How long will it take me to drive up to Tahoe from SF this Friday?

how many miles is that and ill give you an estimate

Depends on traffic, your average speed (do you like to drive fast, if possible), and where you are going in Tahoe. I’d budget 3–4 hours to get there, assuming minimal traffic.

google maps

Google maps tells me 3 and a half hours.
I’m a bit surprised someone knows how to use this site but not how to use google maps.

Btw, I’m asking because Google maps definitely way underestimates drives like this that have a bunch of traffic. I’m sure I won’t be the only one driving up to Tahoe around the end of the workday on Friday so I’m curious how much actual time it takes assuming I’m driving as fast as traffic will allow.

This Friday is a furlough Friday so I would think the afternoon traffic should be a bit lighter than usual.

I’ve made it to South Tahoe in 2.5 hours by driving 90 miles an hour at 5 am (to go skiing). But, it will likely take you at least 4 hours if you leave during rush hour(s), as you will hit Northbound traffic in Marin as well as in Sacramento. If you can afford to wait, leaving later (i.e. 7 pm) will save you at least an hour in the car.

Friday, end of workday traffic is awful and will add time to your trip.

How long it will take depends on what time you are leaving and whether you are going to south lake up 50 or the north part of the lake up 80 and 89.

Assuming you are going to south lake, in good traffic, you could make Sacramento in 1½ hrs and Tahoe in another 1½; 3 hours total.

In Friday night traffic, you should add 1 to 2 hours. Sometimes it is worse. I have been in stop and go traffic all the way to Sacramento, 4 hours, making it a 6 hour trip total.

The earlier you can leave on Friday, the better.

I live in Sacramento. I’m telling you that the traffic on the Fridays that state employees are furloughed is much lighter. I very much doubt that traffic through and from Sacramento will be much of an issue.

Sorry, missed the part about this Friday being during a 3 day weekend.

The bad traffic out of SFO will be Thursday evening. Friday should be a breeze. 3–4 hours.

getting out of the bay area will be the biggest problem. Figure 3½ if you leave before 3:30. 4 or more if you leave after that, and before 7.

@venndi Welcome to fluther. Lurve!

Since the weather is supposed to be beautiful all the way, I would add at least an hour to the time google tells you, and if there is an accident, which there often is, add all the time in the world.

@AstroChuck is correct about local traffic, but the out-of-towners will be in full force. You’ve got the Shakespeare Festival still going on, and the North-Star Downhill Mountain Bike Race, so there will be fairly heavy traffic.

So, how long did it take? Did you run into any traffic issues? I hope you had a good time.