Best Time to Drive from Santa Clara to San Francisco

Right now (9:01 am PDT): about 56 minutes via US-101 North, usually 43 at this time.

On weekdays the 45-mile drive from Santa Clara to San Francisco (via US-101 North) usually takes as little as 41 minutes and up to 59 minutes, when leaving around 5 pm on Thursdays. The fastest times to leave are before 7 am or after 7 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 45 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 11:30 am on Saturdays (46 minutes).

Typical drive time by departure time

Minutes from Santa Clara 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	41	43	48	52	49	46	45	45	44	45	46	47	49	46	43	43	42
Tue	41	43	50	58	55	48	46	45	44	45	47	51	56	51	45	43	42
Wed	41	44	50	59	52	48	46	45	44	45	47	51	56	52	45	43	42
Thu	41	43	50	58	53	49	46	45	44	45	48	53	59	55	46	43	42
Fri	41	43	46	50	47	46	45	45	45	46	48	49	51	49	45	43	41
Sat	42	42	42	42	43	44	46	46	45	45	45	44	44	44	43	44	42
Sun	42	42	42	42	42	43	44	45	45	45	45	44	44	44	44	44	42

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 Santa Clara to San Francisco?

On weekdays, leave before 7 am or after 7 pm. The drive usually takes about 41 minutes then, versus up to 59 minutes at the worst times.

How long does it take to drive from Santa Clara to San Francisco?

The 45-mile drive usually takes 41 to 59 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 45 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Santa Clara to San Francisco?

Leaving around 5 pm on Thursdays is usually slowest, about 59 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

San Francisco to Santa Clara (return trip) · Santa Clara to Oakland · Santa Clara to Palo Alto · Santa Clara to Berkeley · Santa Clara to Fremont · Santa Clara to Walnut Creek · Santa Clara to San Mateo · Santa Clara to Hayward · Santa Clara to Pleasanton · Santa Clara 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	41	43	48	52	49	46	45	45	44	45	46	47	49	46	43	43	42
Tue	41	43	50	58	55	48	46	45	44	45	47	51	56	51	45	43	42
Wed	41	44	50	59	52	48	46	45	44	45	47	51	56	52	45	43	42
Thu	41	43	50	58	53	49	46	45	44	45	48	53	59	55	46	43	42
Fri	41	43	46	50	47	46	45	45	45	46	48	49	51	49	45	43	41
Sat	42	42	42	42	43	44	46	46	45	45	45	44	44	44	43	44	42
Sun	42	42	42	42	42	43	44	45	45	45	45	44	44	44	44	44	42

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	41	43	48	52	49	46	45	45	44	45	46	47	49	46	43	43	42
Tue	41	43	50	58	55	48	46	45	44	45	47	51	56	51	45	43	42
Wed	41	44	50	59	52	48	46	45	44	45	47	51	56	52	45	43	42
Thu	41	43	50	58	53	49	46	45	44	45	48	53	59	55	46	43	42
Fri	41	43	46	50	47	46	45	45	45	46	48	49	51	49	45	43	41
Sat	42	42	42	42	43	44	46	46	45	45	45	44	44	44	43	44	42
Sun	42	42	42	42	42	43	44	45	45	45	45	44	44	44	44	44	42

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	41	43	48	52	49	46	45	45	44	45	46	47	49	46	43	43	42
Tue	41	43	50	58	55	48	46	45	44	45	47	51	56	51	45	43	42
Wed	41	44	50	59	52	48	46	45	44	45	47	51	56	52	45	43	42
Thu	41	43	50	58	53	49	46	45	44	45	48	53	59	55	46	43	42
Fri	41	43	46	50	47	46	45	45	45	46	48	49	51	49	45	43	41
Sat	42	42	42	42	43	44	46	46	45	45	45	44	44	44	43	44	42
Sun	42	42	42	42	42	43	44	45	45	45	45	44	44	44	44	44	42