Best Time to Drive from Walnut Creek to Palo Alto

Right now (9:01 am PDT): about 48 minutes via I-880 South and SR-24 West, usually 48 at this time.

On weekdays the 48-mile drive from Walnut Creek to Palo Alto (via I-880 South and SR-24 West) usually takes as little as 45 minutes and up to 69 minutes, when leaving around 7:30 am on Tuesdays. The fastest times to leave are before 6 am or after 6:30 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 51 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 3:30 pm on Saturdays (53 minutes).

Typical drive time by departure time

Minutes from Walnut Creek to Palo Alto 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	46	53	59	60	55	53	51	51	51	51	52	51	51	48	47	47	47
Tue	45	56	67	68	62	55	53	51	51	51	52	53	53	51	48	47	47
Wed	45	56	67	68	60	55	52	51	51	52	54	55	54	51	48	47	47
Thu	45	56	64	64	59	54	52	51	50	51	52	54	59	54	48	47	47
Fri	46	52	56	55	52	52	51	50	52	54	54	54	56	52	49	47	47
Sat	46	47	47	47	48	49	51	51	52	52	52	52	53	51	48	48	47
Sun	46	46	47	47	47	48	49	50	50	51	51	50	51	49	48	48	47

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 Walnut Creek to Palo Alto?

On weekdays, leave before 6 am or after 6:30 pm. The drive usually takes about 45 minutes then, versus up to 69 minutes at the worst times.

How long does it take to drive from Walnut Creek to Palo Alto?

The 48-mile drive usually takes 45 to 69 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 51 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Walnut Creek to Palo Alto?

Leaving around 7:30 am on Tuesdays is usually slowest, about 69 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

Palo Alto to Walnut Creek (return trip) · Walnut Creek to San Francisco · Walnut Creek to Oakland · Walnut Creek to San Jose · Walnut Creek to Berkeley · Walnut Creek to Fremont · Walnut Creek to San Mateo · Walnut Creek to Mountain View · Walnut Creek to Pleasanton · Walnut Creek to Santa Clara · Walnut Creek to Richmond

Open the live traffic map →

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	46	53	59	60	55	53	51	51	51	51	52	51	51	48	47	47	47
Tue	45	56	67	68	62	55	53	51	51	51	52	53	53	51	48	47	47
Wed	45	56	67	68	60	55	52	51	51	52	54	55	54	51	48	47	47
Thu	45	56	64	64	59	54	52	51	50	51	52	54	59	54	48	47	47
Fri	46	52	56	55	52	52	51	50	52	54	54	54	56	52	49	47	47
Sat	46	47	47	47	48	49	51	51	52	52	52	52	53	51	48	48	47
Sun	46	46	47	47	47	48	49	50	50	51	51	50	51	49	48	48	47

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	46	53	59	60	55	53	51	51	51	51	52	51	51	48	47	47	47
Tue	45	56	67	68	62	55	53	51	51	51	52	53	53	51	48	47	47
Wed	45	56	67	68	60	55	52	51	51	52	54	55	54	51	48	47	47
Thu	45	56	64	64	59	54	52	51	50	51	52	54	59	54	48	47	47
Fri	46	52	56	55	52	52	51	50	52	54	54	54	56	52	49	47	47
Sat	46	47	47	47	48	49	51	51	52	52	52	52	53	51	48	48	47
Sun	46	46	47	47	47	48	49	50	50	51	51	50	51	49	48	48	47

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	46	53	59	60	55	53	51	51	51	51	52	51	51	48	47	47	47
Tue	45	56	67	68	62	55	53	51	51	51	52	53	53	51	48	47	47
Wed	45	56	67	68	60	55	52	51	51	52	54	55	54	51	48	47	47
Thu	45	56	64	64	59	54	52	51	50	51	52	54	59	54	48	47	47
Fri	46	52	56	55	52	52	51	50	52	54	54	54	56	52	49	47	47
Sat	46	47	47	47	48	49	51	51	52	52	52	52	53	51	48	48	47
Sun	46	46	47	47	47	48	49	50	50	51	51	50	51	49	48	48	47