Best Time to Drive from SFO to San Jose

Right now (10:01 am PDT): about 35 minutes via US-101 South, usually 35 at this time.

On weekdays the 37-mile drive from SFO to San Jose (via US-101 South) usually takes as little as 33 minutes and up to 63 minutes, when leaving around 4:30 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 38 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 4 pm on Saturdays (37 minutes).

⇄ Reverse trip: San Jose to SFO

Drive times are measured from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) (Departures) to downtown San Jose (East Santa Clara 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 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	33	34	36	41	40	37	37	37	37	39	42	43	45	38	35	34	34
Tue	33	34	36	45	46	40	38	37	38	40	49	58	59	48	38	35	34
Wed	33	34	36	44	45	40	37	37	37	41	49	58	62	48	38	35	34
Thu	33	34	36	44	45	39	36	36	37	41	49	57	60	48	37	35	33
Fri	33	34	35	38	38	36	36	37	38	41	44	47	46	39	37	35	34
Sat	34	34	34	34	34	35	35	36	36	36	36	37	37	37	35	35	34
Sun	34	33	33	33	34	35	35	36	36	36	36	36	36	35	35	35	34

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 Jose?

On weekdays, leave before 7:30 am or after 7:30 pm. The drive usually takes about 33 minutes then, versus up to 63 minutes at the worst times.

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

The 37-mile drive usually takes 33 to 63 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 38 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from SFO to San Jose?

Leaving around 4:30 pm on Wednesdays is usually slowest, about 63 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

San Jose to SFO (return trip) · SFO to OAK · SFO to SJC · SFO to San Francisco · SFO to Oakland · 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	33	34	36	41	40	37	37	37	37	39	42	43	45	38	35	34	34
Tue	33	34	36	45	46	40	38	37	38	40	49	58	59	48	38	35	34
Wed	33	34	36	44	45	40	37	37	37	41	49	58	62	48	38	35	34
Thu	33	34	36	44	45	39	36	36	37	41	49	57	60	48	37	35	33
Fri	33	34	35	38	38	36	36	37	38	41	44	47	46	39	37	35	34
Sat	34	34	34	34	34	35	35	36	36	36	36	37	37	37	35	35	34
Sun	34	33	33	33	34	35	35	36	36	36	36	36	36	35	35	35	34

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	33	34	36	41	40	37	37	37	37	39	42	43	45	38	35	34	34
Tue	33	34	36	45	46	40	38	37	38	40	49	58	59	48	38	35	34
Wed	33	34	36	44	45	40	37	37	37	41	49	58	62	48	38	35	34
Thu	33	34	36	44	45	39	36	36	37	41	49	57	60	48	37	35	33
Fri	33	34	35	38	38	36	36	37	38	41	44	47	46	39	37	35	34
Sat	34	34	34	34	34	35	35	36	36	36	36	37	37	37	35	35	34
Sun	34	33	33	33	34	35	35	36	36	36	36	36	36	35	35	35	34

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	33	34	36	41	40	37	37	37	37	39	42	43	45	38	35	34	34
Tue	33	34	36	45	46	40	38	37	38	40	49	58	59	48	38	35	34
Wed	33	34	36	44	45	40	37	37	37	41	49	58	62	48	38	35	34
Thu	33	34	36	44	45	39	36	36	37	41	49	57	60	48	37	35	33
Fri	33	34	35	38	38	36	36	37	38	41	44	47	46	39	37	35	34
Sat	34	34	34	34	34	35	35	36	36	36	36	37	37	37	35	35	34
Sun	34	33	33	33	34	35	35	36	36	36	36	36	36	35	35	35	34