Best Time to Drive from SFO to SJC

Right now (10:01 am PDT): about 33 minutes via US-101 South, usually 33 at this time.

On weekdays the 34-mile drive from SFO to SJC (via US-101 South) usually takes as little as 32 minutes and up to 58 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 36 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 4 pm on Saturdays (36 minutes).

⇄ Reverse trip: SJC to SFO

Drive times are measured from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) (Departures) to San José Mineta International Airport (SJC) 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 SJC 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	32	33	34	39	39	36	35	35	36	37	39	40	41	36	34	33	32
Tue	32	33	35	43	44	38	36	35	36	40	46	54	54	44	36	33	32
Wed	32	33	35	43	43	38	36	36	36	40	46	53	57	44	36	33	32
Thu	32	33	35	43	44	38	35	35	36	40	46	54	56	44	36	33	32
Fri	32	33	34	36	36	35	35	36	36	40	41	44	42	37	36	33	32
Sat	32	32	32	33	33	33	34	34	34	35	35	36	35	35	34	33	32
Sun	32	32	32	32	32	33	34	34	34	34	34	34	34	34	34	34	32

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 SJC?

On weekdays, leave before 7:30 am or after 7:30 pm. The drive usually takes about 32 minutes then, versus up to 58 minutes at the worst times.

How long does it take to drive from SFO to SJC?

The 34-mile drive usually takes 32 to 58 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 36 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from SFO to SJC?

Leaving around 4:30 pm on Wednesdays is usually slowest, about 58 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

SJC to SFO (return trip) · SFO to OAK · 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 · 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	32	33	34	39	39	36	35	35	36	37	39	40	41	36	34	33	32
Tue	32	33	35	43	44	38	36	35	36	40	46	54	54	44	36	33	32
Wed	32	33	35	43	43	38	36	36	36	40	46	53	57	44	36	33	32
Thu	32	33	35	43	44	38	35	35	36	40	46	54	56	44	36	33	32
Fri	32	33	34	36	36	35	35	36	36	40	41	44	42	37	36	33	32
Sat	32	32	32	33	33	33	34	34	34	35	35	36	35	35	34	33	32
Sun	32	32	32	32	32	33	34	34	34	34	34	34	34	34	34	34	32

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	32	33	34	39	39	36	35	35	36	37	39	40	41	36	34	33	32
Tue	32	33	35	43	44	38	36	35	36	40	46	54	54	44	36	33	32
Wed	32	33	35	43	43	38	36	36	36	40	46	53	57	44	36	33	32
Thu	32	33	35	43	44	38	35	35	36	40	46	54	56	44	36	33	32
Fri	32	33	34	36	36	35	35	36	36	40	41	44	42	37	36	33	32
Sat	32	32	32	33	33	33	34	34	34	35	35	36	35	35	34	33	32
Sun	32	32	32	32	32	33	34	34	34	34	34	34	34	34	34	34	32

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	32	33	34	39	39	36	35	35	36	37	39	40	41	36	34	33	32
Tue	32	33	35	43	44	38	36	35	36	40	46	54	54	44	36	33	32
Wed	32	33	35	43	43	38	36	36	36	40	46	53	57	44	36	33	32
Thu	32	33	35	43	44	38	35	35	36	40	46	54	56	44	36	33	32
Fri	32	33	34	36	36	35	35	36	36	40	41	44	42	37	36	33	32
Sat	32	32	32	33	33	33	34	34	34	35	35	36	35	35	34	33	32
Sun	32	32	32	32	32	33	34	34	34	34	34	34	34	34	34	34	32