Best Time to Drive from SJC to SFO

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

On weekdays the 34-mile drive from SJC to SFO (via US-101 North) usually takes as little as 31 minutes and up to 47 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 34 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 12 pm on Saturdays (34 minutes).

⇄ Reverse trip: SFO to SJC

Drive times are measured from San José Mineta International Airport (SJC) to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) (Departures) 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 SFO 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	33	36	40	39	36	34	34	34	34	35	36	37	35	33	32	32
Tue	31	33	37	45	45	39	36	34	33	34	36	39	42	39	35	32	32
Wed	31	33	37	45	43	38	35	35	34	35	36	39	41	40	35	32	32
Thu	31	33	37	44	42	38	35	34	33	34	37	40	43	41	35	32	32
Fri	31	32	35	38	36	35	34	34	34	35	36	37	38	36	34	32	31
Sat	31	31	32	32	32	33	34	34	34	34	34	33	34	33	33	33	32
Sun	31	32	31	31	32	33	33	34	33	34	34	33	34	33	33	33	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 SJC to SFO?

On weekdays, leave before 6:30 am or after 7:30 pm. The drive usually takes about 31 minutes then, versus up to 47 minutes at the worst times.

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

The 34-mile drive usually takes 31 to 47 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 34 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from SJC to SFO?

Leaving around 8:30 am on Tuesdays is usually slowest, about 47 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

SFO to SJC (return trip) · 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 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	31	33	36	40	39	36	34	34	34	34	35	36	37	35	33	32	32
Tue	31	33	37	45	45	39	36	34	33	34	36	39	42	39	35	32	32
Wed	31	33	37	45	43	38	35	35	34	35	36	39	41	40	35	32	32
Thu	31	33	37	44	42	38	35	34	33	34	37	40	43	41	35	32	32
Fri	31	32	35	38	36	35	34	34	34	35	36	37	38	36	34	32	31
Sat	31	31	32	32	32	33	34	34	34	34	34	33	34	33	33	33	32
Sun	31	32	31	31	32	33	33	34	33	34	34	33	34	33	33	33	32

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	31	33	36	40	39	36	34	34	34	34	35	36	37	35	33	32	32
Tue	31	33	37	45	45	39	36	34	33	34	36	39	42	39	35	32	32
Wed	31	33	37	45	43	38	35	35	34	35	36	39	41	40	35	32	32
Thu	31	33	37	44	42	38	35	34	33	34	37	40	43	41	35	32	32
Fri	31	32	35	38	36	35	34	34	34	35	36	37	38	36	34	32	31
Sat	31	31	32	32	32	33	34	34	34	34	34	33	34	33	33	33	32
Sun	31	32	31	31	32	33	33	34	33	34	34	33	34	33	33	33	32

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	31	33	36	40	39	36	34	34	34	34	35	36	37	35	33	32	32
Tue	31	33	37	45	45	39	36	34	33	34	36	39	42	39	35	32	32
Wed	31	33	37	45	43	38	35	35	34	35	36	39	41	40	35	32	32
Thu	31	33	37	44	42	38	35	34	33	34	37	40	43	41	35	32	32
Fri	31	32	35	38	36	35	34	34	34	35	36	37	38	36	34	32	31
Sat	31	31	32	32	32	33	34	34	34	34	34	33	34	33	33	33	32
Sun	31	32	31	31	32	33	33	34	33	34	34	33	34	33	33	33	32