Best Time to Drive from SJC to San Mateo

Right now (10:01 am PDT): about 28 minutes via US-101 North, usually 27 at this time.

On weekdays the 28-mile drive from SJC to San Mateo (via US-101 North) usually takes as little as 26 minutes and up to 39 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 29 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 2:30 pm on Sundays (29 minutes).

⇄ Reverse trip: San Mateo to SJC

Drive times are measured from San José Mineta International Airport (SJC) to central San Mateo (South El Camino Real) 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 Mateo 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	26	28	30	33	32	30	29	29	29	29	30	31	31	29	28	27	27
Tue	26	28	31	38	38	33	30	29	28	29	31	33	36	33	29	27	27
Wed	26	28	31	38	36	32	30	29	28	29	31	34	36	34	29	27	27
Thu	26	28	31	37	36	32	30	29	28	29	32	34	38	35	29	27	27
Fri	26	27	29	32	30	29	29	29	29	30	31	31	32	30	28	27	26
Sat	27	27	27	27	27	27	28	28	28	28	28	28	28	28	28	27	27
Sun	27	27	27	27	27	27	28	28	28	28	28	28	28	28	28	28	27

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 Mateo?

On weekdays, leave before 6:30 am or after 7:30 pm. The drive usually takes about 26 minutes then, versus up to 39 minutes at the worst times.

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

The 28-mile drive usually takes 26 to 39 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 29 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from SJC to San Mateo?

Leaving around 8:30 am on Tuesdays is usually slowest, about 39 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

San Mateo to SJC (return trip) · SJC to SFO · SJC to OAK · SJC to San Francisco · SJC to Oakland · SJC to Palo Alto · SJC to Berkeley · SJC to Fremont · SJC to Walnut Creek · 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	26	28	30	33	32	30	29	29	29	29	30	31	31	29	28	27	27
Tue	26	28	31	38	38	33	30	29	28	29	31	33	36	33	29	27	27
Wed	26	28	31	38	36	32	30	29	28	29	31	34	36	34	29	27	27
Thu	26	28	31	37	36	32	30	29	28	29	32	34	38	35	29	27	27
Fri	26	27	29	32	30	29	29	29	29	30	31	31	32	30	28	27	26
Sat	27	27	27	27	27	27	28	28	28	28	28	28	28	28	28	27	27
Sun	27	27	27	27	27	27	28	28	28	28	28	28	28	28	28	28	27

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	26	28	30	33	32	30	29	29	29	29	30	31	31	29	28	27	27
Tue	26	28	31	38	38	33	30	29	28	29	31	33	36	33	29	27	27
Wed	26	28	31	38	36	32	30	29	28	29	31	34	36	34	29	27	27
Thu	26	28	31	37	36	32	30	29	28	29	32	34	38	35	29	27	27
Fri	26	27	29	32	30	29	29	29	29	30	31	31	32	30	28	27	26
Sat	27	27	27	27	27	27	28	28	28	28	28	28	28	28	28	27	27
Sun	27	27	27	27	27	27	28	28	28	28	28	28	28	28	28	28	27

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	26	28	30	33	32	30	29	29	29	29	30	31	31	29	28	27	27
Tue	26	28	31	38	38	33	30	29	28	29	31	33	36	33	29	27	27
Wed	26	28	31	38	36	32	30	29	28	29	31	34	36	34	29	27	27
Thu	26	28	31	37	36	32	30	29	28	29	32	34	38	35	29	27	27
Fri	26	27	29	32	30	29	29	29	29	30	31	31	32	30	28	27	26
Sat	27	27	27	27	27	27	28	28	28	28	28	28	28	28	28	27	27
Sun	27	27	27	27	27	27	28	28	28	28	28	28	28	28	28	28	27