How Bad is San Jose Traffic?
Although not as bad as San Francisco, drivers in San Jose can expect a lot of congested roads—especially during rush hour.
Written by Sean Boehme
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
Table of Contents
- How bad is San Jose traffic?
- Why is San Jose’s traffic so bad?
- How to navigate San Jose traffic like a pro
- Prepare for San Jose traffic by updating your car insurance
- FAQS
Load full table of contents
Since
San Jose
is in Silicon Valley and close to San Francisco, the roads tend to be heavy with traffic and congestion. During rush hour, it takes many drivers in San Jose 2 to 3 hours to just get to or from their place of work. Often considered the southernmost part of the Bay Area, San Jose is a big city that continues to grow as more professionals seek tech jobs in Silicon Valley. From Sharks games to job opportunities, there are plenty of great reasons to go to San Jose—but you should be prepared for traffic when you do.
For a rundown on how bad the traffic is in San Jose, as well as how you can avoid the worst of it, read on with this guide from the
car insurance
comparison app Jerry
.How bad is San Jose traffic?
The Bay Area has become infamous for its traffic—and a big part of this is thanks to Silicon Valley and the ever-growing tech industry. Although the COVID-19 pandemic has reduced overall traffic, conditions have begun to worsen again as more people return to the office.
According to
TomTom’s traffic report
, San Jose is the 30th most congested city in the United States. Here’s a look at how much extra time the average San Jose commuter has spent sitting in traffic over the last few years:Year | Hours lost to congestion |
|---|---|
2019 | 157 hours |
2020 | 85 hours |
2021 | 68 hours |
Are you overpaying for your car insurance?
Compare quotes and find out in 45 seconds.
4.717k Ratings5M+Drivers Joined
7M+Cars Garaged
Make safe driving pay
Get rewarded for safe driving. Earn points and unlock benefits. Totally free.
Start earning now
Why is San Jose’s traffic so bad?
A city’s traffic conditions are the result of several factors. The city’s population, the quality of its public transportation, and the habits of its commuters all play a big part in determining what traffic is like in a city.
Here are some reasons why traffic in San Jose is so bad.
Population size
San Jose has a population of over one million people, but that figure doesn’t even tell the whole story. Many jobs within the Bay Area and Silicon valley require employees to travel from one city to the next, so the entire region has to share just a few main roads.
Considering the total population of the Bay Area is nearly eight million people, it’s no surprise that
the roads
are crowded at nearly all hours of the day.Major chokepoints
When it comes to rush hour traffic in San Jose, a lot of drivers are making their way to the same few areas. This naturally leads to a lot of congestion—especially on bigger roads.
Both Interstate 580 and Interstate 680 are good examples of these chokepoints, and you can always count on them to be congested throughout the day. Beyond that, the downtown areas of
San Francisco
, Oakland
, and San Jose
tend to have heavy traffic all day long.Many commuters
Neither San Jose nor the Bay Area as a whole is well known for public transportation, which means nearly everyone has to drive to work. On top of that, the cost of living in the Bay Area forces many people to live over an hour away from their job—and that’s before accounting for traffic.
With so many people constantly driving such long distances, the roads near San Jose just aren’t big enough to keep everyone moving quickly.
MORE: The best type of car insurance to get if you commute long distances
"I’m earning
awesome rewards
every week, just for driving safe!”
Patricia W.
Reviewed on 5/28/2023
How to navigate San Jose traffic like a pro
Sitting in traffic all day can be tiring—and even in ideal conditions, you might have to leave your home earlier than you'd like. On top of that, you’re even more likely to get into an accident when roads are congested.
For your best chance at avoiding the worst of traffic in San Jose, be sure to stick with the tips below:
- Avoid rush hour. Although you won’t always have the option to avoid rush hour traffic, doing so is easily the best way to speed up your commute to work. In San Jose, the rush hour comes in two waves: 7am to 9 am and 3pm to 6pm.
- Keep up to date with the traffic. If you want to avoid major slowdowns or accidents, you need to know where they are. Most navigation apps crowdsource traffic information, but consider listening to either KFWB 980AM or KNX 1070AM.
- Stay focused. Staying focused can be difficult, especially if you’re stuck in traffic after a long day. Still, if you don’t keep your eyes on the road, you’re at a far higher risk of an accident.
Prepare for San Jose traffic by updating your car insurance
Whether you commute to San Jose daily or you’re just planning to visit the city, you should make sure your
car is covered
before heading into the city. Even if you like your car insurance coverage, revisiting your plan could help you save a lot of money.Jerry
is a car insurance comparison app that makes browsing cheap car insurance quotes easier than ever. If you decide you want to switch your plan, our experienced agents are standing by to handle all the paperwork and phone calls on your behalf.Signing up with Jerry takes just seconds—and the average user saves $887 per year!
“I usually don’t leave reviews, but this app was amazing! I’m young and wanted a nice car, so I thought insurance companies would charge me extra. ButJerrychopped my usual payments in half! Thanks, Jerry.” —Gabby E.
Compare insurance quotes from 50+ carriers with Jerry in under 45 seconds
Compare insurance quotes from 50+ carriers with Jerry in under 45 seconds
4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ driversFAQS
Is San Jose hard to drive in?
There is a lot of traffic in San Jose, so if you aren’t used to congested roads then driving there might seem difficult. Once you take the time to learn the best roads and times for driving, you should feel more at ease.
What is the best time to drive through San Jose?
If you want to avoid rush hour in San Jose, plan to be on the road before 7 am or after 6 pm. If you want to do something during the day, the best window to drive is from 9 am to 3 pm.
Are you overpaying for car insurance?
Compare quotes and find out in 45 seconds.
4.7You might also be interested
