Best Time to Drive from SJC to San Francisco

Right now (10:01 am PDT): about 45 minutes via US-101 North, usually 44 at this time.

On weekdays the 46-mile drive from SJC to San Francisco (via US-101 North) usually takes as little as 41 minutes and up to 62 minutes, when leaving around 8:30 am on Tuesdays. The fastest times to leave are before 6:30 am or after 7:30 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 46 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 12 pm on Saturdays (47 minutes).

⇄ Reverse trip: San Francisco to SJC

Drive times are measured from San José Mineta International Airport (SJC) 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 SJC 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	42	44	49	54	51	48	46	46	45	45	47	48	50	47	44	43	42
Tue	41	44	52	61	58	51	47	46	45	45	48	52	56	51	46	43	43
Wed	41	45	52	62	56	50	47	46	45	46	48	52	56	52	46	44	43
Thu	41	44	52	60	56	50	47	46	45	46	49	54	60	55	46	43	43
Fri	41	44	47	51	48	47	46	46	45	47	48	50	52	49	45	43	42
Sat	42	42	43	43	44	44	47	47	46	46	46	45	45	45	44	44	43
Sun	42	42	42	42	43	44	45	46	45	46	46	45	45	45	45	45	42

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 SJC to San Francisco?

On weekdays, leave before 6:30 am or after 7:30 pm. The drive usually takes about 41 minutes then, versus up to 62 minutes at the worst times.

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

The 46-mile drive usually takes 41 to 62 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 46 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from SJC to San Francisco?

Leaving around 8:30 am on Tuesdays is usually slowest, about 62 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

San Francisco to SJC (return trip) · SJC to SFO · SJC to OAK · SJC to Oakland · SJC to Palo Alto · SJC to Berkeley · SJC to Fremont · SJC to Walnut Creek · SJC to San Mateo · SJC to Hayward · SJC to Mountain View · SJC 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	42	44	49	54	51	48	46	46	45	45	47	48	50	47	44	43	42
Tue	41	44	52	61	58	51	47	46	45	45	48	52	56	51	46	43	43
Wed	41	45	52	62	56	50	47	46	45	46	48	52	56	52	46	44	43
Thu	41	44	52	60	56	50	47	46	45	46	49	54	60	55	46	43	43
Fri	41	44	47	51	48	47	46	46	45	47	48	50	52	49	45	43	42
Sat	42	42	43	43	44	44	47	47	46	46	46	45	45	45	44	44	43
Sun	42	42	42	42	43	44	45	46	45	46	46	45	45	45	45	45	42

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	42	44	49	54	51	48	46	46	45	45	47	48	50	47	44	43	42
Tue	41	44	52	61	58	51	47	46	45	45	48	52	56	51	46	43	43
Wed	41	45	52	62	56	50	47	46	45	46	48	52	56	52	46	44	43
Thu	41	44	52	60	56	50	47	46	45	46	49	54	60	55	46	43	43
Fri	41	44	47	51	48	47	46	46	45	47	48	50	52	49	45	43	42
Sat	42	42	43	43	44	44	47	47	46	46	46	45	45	45	44	44	43
Sun	42	42	42	42	43	44	45	46	45	46	46	45	45	45	45	45	42

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	42	44	49	54	51	48	46	46	45	45	47	48	50	47	44	43	42
Tue	41	44	52	61	58	51	47	46	45	45	48	52	56	51	46	43	43
Wed	41	45	52	62	56	50	47	46	45	46	48	52	56	52	46	44	43
Thu	41	44	52	60	56	50	47	46	45	46	49	54	60	55	46	43	43
Fri	41	44	47	51	48	47	46	46	45	47	48	50	52	49	45	43	42
Sat	42	42	43	43	44	44	47	47	46	46	46	45	45	45	44	44	43
Sun	42	42	42	42	43	44	45	46	45	46	46	45	45	45	45	45	42