Best Time to Drive from Union City to Salinas

Right now (9:35 pm PST): about 71 minutes via US-101 South and I-880 South, usually 72 at this time.

Only 27% 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 Union City to Salinas 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	72	75	81	92	95	87	84	82	82	91	99	105	100	84	76	72	72
Tue	71	75	83	97	101	88	83	81	81	88	102	109	100	89	79	73	72
Wed	71	75	83	96	100	88	83	82	81	89	104	108	104	89	79	73	72
Thu	71	75	83	95	97	87	83	81	82	92	108	113	106	90	82	74	72
Fri	71	75	80	84	86	82	82	85	91	104	114	117	107	92	83	74	72
Sat	72	71	72	73	75	79	86	88	88	87	86	83	82	79	77	74	72
Sun	72	72	72	72	73	75	78	80	81	80	78	77	77	76	75	74	72

About this drive

On weekdays the 80-mile drive from Union City to Salinas (via US-101 South and I-880 South) usually takes as little as 71 minutes and up to 117 minutes, when leaving around 3:30 pm on Fridays. The fastest times to leave are before 6:30 am or after 7:30 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 85 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 1:30 pm on Saturdays (88 minutes).

About 74 miles of it is freeway, where times follow typical and live traffic from our sensors, and about 5 miles surface streets (6 to 14 minutes on weekdays), estimated from how jammed the freeways around them are at that time. Drive times are measured from central Union City to central Salinas 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 Union City to Salinas?

On weekdays, leave before 6:30 am or after 7:30 pm. The drive usually takes about 71 minutes then, versus up to 117 minutes at the worst times.

How long does it take to drive from Union City to Salinas?

The 80-mile drive usually takes 71 to 117 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 85 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Union City to Salinas?

Leaving around 3:30 pm on Fridays is usually slowest, about 117 minutes.

Freeways on this drive

US-101 South in Bay Area (40 miles) · I-880 South in Bay Area (17 miles)

Bay Area traffic right now · Bay Area traffic tomorrow

More drives

Salinas to Union City (return trip) · Union City to Brooklyn · Union City to Santa Rosa · Union City to Washington Heights · Union City to South Ozone Park · Union City 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	72	75	81	92	95	87	84	82	82	91	99	105	100	84	76	72	72
Tue	71	75	83	97	101	88	83	81	81	88	102	109	100	89	79	73	72
Wed	71	75	83	96	100	88	83	82	81	89	104	108	104	89	79	73	72
Thu	71	75	83	95	97	87	83	81	82	92	108	113	106	90	82	74	72
Fri	71	75	80	84	86	82	82	85	91	104	114	117	107	92	83	74	72
Sat	72	71	72	73	75	79	86	88	88	87	86	83	82	79	77	74	72
Sun	72	72	72	72	73	75	78	80	81	80	78	77	77	76	75	74	72

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	72	75	81	92	95	87	84	82	82	91	99	105	100	84	76	72	72
Tue	71	75	83	97	101	88	83	81	81	88	102	109	100	89	79	73	72
Wed	71	75	83	96	100	88	83	82	81	89	104	108	104	89	79	73	72
Thu	71	75	83	95	97	87	83	81	82	92	108	113	106	90	82	74	72
Fri	71	75	80	84	86	82	82	85	91	104	114	117	107	92	83	74	72
Sat	72	71	72	73	75	79	86	88	88	87	86	83	82	79	77	74	72
Sun	72	72	72	72	73	75	78	80	81	80	78	77	77	76	75	74	72

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	72	75	81	92	95	87	84	82	82	91	99	105	100	84	76	72	72
Tue	71	75	83	97	101	88	83	81	81	88	102	109	100	89	79	73	72
Wed	71	75	83	96	100	88	83	82	81	89	104	108	104	89	79	73	72
Thu	71	75	83	95	97	87	83	81	82	92	108	113	106	90	82	74	72
Fri	71	75	80	84	86	82	82	85	91	104	114	117	107	92	83	74	72
Sat	72	71	72	73	75	79	86	88	88	87	86	83	82	79	77	74	72
Sun	72	72	72	72	73	75	78	80	81	80	78	77	77	76	75	74	72