Best Time to Drive from Sunnyvale to Novato

Right now (3:20 pm PST): about 73 minutes via I-280 North and US-101 North, usually 73 at this time.

Only 14% 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 Sunnyvale to Novato 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	69	71	74	77	79	73	72	71	71	72	78	90	81	71	70	70	69
Tue	69	72	75	82	83	76	72	71	72	73	85	99	93	79	71	69	69
Wed	68	72	75	80	81	75	72	72	72	74	90	107	98	81	71	70	69
Thu	69	72	75	83	86	77	73	72	72	74	92	108	99	83	73	70	69
Fri	68	69	73	74	74	72	72	72	73	78	94	93	83	76	72	70	69
Sat	69	69	69	69	70	71	73	74	74	74	74	72	71	70	70	70	69
Sun	69	69	69	69	70	70	72	73	73	73	72	72	70	71	70	70	69

About this drive

On weekdays the 73-mile drive from Sunnyvale to Novato (via I-280 North and US-101 North) usually takes as little as 68 minutes and up to 108 minutes, when leaving around 4 pm on Thursdays. The fastest times to leave are before 7:30 am or after 6:30 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 72 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 12 pm on Saturdays (74 minutes).

About 64 miles of it is freeway, where times follow typical and live traffic from our sensors, and about 9 miles surface streets (12 to 21 minutes on weekdays), estimated from how jammed the freeways around them are at that time. Drive times are measured from central Sunnyvale to central Novato 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 Sunnyvale to Novato?

On weekdays, leave before 7:30 am or after 6:30 pm. The drive usually takes about 68 minutes then, versus up to 108 minutes at the worst times.

How long does it take to drive from Sunnyvale to Novato?

The 73-mile drive usually takes 68 to 108 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 72 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Sunnyvale to Novato?

Leaving around 4 pm on Thursdays is usually slowest, about 108 minutes.

Freeways on this drive

I-280 North in Bay Area (40 miles) · US-101 North in Bay Area (20 miles) · SR-1 North in Bay Area (4 miles)

Bay Area traffic right now · Bay Area traffic tomorrow

More drives

Novato to Sunnyvale (return trip) · Sunnyvale to Stockton · Sunnyvale to Modesto · Sunnyvale to Concord · Sunnyvale to Vallejo · Sunnyvale to Fairfield · Sunnyvale to Antioch · Sunnyvale to Daly City · Sunnyvale to Vacaville · Sunnyvale to San Leandro · Sunnyvale to Livermore · Sunnyvale to Tracy

Open the live traffic map →

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	69	71	74	77	79	73	72	71	71	72	78	90	81	71	70	70	69
Tue	69	72	75	82	83	76	72	71	72	73	85	99	93	79	71	69	69
Wed	68	72	75	80	81	75	72	72	72	74	90	107	98	81	71	70	69
Thu	69	72	75	83	86	77	73	72	72	74	92	108	99	83	73	70	69
Fri	68	69	73	74	74	72	72	72	73	78	94	93	83	76	72	70	69
Sat	69	69	69	69	70	71	73	74	74	74	74	72	71	70	70	70	69
Sun	69	69	69	69	70	70	72	73	73	73	72	72	70	71	70	70	69

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	69	71	74	77	79	73	72	71	71	72	78	90	81	71	70	70	69
Tue	69	72	75	82	83	76	72	71	72	73	85	99	93	79	71	69	69
Wed	68	72	75	80	81	75	72	72	72	74	90	107	98	81	71	70	69
Thu	69	72	75	83	86	77	73	72	72	74	92	108	99	83	73	70	69
Fri	68	69	73	74	74	72	72	72	73	78	94	93	83	76	72	70	69
Sat	69	69	69	69	70	71	73	74	74	74	74	72	71	70	70	70	69
Sun	69	69	69	69	70	70	72	73	73	73	72	72	70	71	70	70	69

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	69	71	74	77	79	73	72	71	71	72	78	90	81	71	70	70	69
Tue	69	72	75	82	83	76	72	71	72	73	85	99	93	79	71	69	69
Wed	68	72	75	80	81	75	72	72	72	74	90	107	98	81	71	70	69
Thu	69	72	75	83	86	77	73	72	72	74	92	108	99	83	73	70	69
Fri	68	69	73	74	74	72	72	72	73	78	94	93	83	76	72	70	69
Sat	69	69	69	69	70	71	73	74	74	74	74	72	71	70	70	70	69
Sun	69	69	69	69	70	70	72	73	73	73	72	72	70	71	70	70	69