Best Time to Drive from SFO to SJC

Right now (10:32 pm PDT): about 35 minutes via US-101 South.

Only 54% of this drive is measured by working traffic sensors right now. The rest is estimated from nearby sensors, typical speeds and street traffic, so times can be off. Why so few sensors work.

On weekdays the 34-mile drive from SFO to SJC (via US-101 South) usually takes as little as 32 minutes and up to 68 minutes, when leaving around 5 pm on Thursdays. The fastest times to leave are before 7 am or after 8 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 38 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 5 pm on Sundays (42 minutes).

⇄ Reverse trip: SJC to SFO

Freeway, about 31 miles: times follow typical and live traffic from our sensors. Surface streets, about 3 miles: 5 to 10 minutes on weekdays, estimated from how jammed the freeways around them are at that time (we don't have street sensors yet). 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	37	47	46	38	36	36	37	39	45	48	51	42	37	34	33
Tue	32	33	38	53	57	46	37	36	37	42	52	61	64	50	38	34	34
Wed	32	33	38	51	50	41	37	36	37	42	53	62	66	50	39	34	32
Thu	32	33	38	50	48	41	36	35	36	42	54	64	68	52	40	34	33
Fri	32	33	35	38	37	36	36	37	38	43	48	52	49	41	38	34	32
Sat	32	32	32	33	33	34	35	37	36	38	39	39	38	39	35	34	33
Sun	32	32	32	32	33	34	35	36	37	35	35	36	42	34	34	34	33

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. We don't have sensors on surface streets yet, so the time on them is estimated from how congested the freeways around each end of the drive are at that time, in both directions: streets jam when the freeways do.

Questions

What is the best time to drive from SFO to SJC?

On weekdays, leave before 7 am or after 8 pm. The drive usually takes about 32 minutes then, versus up to 68 minutes at the worst times.

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

The 34-mile drive usually takes 32 to 68 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 38 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from SFO to SJC?

Leaving around 5 pm on Thursdays is usually slowest, about 68 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

Freeways on this drive

US-101 South in Bay Area (31 miles)

Bay Area traffic right now · Bay Area traffic tomorrow

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	37	47	46	38	36	36	37	39	45	48	51	42	37	34	33
Tue	32	33	38	53	57	46	37	36	37	42	52	61	64	50	38	34	34
Wed	32	33	38	51	50	41	37	36	37	42	53	62	66	50	39	34	32
Thu	32	33	38	50	48	41	36	35	36	42	54	64	68	52	40	34	33
Fri	32	33	35	38	37	36	36	37	38	43	48	52	49	41	38	34	32
Sat	32	32	32	33	33	34	35	37	36	38	39	39	38	39	35	34	33
Sun	32	32	32	32	33	34	35	36	37	35	35	36	42	34	34	34	33

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	32	33	37	47	46	38	36	36	37	39	45	48	51	42	37	34	33
Tue	32	33	38	53	57	46	37	36	37	42	52	61	64	50	38	34	34
Wed	32	33	38	51	50	41	37	36	37	42	53	62	66	50	39	34	32
Thu	32	33	38	50	48	41	36	35	36	42	54	64	68	52	40	34	33
Fri	32	33	35	38	37	36	36	37	38	43	48	52	49	41	38	34	32
Sat	32	32	32	33	33	34	35	37	36	38	39	39	38	39	35	34	33
Sun	32	32	32	32	33	34	35	36	37	35	35	36	42	34	34	34	33

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	32	33	37	47	46	38	36	36	37	39	45	48	51	42	37	34	33
Tue	32	33	38	53	57	46	37	36	37	42	52	61	64	50	38	34	34
Wed	32	33	38	51	50	41	37	36	37	42	53	62	66	50	39	34	32
Thu	32	33	38	50	48	41	36	35	36	42	54	64	68	52	40	34	33
Fri	32	33	35	38	37	36	36	37	38	43	48	52	49	41	38	34	32
Sat	32	32	32	33	33	34	35	37	36	38	39	39	38	39	35	34	33
Sun	32	32	32	32	33	34	35	36	37	35	35	36	42	34	34	34	33