Origin
Larkspur, CA
Late night in Larkspur on Tuesday
Local time
5:05 AM
PDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Larkspur, 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
1h 23m
Distance
63.6 mi
102 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 17m
★
6 AM
1h 23m
8 AM
1h 36m
10 AM
1h 28m
12 PM
1h 26m
3 PM
1h 28m
5 PM
1h 35m
8 PM
1h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Larkspur, CA
Wikimedia Commons
San Jose, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 66.8-mile drive from Larkspur, CA to San Jose, CA is a manageable 1 hour and 19 minutes, making it an ideal day trip. You'll navigate primarily local roads, with no highway driving, and the estimated fuel cost is around $15. This route is characterized by frequent turns, suggesting a more engaging and potentially slower pace compared to highway travel. Given its short distance and duration, it’s perfect for a spontaneous excursion or a relaxed journey without the need for an overnight stop. Both your origin and destination are within the Pacific Coast region, so expect a drive that stays close to the California coastline's general vicinity.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 880 | 27.4 mi | 31m |
| Nimitz Freeway | 14.3 mi | 18m |
| John T. Knox Freeway | 11.6 mi | 14m |
| Eastshore Freeway | 3.8 mi | 4m |
| Sir Francis Drake Boulevard | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| North 1st Street | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| Magnolia Avenue | 0.7 mi | 2m |
| Bon Air Road | 0.7 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 880
— 27.4 mi, about 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Larkspur, CA and San Jose, CA.
1
Start on King Street
141 ft
·
6 sec
·
King Street
2
Turn right onto Magnolia Avenue
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Magnolia Avenue
3
Turn right onto Bon Air Road
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Bon Air Road
4
Turn right onto Sir Francis Drake Boulevard
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Sir Francis Drake Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
Continue on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Sir Francis Drake Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
Toward I 580 East
7
Merge onto I 580
12 mi
·
14 min
·
John T. Knox Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 80; I 580
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Eastshore Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
·
Interstate Highway 80
Toward I 580 East, I 880 South: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, Stockton, Alameda, San Jose
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 880
14 mi
·
18 min
·
Nimitz Freeway
Toward I 880: West Grand Avenue, Alameda, San Jose
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 880
5.6 mi
·
6 min
·
I 880
Use the slight left lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 880
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
I 880
Use the slight left lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 880
19 mi
·
22 min
·
I 880
Use the slight left lane.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 4A
Toward Downtown, North First Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Turn left onto North 1st Street
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
North 1st Street
Use the left / uturn lanes.
16
Turn right onto West Julian Street
494 ft
·
17 sec
·
West Julian Street
17
Turn left onto North Market Street
196 ft
·
6 sec
·
North Market Street
18
Arrive at destination
North Market Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
32 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 31.8 miles from Larkspur, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 19.7 and 61.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
19.7 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
I 580 / Interstate Highway 80
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580 / Interstate Highway 80 toward I 580 East, I 880 South: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, Stockton, Alameda, San Jose
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 580 East, I 880 South: Downtown Oaklan...
8
19.9 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
I 880 / Nimitz Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 880 / Nimitz Freeway toward I 880: West Grand Avenue, Alameda, San Jose
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 880: West Grand Avenue, Alameda, San J...
6
34.3 mi into trip
|
~47m in
|
I 880
Keep slight left at fork onto I 880
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
6
39.9 mi into trip
|
~53m in
|
I 880
Keep slight left at fork onto I 880
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
8
61.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 18m in
Take the exit toward Downtown, North First Street
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 4A
Toward Downtown, North First Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.62 one way
$29.24 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $15.06 | $30.13 |
| premium | $6.18 | $15.47 | $30.93 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.04 | $28.08 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$15
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.1 | 0 | $6.68 | $3.05 |
| Efficient EV | 15.9 | 0 | $5.56 | $2.54 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25.4 | 0 | $8.90 | $4.07 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (68% 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
5:05 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
3 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 23m 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?
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' on this route, with a 0% highway share. The longest uninterrupted stretch isn't specified, but the profile indicates you'll be making frequent directional changes rather than settling into a steady cruise. This means you'll likely experience a more intimate journey through varied local landscapes, with your attention frequently drawn to navigation. The absence of highway driving suggests a more grounded experience, potentially passing through more developed or residential areas where constant attention to turns is key.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 27.4 mi on I 880.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 880 and Nimitz Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 19.7 miles in near I 580 / Interstate Highway 80.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 63.6 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 19.7 miles (I 580 / Interstate Highway 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.9 miles (I 880 / Nimitz Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 34.3 miles (I 880): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Larkspur, CA and San Jose, CA, road signs point toward Hayward, Stockton and Alameda.
Hayward
19.7 mi in
|
~29m
|
via I 580
Stockton
19.7 mi in
|
~29m
|
via I 580
Alameda
19.7 mi in
|
~29m
|
via I 580
About the Cities
Starting in Larkspur, CA
Full guide →Founded 1857
The "twin cities" of Larkspur and Corte Madera are a pair of towns in Marin County in the San Francisco Bay Area of California. Larkspur is the main gateway to Marin by ferry, while Corte Madera is known for upscale shopping.
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 1h 23m. Total distance: 63.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 27.4 miles on I 880. 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 19.7 miles (I 580 / Interstate Highway 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.9 miles (I 880 / Nimitz Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 34.3 miles (I 880): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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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