Origin
Campbell, CA
Late night in Campbell on Tuesday
Local time
3:17 AM
PDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Campbell, CA to San Jose, CA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
12m
Distance
7.3 mi
12 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 12m
★
6 AM
0h 13m
8 AM
0h 15m
10 AM
0h 14m
12 PM
0h 13m
3 PM
0h 14m
5 PM
0h 15m
8 PM
0h 12m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Campbell, CA
Wikimedia Commons
San Jose, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick transit between Campbell and San Jose, this 7-mile trip is an efficient way to get across the Pacific Coast region. You can expect to spend about 11 minutes behind the wheel, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day commute rather than an overnight excursion. With a fuel budget of just $1, this is an incredibly economical route for your daily travels. You will navigate entirely on local roads, as there is no highway driving involved in this short transition. It is a straightforward connection that requires no intermediate stops, allowing you to get from point A to point B with minimal fuss.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Sinclair Freeway | 2.3 mi | 2m |
| CA 17 | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| East Hamilton Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Winchester Boulevard | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| West Campbell Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| West Saint James Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North Market Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Sinclair Freeway
— 2.3 mi, about 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Campbell, CA and San Jose, CA.
1
Start on West Campbell Avenue
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
West Campbell Avenue
2
Continue on West Campbell Avenue
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
West Campbell Avenue
Use the left lane.
3
Turn left onto Winchester Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Winchester Boulevard
Use the left lane.
4
Turn right onto East Hamilton Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Hamilton Avenue
Use the right lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Toward CA 17 North: San Jose
Use the right lane.
6
Merge onto CA 17
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
CA 17
7
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
50 sec
Exit 27A
Toward I 280 South: Downtown San Jose
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 280
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Sinclair Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 3A
Toward CA 87 North, CA 87 South: San Jose International Airport, Guadalupe Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward CA 87 North: San Jose International Airport, Guadalupe Parkway
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward CA 87 North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 6B
Toward Julian Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn right onto West Saint James Street
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
West Saint James Street
Use the straight lane.
14
Turn left onto North Market Street
416 ft
·
8 sec
·
North Market Street
15
Arrive at destination
North Market Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 2.8 and 6.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
2.8 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the exit toward I 280 South: Downtown San Jose
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 27A
Toward I 280 South: Downtown San Jose
8
5.6 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Take the exit toward CA 87 North, CA 87 South: San Jose International Airport, Guadalupe Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 3A
Toward CA 87 North, CA 87 South: San Jose Inter...
8
5.9 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Keep slight left at fork toward CA 87 North: San Jose International Airport, Guadalupe Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward CA 87 North: San Jose International Airp...
7
6.6 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Keep slight left at fork toward CA 87 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward CA 87 North
9
6.9 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Julian Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 6B
Toward Julian Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.68 one way
$3.36 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
3 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $1.73 | $3.46 |
| premium | $6.18 | $1.78 | $3.55 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $1.61 | $3.22 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 2.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2.2 | 0 | $0.77 | $0.35 |
| Efficient EV | 1.8 | 0 | $0.64 | $0.29 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 2.9 | 0 | $1.02 | $0.47 |
Gas CO2
3 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
San Jose, CA
Late night in San Jose on Tuesday
Local time
3:17 AM
PDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
12m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This 7-mile journey is defined as a turn-heavy local drive, requiring your full attention as you navigate through the urban landscape. Because the route relies on West Campbell Avenue, Winchester Boulevard, and East Hamilton Avenue, you will not experience any highway speeds or open-road cruising. There is zero highway share on this trip, so expect to encounter typical city intersections and local traffic patterns throughout the 11-minute duration. You will find that the longest stretch is 0 miles on West Campbell Avenue, meaning the character of the road is constantly shifting with frequent turns. It is a practical, functional drive that prioritizes local access over speed or scenic vistas.
47% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 2.3 mi on Sinclair Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.8 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 7.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 12m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
Starting in Campbell, CA
Full guide →Top landmarks
- • Ainsley House — historic house museum in Campbell, California, United States
- • Campbell Union Grammar School — historic building in Campbell, California, US
- • Earl and Virginia Young House — Historic house in Campbell, California, USA.
Arriving in San Jose, CA
Full guide →Founded 1777
Often called "the capital of Silicon Valley", San Jose is the largest city in the Bay Area, 3rd largest in California, and the 12th largest city in the United States, with a population of over 997,000 residents as of 2024. It was named the 6th safest big city in the U.S. in 2015. This clean, sprawling metropolis has sports, beautiful vistas, and ethnic enclaves and bleeds into the greater Bay Area for travelers who want to take their time in Northern California.
Top landmarks
- • Winchester Mystery House — Mansion in San Jose, California.
- • San Jose Diridon station — railway station complex in San Jose, California
- • Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum — building in San Jose, California, United States
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 12m. Total distance: 7.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (47%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 2.3 miles on Sinclair Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at San Jose, CA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at San Jose, CA before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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