Best Time to Drive from SMF to Elk Grove

Right now (1:18 pm PDT): about 28 minutes via SR-99 South and I-5 South, usually 28 at this time.

Only 69% 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.

Typical drive time by departure time

Minutes from SMF to Elk Grove 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	29	37	32	30	31	30	31	31	35	37	38	29	27	28	28
Tue	26	27	29	38	36	31	30	31	30	31	34	39	46	33	27	27	27
Wed	26	27	29	39	34	30	30	32	30	31	34	41	46	34	28	27	27
Thu	26	27	29	35	33	30	31	32	31	31	37	42	47	37	27	27	26
Fri	26	27	28	30	29	29	30	30	31	31	38	37	38	34	29	27	27
Sat	27	27	27	27	27	28	28	28	29	28	28	28	27	27	27	27	27
Sun	27	27	27	27	27	27	28	28	28	28	28	28	27	27	27	27	26

About this drive

On weekdays the 27-mile drive from SMF to Elk Grove (via SR-99 South and I-5 South) usually takes as little as 26 minutes and up to 47 minutes, when leaving around 5 pm on Thursdays. The fastest times to leave are before 7 am or after 7 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 31 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 12:30 pm on Saturdays (29 minutes).

About 23 miles of it is freeway, where times follow typical and live traffic from our sensors, and about 4 miles surface streets (6 to 11 minutes on weekdays), estimated from how jammed the freeways around them are at that time. Drive times are measured from Sacramento International Airport (SMF) to central Elk Grove (Elk Grove Florin Road) along the route on the map. Starting or ending elsewhere in a big city can add or save several minutes.

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 SMF to Elk Grove?

On weekdays, leave before 7 am or after 7 pm. The drive usually takes about 26 minutes then, versus up to 47 minutes at the worst times.

How long does it take to drive from SMF to Elk Grove?

The 27-mile drive usually takes 26 to 47 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 31 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from SMF to Elk Grove?

Leaving around 5 pm on Thursdays is usually slowest, about 47 minutes.

Freeways on this drive

SR-99 South in Sacramento (11 miles) · I-5 South in Sacramento (10 miles) · US-50 East in Sacramento (2 miles)

Sacramento traffic right now · Sacramento traffic tomorrow

More drives

Elk Grove to SMF (return trip) · SMF to Sacramento · SMF to Davis · SMF to Folsom

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	29	37	32	30	31	30	31	31	35	37	38	29	27	28	28
Tue	26	27	29	38	36	31	30	31	30	31	34	39	46	33	27	27	27
Wed	26	27	29	39	34	30	30	32	30	31	34	41	46	34	28	27	27
Thu	26	27	29	35	33	30	31	32	31	31	37	42	47	37	27	27	26
Fri	26	27	28	30	29	29	30	30	31	31	38	37	38	34	29	27	27
Sat	27	27	27	27	27	28	28	28	29	28	28	28	27	27	27	27	27
Sun	27	27	27	27	27	27	28	28	28	28	28	28	27	27	27	27	26

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	26	28	29	37	32	30	31	30	31	31	35	37	38	29	27	28	28
Tue	26	27	29	38	36	31	30	31	30	31	34	39	46	33	27	27	27
Wed	26	27	29	39	34	30	30	32	30	31	34	41	46	34	28	27	27
Thu	26	27	29	35	33	30	31	32	31	31	37	42	47	37	27	27	26
Fri	26	27	28	30	29	29	30	30	31	31	38	37	38	34	29	27	27
Sat	27	27	27	27	27	28	28	28	29	28	28	28	27	27	27	27	27
Sun	27	27	27	27	27	27	28	28	28	28	28	28	27	27	27	27	26

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	26	28	29	37	32	30	31	30	31	31	35	37	38	29	27	28	28
Tue	26	27	29	38	36	31	30	31	30	31	34	39	46	33	27	27	27
Wed	26	27	29	39	34	30	30	32	30	31	34	41	46	34	28	27	27
Thu	26	27	29	35	33	30	31	32	31	31	37	42	47	37	27	27	26
Fri	26	27	28	30	29	29	30	30	31	31	38	37	38	34	29	27	27
Sat	27	27	27	27	27	28	28	28	29	28	28	28	27	27	27	27	27
Sun	27	27	27	27	27	27	28	28	28	28	28	28	27	27	27	27	26