Driving into the sun

Question

Hi all! Driving from Modesto to SFO to catch a red-eye next week. Would you recommend I do the drive in the evening with the sun going down and potentially driving right into the sun, or wait till after dusk? I can leave the Modesto area any time after 6 pm, and rental car has to be back by 10 pm. I am not very comfortable driving on the dark and typically avoid it at home, but if road conditions are good, lighting is good and signage is good, and traffic patterns aren't too hectic, I would consider it. Not sure if driving right into the sunset would be worse, and curious what time of day the sun gets really bad for people driving due West. I am not familiar with the route or area. This will be a quick one-day turnaround trip for a meeting. Thanks in advance!

Answer

Driving from Modesto to San Francisco in the early evening can be tricky because you’ll be heading generally west, which means the setting sun can be directly in your line of sight for part of the trip. Since you mentioned leaving after 6 pm, here’s some guidance based on typical sunset times and traffic patterns in late fall:

1. Sun Position: In late fall, the sun sets roughly between 4:45 and 5:15 pm in the Modesto/SF area, which means if you leave after 6 pm, you’ll likely be driving mostly after sunset, reducing the glare problem. However, any lingering light may still be low on the horizon when you enter the Bay Area.

2. Traffic Considerations: Leaving after 6 pm helps you avoid the bulk of Modesto/SF evening rush hour (which peaks around 4–6 pm). However, entering the Bay Area freeway system near SFO may still involve moderate traffic, particularly if you use US-101 or I-280 through the Peninsula. Expect lighter traffic on I-580 or I-680 routes.

3. Night Driving Comfort: Since you’re not typically comfortable driving after dark, note that the roads from Modesto to SFO are well-lit near urban areas, especially along highways like I-580 and US-101. Rural stretches before the Bay Area are darker, so headlight visibility is important. Make sure your rental car’s lights are working well.

If you leave right after 6 pm, you may still get some residual sunset glare driving west across I-580 toward the Bay Area.
Waiting until around 6:30–6:45 pm will likely place you fully after dusk for the majority of the drive, which may feel safer given your preference for avoiding sun glare.
Use polarized sunglasses if you do end up leaving closer to 6 pm to reduce glare during any remaining sunset light.

4. Route Choice: Consider traffic patterns and sunset glare. Some routes are more exposed:

I-580 west through Livermore and Castro Valley has longer stretches with minimal shade, which could make sunset glare noticeable if you leave too early.
I-680 through Pleasanton/Alameda area has more tree coverage and can reduce direct sunlight glare in some spots.
US-101 southbound into SFO has sections where the sun may be low over the water on the left side of the road; visibility can vary depending on weather and cloud cover.

Recommendation: Since your rental must be back by 10 pm and you are not comfortable driving in direct sunlight or darkness, leaving around 6:30–6:45 pm is likely optimal. This puts most of your drive after dusk with minimal glare, and you’ll still have ample time to return the car by 10 pm. Make sure to allow extra travel time for Bay Area traffic and use headlights appropriately in darker stretches.

Driving into the sun

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