Best Time to Drive from SFO to Santa Clara

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

On weekdays the 33-mile drive from SFO to Santa Clara (via US-101 South) usually takes as little as 30 minutes and up to 55 minutes, when leaving around 4:30 pm on Wednesdays. The fastest times to leave are before 7 am or after 7:30 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 35 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 4 pm on Saturdays (34 minutes).

⇄ Reverse trip: Santa Clara to SFO

Drive times are measured from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) (Departures) to central Santa Clara (Lincoln 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 Santa Clara 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	31	33	38	37	35	34	34	34	35	37	38	39	34	33	32	31
Tue	31	32	34	42	43	37	35	34	35	37	43	51	51	42	34	32	31
Wed	31	31	34	42	42	37	35	34	34	37	43	50	54	41	35	32	31
Thu	31	31	34	42	42	36	34	34	34	38	43	51	53	42	34	32	31
Fri	31	31	33	35	35	34	34	34	35	37	39	41	40	36	34	32	31
Sat	31	31	31	31	32	32	33	33	33	33	34	34	34	34	33	32	31
Sun	31	31	31	31	31	32	33	33	33	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 SFO to Santa Clara?

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

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

The 33-mile drive usually takes 30 to 55 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 35 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from SFO to Santa Clara?

Leaving around 4:30 pm on Wednesdays is usually slowest, about 55 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

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

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	31	33	38	37	35	34	34	34	35	37	38	39	34	33	32	31
Tue	31	32	34	42	43	37	35	34	35	37	43	51	51	42	34	32	31
Wed	31	31	34	42	42	37	35	34	34	37	43	50	54	41	35	32	31
Thu	31	31	34	42	42	36	34	34	34	38	43	51	53	42	34	32	31
Fri	31	31	33	35	35	34	34	34	35	37	39	41	40	36	34	32	31
Sat	31	31	31	31	32	32	33	33	33	33	34	34	34	34	33	32	31
Sun	31	31	31	31	31	32	33	33	33	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	31	33	38	37	35	34	34	34	35	37	38	39	34	33	32	31
Tue	31	32	34	42	43	37	35	34	35	37	43	51	51	42	34	32	31
Wed	31	31	34	42	42	37	35	34	34	37	43	50	54	41	35	32	31
Thu	31	31	34	42	42	36	34	34	34	38	43	51	53	42	34	32	31
Fri	31	31	33	35	35	34	34	34	35	37	39	41	40	36	34	32	31
Sat	31	31	31	31	32	32	33	33	33	33	34	34	34	34	33	32	31
Sun	31	31	31	31	31	32	33	33	33	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	31	33	38	37	35	34	34	34	35	37	38	39	34	33	32	31
Tue	31	32	34	42	43	37	35	34	35	37	43	51	51	42	34	32	31
Wed	31	31	34	42	42	37	35	34	34	37	43	50	54	41	35	32	31
Thu	31	31	34	42	42	36	34	34	34	38	43	51	53	42	34	32	31
Fri	31	31	33	35	35	34	34	34	35	37	39	41	40	36	34	32	31
Sat	31	31	31	31	32	32	33	33	33	33	34	34	34	34	33	32	31
Sun	31	31	31	31	31	32	33	33	33	33	33	33	33	33	32	32	31