	36	37	38	39	40	38	35	34	33
Sat	33	33	33	34	34	34	36	36	36	36	36	35	35	35	35	35	33
Sun	33	33	33	33	34	34	35	35	35	35	36	35	35	35	35	35	33

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 SFO?

On weekdays, leave before 6:30 am or after 7:30 pm. The drive usually takes about 32 minutes then, versus up to 50 minutes at the worst times.

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

The 36-mile drive usually takes 32 to 50 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 36 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from San Jose to SFO?

Leaving around 8:30 am on Tuesdays is usually slowest, about 50 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

SFO to San Jose (return trip) · San Jose to San Francisco · 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	33	35	38	43	41	37	36	36	36	36	37	38	38	36	35	34	34
Tue	32	35	39	47	48	41	38	36	35	36	38	41	44	41	36	34	34
Wed	33	35	39	48	45	40	37	36	35	36	38	41	43	41	37	34	34
Thu	33	35	39	47	45	40	37	36	35	36	39	42	45	42	37	34	34
Fri	33	34	37	40	38	36	36	36	36	37	38	39	40	38	35	34	33
Sat	33	33	33	34	34	34	36	36	36	36	36	35	35	35	35	35	33
Sun	33	33	33	33	34	34	35	35	35	35	36	35	35	35	35	35	33

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	33	35	38	43	41	37	36	36	36	36	37	38	38	36	35	34	34
Tue	32	35	39	47	48	41	38	36	35	36	38	41	44	41	36	34	34
Wed	33	35	39	48	45	40	37	36	35	36	38	41	43	41	37	34	34
Thu	33	35	39	47	45	40	37	36	35	36	39	42	45	42	37	34	34
Fri	33	34	37	40	38	36	36	36	36	37	38	39	40	38	35	34	33
Sat	33	33	33	34	34	34	36	36	36	36	36	35	35	35	35	35	33
Sun	33	33	33	33	34	34	35	35	35	35	36	35	35	35	35	35	33

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	33	35	38	43	41	37	36	36	36	36	37	38	38	36	35	34	34
Tue	32	35	39	47	48	41	38	36	35	36	38	41	44	41	36	34	34
Wed	33	35	39	48	45	40	37	36	35	36	38	41	43	41	37	34	34
Thu	33	35	39	47	45	40	37	36	35	36	39	42	45	42	37	34	34
Fri	33	34	37	40	38	36	36	36	36	37	38	39	40	38	35	34	33
Sat	33	33	33	34	34	34	36	36	36	36	36	35	35	35	35	35	33
Sun	33	33	33	33	34	34	35	35	35	35	36	35	35	35	35	35	33