Best Time to Drive from Santa Clara to SFO

Right now (10:01 am PDT): about 32 minutes via US-101 North, usually 32 at this time.

On weekdays the 33-mile drive from Santa Clara to SFO (via US-101 North) usually takes as little as 30 minutes and up to 43 minutes, when leaving around 8:30 am on Tuesdays. The fastest times to leave are before 7 am or after 7:30 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 33 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 12 pm on Saturdays (33 minutes).

⇄ Reverse trip: SFO to Santa Clara

Drive times are measured from central Santa Clara (Lincoln 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 Santa Clara 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	31	32	34	38	37	34	33	33	33	33	34	35	36	34	32	31	31
Tue	30	32	35	41	41	36	34	33	33	33	35	38	41	38	34	32	31
Wed	30	32	35	42	39	36	34	34	33	34	36	38	41	39	34	32	31
Thu	30	32	35	42	39	36	34	33	33	34	36	39	42	40	34	31	31
Fri	30	32	34	37	35	34	33	33	33	34	36	36	37	36	33	32	31
Sat	31	31	31	31	31	32	33	33	33	33	33	33	33	32	32	32	31
Sun	31	31	31	31	31	32	32	33	32	33	33	33	33	33	32	32	31

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 SFO?

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

How long does it take to drive from Santa Clara to SFO?

The 33-mile drive usually takes 30 to 43 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 33 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Santa Clara to SFO?

Leaving around 8:30 am on Tuesdays is usually slowest, about 43 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

SFO to Santa Clara (return trip) · Santa Clara to San Francisco · 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 · Santa Clara to OAK

Open the live traffic map →

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	31	32	34	38	37	34	33	33	33	33	34	35	36	34	32	31	31
Tue	30	32	35	41	41	36	34	33	33	33	35	38	41	38	34	32	31
Wed	30	32	35	42	39	36	34	34	33	34	36	38	41	39	34	32	31
Thu	30	32	35	42	39	36	34	33	33	34	36	39	42	40	34	31	31
Fri	30	32	34	37	35	34	33	33	33	34	36	36	37	36	33	32	31
Sat	31	31	31	31	31	32	33	33	33	33	33	33	33	32	32	32	31
Sun	31	31	31	31	31	32	32	33	32	33	33	33	33	33	32	32	31

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	31	32	34	38	37	34	33	33	33	33	34	35	36	34	32	31	31
Tue	30	32	35	41	41	36	34	33	33	33	35	38	41	38	34	32	31
Wed	30	32	35	42	39	36	34	34	33	34	36	38	41	39	34	32	31
Thu	30	32	35	42	39	36	34	33	33	34	36	39	42	40	34	31	31
Fri	30	32	34	37	35	34	33	33	33	34	36	36	37	36	33	32	31
Sat	31	31	31	31	31	32	33	33	33	33	33	33	33	32	32	32	31
Sun	31	31	31	31	31	32	32	33	32	33	33	33	33	33	32	32	31

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	31	32	34	38	37	34	33	33	33	33	34	35	36	34	32	31	31
Tue	30	32	35	41	41	36	34	33	33	33	35	38	41	38	34	32	31
Wed	30	32	35	42	39	36	34	34	33	34	36	38	41	39	34	32	31
Thu	30	32	35	42	39	36	34	33	33	34	36	39	42	40	34	31	31
Fri	30	32	34	37	35	34	33	33	33	34	36	36	37	36	33	32	31
Sat	31	31	31	31	31	32	33	33	33	33	33	33	33	32	32	32	31
Sun	31	31	31	31	31	32	32	33	32	33	33	33	33	33	32	32	31