Best Time to Drive from San Mateo to Berkeley

Right now (8:48 am PDT): about 30 minutes via US-101 North and I-80 East, usually 31 at this time.

On weekdays the 31-mile drive from San Mateo to Berkeley (via US-101 North and I-80 East) usually takes as little as 29 minutes and up to 44 minutes, when leaving around 5:30 pm on Thursdays. The fastest times to leave are before 7:30 am or after 7 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 32 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 1 pm on Saturdays (35 minutes).

Typical drive time by departure time

Minutes from San Mateo to Berkeley 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	30	30	32	34	34	32	32	32	31	32	34	35	38	35	31	30	30
Tue	29	30	32	37	37	33	32	32	31	32	35	38	41	38	31	31	30
Wed	29	30	32	37	37	33	32	32	31	32	35	39	43	38	31	31	30
Thu	29	30	32	37	36	33	32	31	31	33	35	39	44	40	33	31	30
Fri	29	30	31	33	33	32	32	32	33	35	38	40	41	38	33	31	30
Sat	30	30	30	30	31	32	33	34	35	35	35	34	33	32	31	31	30
Sun	30	30	30	30	30	31	32	32	33	33	33	33	32	31	31	31	30

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 Mateo to Berkeley?

On weekdays, leave before 7:30 am or after 7 pm. The drive usually takes about 29 minutes then, versus up to 44 minutes at the worst times.

How long does it take to drive from San Mateo to Berkeley?

The 31-mile drive usually takes 29 to 44 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 32 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from San Mateo to Berkeley?

Leaving around 5:30 pm on Thursdays is usually slowest, about 44 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

Berkeley to San Mateo (return trip) · San Mateo to San Francisco · San Mateo to Oakland · San Mateo to San Jose · San Mateo to Palo Alto · San Mateo to Fremont · San Mateo to Walnut Creek · San Mateo to Mountain View · San Mateo to Santa Clara · San Mateo 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	30	30	32	34	34	32	32	32	31	32	34	35	38	35	31	30	30
Tue	29	30	32	37	37	33	32	32	31	32	35	38	41	38	31	31	30
Wed	29	30	32	37	37	33	32	32	31	32	35	39	43	38	31	31	30
Thu	29	30	32	37	36	33	32	31	31	33	35	39	44	40	33	31	30
Fri	29	30	31	33	33	32	32	32	33	35	38	40	41	38	33	31	30
Sat	30	30	30	30	31	32	33	34	35	35	35	34	33	32	31	31	30
Sun	30	30	30	30	30	31	32	32	33	33	33	33	32	31	31	31	30

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	30	30	32	34	34	32	32	32	31	32	34	35	38	35	31	30	30
Tue	29	30	32	37	37	33	32	32	31	32	35	38	41	38	31	31	30
Wed	29	30	32	37	37	33	32	32	31	32	35	39	43	38	31	31	30
Thu	29	30	32	37	36	33	32	31	31	33	35	39	44	40	33	31	30
Fri	29	30	31	33	33	32	32	32	33	35	38	40	41	38	33	31	30
Sat	30	30	30	30	31	32	33	34	35	35	35	34	33	32	31	31	30
Sun	30	30	30	30	30	31	32	32	33	33	33	33	32	31	31	31	30

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	30	30	32	34	34	32	32	32	31	32	34	35	38	35	31	30	30
Tue	29	30	32	37	37	33	32	32	31	32	35	38	41	38	31	31	30
Wed	29	30	32	37	37	33	32	32	31	32	35	39	43	38	31	31	30
Thu	29	30	32	37	36	33	32	31	31	33	35	39	44	40	33	31	30
Fri	29	30	31	33	33	32	32	32	33	35	38	40	41	38	33	31	30
Sat	30	30	30	30	31	32	33	34	35	35	35	34	33	32	31	31	30
Sun	30	30	30	30	30	31	32	32	33	33	33	33	32	31	31	31	30