Best Time to Drive from SFO to San Francisco

Right now (10:01 am PDT): about 15 minutes via US-101 North, usually 13 at this time.

On weekdays the 14-mile drive from SFO to San Francisco (via US-101 North) usually takes as little as 13 minutes and up to 19 minutes, when leaving around 5:30 pm on Thursdays. The fastest times to leave are before 7:30 am or after 7:30 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 14 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 12 pm on Saturdays (15 minutes).

⇄ Reverse trip: San Francisco to SFO

Drive times are measured from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) (Departures) to downtown San Francisco (Market Street) 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 SFO 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	13	13	14	16	15	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	15	15	14	13	13
Tue	13	13	14	18	18	15	14	14	14	13	13	14	16	16	14	13	13
Wed	13	13	14	18	18	15	14	14	14	14	13	14	16	17	13	13	13
Thu	13	13	14	18	17	14	14	14	14	14	14	15	18	18	15	13	13
Fri	13	13	14	15	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	15	16	14	13	13
Sat	13	13	13	13	13	14	14	15	15	15	14	14	14	14	13	13	13
Sun	13	13	13	13	13	13	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	13	13	14	13

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 SFO to San Francisco?

On weekdays, leave before 7:30 am or after 7:30 pm. The drive usually takes about 13 minutes then, versus up to 19 minutes at the worst times.

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

The 14-mile drive usually takes 13 to 19 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 14 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from SFO to San Francisco?

Leaving around 5:30 pm on Thursdays is usually slowest, about 19 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

San Francisco to SFO (return trip) · SFO to OAK · SFO to SJC · SFO to Oakland · SFO to San Jose · SFO to Palo Alto · SFO to Berkeley · SFO to Fremont · SFO to Walnut Creek · SFO to Mountain View · SFO to Pleasanton · SFO to Santa Clara

Open the live traffic map →

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	13	13	14	16	15	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	15	15	14	13	13
Tue	13	13	14	18	18	15	14	14	14	13	13	14	16	16	14	13	13
Wed	13	13	14	18	18	15	14	14	14	14	13	14	16	17	13	13	13
Thu	13	13	14	18	17	14	14	14	14	14	14	15	18	18	15	13	13
Fri	13	13	14	15	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	15	16	14	13	13
Sat	13	13	13	13	13	14	14	15	15	15	14	14	14	14	13	13	13
Sun	13	13	13	13	13	13	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	13	13	14	13

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	13	13	14	16	15	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	15	15	14	13	13
Tue	13	13	14	18	18	15	14	14	14	13	13	14	16	16	14	13	13
Wed	13	13	14	18	18	15	14	14	14	14	13	14	16	17	13	13	13
Thu	13	13	14	18	17	14	14	14	14	14	14	15	18	18	15	13	13
Fri	13	13	14	15	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	15	16	14	13	13
Sat	13	13	13	13	13	14	14	15	15	15	14	14	14	14	13	13	13
Sun	13	13	13	13	13	13	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	13	13	14	13

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	13	13	14	16	15	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	15	15	14	13	13
Tue	13	13	14	18	18	15	14	14	14	13	13	14	16	16	14	13	13
Wed	13	13	14	18	18	15	14	14	14	14	13	14	16	17	13	13	13
Thu	13	13	14	18	17	14	14	14	14	14	14	15	18	18	15	13	13
Fri	13	13	14	15	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	15	16	14	13	13
Sat	13	13	13	13	13	14	14	15	15	15	14	14	14	14	13	13	13
Sun	13	13	13	13	13	13	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	13	13	14	13