Best Time to Drive from SMF to Folsom

Right now (11:31 am PDT): about 38 minutes via US-50 East and I-5 South, usually 37 at this time.

On weekdays the 35-mile drive from SMF to Folsom (via US-50 East and I-5 South) usually takes as little as 34 minutes and up to 53 minutes, when leaving around 5 pm on Wednesdays. The fastest times to leave are before 7:30 am or after 6:30 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 38 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 12:30 pm on Saturdays (36 minutes).

⇄ Reverse trip: Folsom to SMF

Freeway, about 29 miles: times follow typical and live traffic from our sensors. Surface streets, about 6 miles: 9 to 12 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 Sacramento International Airport (SMF) to central Folsom (Sutter 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 SMF to Folsom 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	35	36	37	39	38	37	37	37	37	38	39	41	40	36	35	35	35
Tue	35	36	38	45	42	38	37	37	37	38	40	47	51	39	35	35	35
Wed	35	36	38	44	40	38	38	38	38	38	40	48	53	39	35	35	35
Thu	35	36	37	42	40	37	38	38	38	38	41	47	51	40	35	35	35
Fri	35	36	37	39	38	37	37	38	38	39	41	44	44	39	36	35	35
Sat	35	35	35	36	36	36	36	36	36	36	36	36	35	35	35	35	35
Sun	35	35	35	35	35	36	36	36	36	36	36	36	35	35	35	35	35

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 Folsom?

On weekdays, leave before 7:30 am or after 6:30 pm. The drive usually takes about 34 minutes then, versus up to 53 minutes at the worst times.

How long does it take to drive from SMF to Folsom?

The 35-mile drive usually takes 34 to 53 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 38 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from SMF to Folsom?

Leaving around 5 pm on Wednesdays is usually slowest, about 53 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

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

Open the live traffic map →

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	35	36	37	39	38	37	37	37	37	38	39	41	40	36	35	35	35
Tue	35	36	38	45	42	38	37	37	37	38	40	47	51	39	35	35	35
Wed	35	36	38	44	40	38	38	38	38	38	40	48	53	39	35	35	35
Thu	35	36	37	42	40	37	38	38	38	38	41	47	51	40	35	35	35
Fri	35	36	37	39	38	37	37	38	38	39	41	44	44	39	36	35	35
Sat	35	35	35	36	36	36	36	36	36	36	36	36	35	35	35	35	35
Sun	35	35	35	35	35	36	36	36	36	36	36	36	35	35	35	35	35

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	35	36	37	39	38	37	37	37	37	38	39	41	40	36	35	35	35
Tue	35	36	38	45	42	38	37	37	37	38	40	47	51	39	35	35	35
Wed	35	36	38	44	40	38	38	38	38	38	40	48	53	39	35	35	35
Thu	35	36	37	42	40	37	38	38	38	38	41	47	51	40	35	35	35
Fri	35	36	37	39	38	37	37	38	38	39	41	44	44	39	36	35	35
Sat	35	35	35	36	36	36	36	36	36	36	36	36	35	35	35	35	35
Sun	35	35	35	35	35	36	36	36	36	36	36	36	35	35	35	35	35

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	35	36	37	39	38	37	37	37	37	38	39	41	40	36	35	35	35
Tue	35	36	38	45	42	38	37	37	37	38	40	47	51	39	35	35	35
Wed	35	36	38	44	40	38	38	38	38	38	40	48	53	39	35	35	35
Thu	35	36	37	42	40	37	38	38	38	38	41	47	51	40	35	35	35
Fri	35	36	37	39	38	37	37	38	38	39	41	44	44	39	36	35	35
Sat	35	35	35	36	36	36	36	36	36	36	36	36	35	35	35	35	35
Sun	35	35	35	35	35	36	36	36	36	36	36	36	35	35	35	35	35