Best Time to Drive from San Mateo to San Jose

Right now (9:01 am PDT): about 30 minutes via US-101 South, usually 29 at this time.

On weekdays the 31-mile drive from San Mateo to San Jose (via US-101 South) usually takes as little as 28 minutes and up to 55 minutes, when leaving around 5 pm on Wednesdays. The fastest times to leave are before 7:30 am or after 7:30 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 32 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 3:30 pm on Saturdays (31 minutes).

Typical drive time by departure time

Minutes from San Mateo to San Jose 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	29	29	30	35	35	32	31	31	32	33	36	37	39	33	30	29	29
Tue	29	29	30	37	40	35	33	32	32	34	42	50	52	43	33	30	29
Wed	29	29	30	37	40	35	32	32	32	34	43	49	55	43	33	30	29
Thu	29	29	30	39	40	34	31	31	32	34	42	48	53	43	33	30	29
Fri	29	29	30	32	33	31	31	32	32	35	38	40	39	34	32	30	29
Sat	29	29	29	29	29	30	30	30	30	31	31	31	31	31	30	30	29
Sun	29	29	29	29	29	30	30	30	30	30	30	30	30	30	30	30	29

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 San Jose?

On weekdays, leave before 7:30 am or after 7:30 pm. The drive usually takes about 28 minutes then, versus up to 55 minutes at the worst times.

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

The 31-mile drive usually takes 28 to 55 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 32 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from San Mateo to San Jose?

Leaving around 5 pm on Wednesdays is usually slowest, about 55 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

San Jose to San Mateo (return trip) · San Mateo to San Francisco · San Mateo to Oakland · San Mateo to Palo Alto · San Mateo to Berkeley · 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	29	29	30	35	35	32	31	31	32	33	36	37	39	33	30	29	29
Tue	29	29	30	37	40	35	33	32	32	34	42	50	52	43	33	30	29
Wed	29	29	30	37	40	35	32	32	32	34	43	49	55	43	33	30	29
Thu	29	29	30	39	40	34	31	31	32	34	42	48	53	43	33	30	29
Fri	29	29	30	32	33	31	31	32	32	35	38	40	39	34	32	30	29
Sat	29	29	29	29	29	30	30	30	30	31	31	31	31	31	30	30	29
Sun	29	29	29	29	29	30	30	30	30	30	30	30	30	30	30	30	29

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	29	29	30	35	35	32	31	31	32	33	36	37	39	33	30	29	29
Tue	29	29	30	37	40	35	33	32	32	34	42	50	52	43	33	30	29
Wed	29	29	30	37	40	35	32	32	32	34	43	49	55	43	33	30	29
Thu	29	29	30	39	40	34	31	31	32	34	42	48	53	43	33	30	29
Fri	29	29	30	32	33	31	31	32	32	35	38	40	39	34	32	30	29
Sat	29	29	29	29	29	30	30	30	30	31	31	31	31	31	30	30	29
Sun	29	29	29	29	29	30	30	30	30	30	30	30	30	30	30	30	29

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	29	29	30	35	35	32	31	31	32	33	36	37	39	33	30	29	29
Tue	29	29	30	37	40	35	33	32	32	34	42	50	52	43	33	30	29
Wed	29	29	30	37	40	35	32	32	32	34	43	49	55	43	33	30	29
Thu	29	29	30	39	40	34	31	31	32	34	42	48	53	43	33	30	29
Fri	29	29	30	32	33	31	31	32	32	35	38	40	39	34	32	30	29
Sat	29	29	29	29	29	30	30	30	30	31	31	31	31	31	30	30	29
Sun	29	29	29	29	29	30	30	30	30	30	30	30	30	30	30	30	29