Travel time to SFO

Question

Hello, all,

I will be in the Danville area for an event and staying overnight in San Ramon on a Monday night. The following morning, I have to get the rental car back to SFO by 8am. Google maps is telling me to leave at 6:30am. Is this really enough time or should I look for a hotel closer to the airport? I understand traffic will be heavy at that hour all over the Bay, I’m OK with that. Just trying to ensure I don’t miss my flight. Thank you in advance

Answer

Morning traffic from San Ramon/Danville to SFO on a weekday is some of the toughest in the Bay Area, especially between 6am and 9am. While Google Maps may show a 6:30am departure as “enough,” that estimate assumes the drive remains on the lower end of the delay range. In reality, the 680 → 24 → 580 → 101/SFO corridor can slow to a crawl, and even small incidents can add 20–40 minutes unexpectedly.

Your drop-off deadline of 8am adds extra pressure because you’ll need time to navigate SFO’s rental return facility, wait for the AirTrain, and get to your terminal. Most people underestimate how long the final steps take.

Below is a detailed breakdown to help you decide confidently.

Typical Travel Time Breakdown from San Ramon to SFO on a Tuesday Morning

Normal no-traffic time: 40–45 minutes
Average rush-hour time (6–8am): 60–80 minutes
Heavy or incident delay: 90–110 minutes
Rental car return + AirTrain: 15–25 minutes

So if you leave at 6:30am, your realistic arrival window at SFO’s rental return is between 7:30am and 8:20am. That means you absolutely could miss your 8am return requirement if traffic is thick or there’s even a small crash on 680 or 24.

What I Recommend

If you want to keep your San Ramon hotel: Leave no later than 6:00am. That gives you a safer cushion for delays and ensures you’re not rushed at the airport.
If you want the least stress: Move to a hotel near SFO for the final night. Then your morning drive becomes 5–10 minutes, and you remove all risk associated with Bay Area traffic.

Pros of Staying in San Ramon

You avoid the hassle of switching hotels.
You can still make it on time if you leave early enough.
The area is quieter and more comfortable than the airport corridor.

Cons of Staying in San Ramon

You must depart very early (6:00am latest) to be safe.
An accident or stalled car on I-680 or Hwy 24 can cause major delays.
Your morning will feel rushed and less predictable.

Pros of Staying Near SFO

Zero traffic stress the next morning.
Quick and easy rental car return.
More time to sleep and get organized.

Final Recommendation

If catching your flight is absolutely critical and you prefer a calm morning, shifting to an airport hotel is the smartest move. If you don’t mind waking up early and budgeting extra buffer time, staying in San Ramon is doable as long as you hit the road by 6:00am.

Travel time to SFO

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