Origin
Lathrop, CA
Evening in Lathrop on Sunday
Local time
6:41 PM
PDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lathrop, CA to San Jose, CA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 20, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 20m
Distance
63.6 mi
102 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 15m
★
6 AM
1h 21m
8 AM
1h 33m
10 AM
1h 25m
12 PM
1h 24m
3 PM
1h 26m
5 PM
1h 33m
8 PM
1h 17m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lathrop, CA
Wikimedia Commons
San Jose, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Spanning 67.9 miles, the drive from Lathrop to San Jose is a straightforward trip that typically takes about 1 hour and 13 minutes. Because this is a relatively short distance within California's Pacific Coast region, you can easily complete it as a comfortable day trip without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $9 on fuel for the journey, making it a budget-friendly transit option. You will primarily navigate via 5th Street, Lathrop Road, and the Westside Freeway to reach your destination. This route is best viewed as a practical connection between two points rather than a scenic tour, serving well for those looking to move efficiently between these cities.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Robert T. Monagan Freeway | 13.9 mi | 15m |
| Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway | 12.9 mi | 14m |
| I 680 | 8.3 mi | 9m |
| Nimitz Freeway | 8.3 mi | 9m |
| Vallecitos Road | 5.2 mi | 7m |
| Isabel Avenue | 4.7 mi | 6m |
| Westside Freeway | 4.3 mi | 4m |
| North 1st Street | 1.5 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
Robert T. Monagan Freeway
— 13.9 mi, about 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lathrop, CA and San Jose, CA.
1
Start on East J Street
464 ft
·
22 sec
·
East J Street
2
Turn right onto 5th Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
5th Street
3
Turn left onto Lathrop Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Lathrop Road
Use the straight lane.
4
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
Use the left lane.
5
Merge onto I 5
4.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Westside Freeway
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 205
14 mi
·
15 min
·
Robert T. Monagan Freeway
7
Continue on I 580
13 mi
·
14 min
·
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 51
Toward CA 84: Isabel Avenue, Portola Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn left onto CA 84
4.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Isabel Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Continue on CA 84
5.2 mi
·
7 min
·
Vallecitos Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
Toward I 680 South: Fremont, San Jose
12
Merge onto I 680
8.3 mi
·
9 min
·
I 680
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 12
Toward CA 262
Use the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward CA 262: Northwestern Polytechnic University, Warm Springs District
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto CA 262
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Mission Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Merge onto I 880
8.3 mi
·
9 min
·
Nimitz Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 4A
Toward Downtown, North First Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Turn left onto North 1st Street
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
North 1st Street
Use the left / uturn lanes.
19
Turn right onto West Julian Street
494 ft
·
17 sec
·
West Julian Street
20
Turn left onto North Market Street
196 ft
·
6 sec
·
North Market Street
21
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 Lathrop, 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 175 decision points cluster between mile 32.5 and 61.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
32.5 mi into trip
|
~38m in
Take the exit toward CA 84: Isabel Avenue, Portola Avenue
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 51
Toward CA 84: Isabel Avenue, Portola Avenue
6
42.7 mi into trip
|
~53m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 680 South: Fremont, San Jose
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 680 South: Fremont, San Jose
7
51.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
Take the exit toward CA 262
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 12
Toward CA 262
9
51.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
Keep slight right at fork toward CA 262: Northwestern Polytechnic University, Warm Springs District
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward CA 262: Northwestern Polytechnic Univers...
8
61.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m 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
Evening in San Jose on Sunday
Local time
6:41 PM
PDT
Current temp
74°F
Sunny
NW 7 to 10 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 17 at 11:09AM PDT until April 18 at 8:00AM PDT by NWS Eureka CA
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
23 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 20m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 as you make your way out of Lathrop and toward San Jose. Unlike a long-haul interstate cruise, this path features zero percent highway share, meaning you will spend your time navigating local surface streets rather than cruising at high speeds. Because there are no long, uninterrupted highway stretches, you should remain alert and prepared for frequent adjustments in your driving pace. The road conditions shift as you transition through the local network, requiring your full attention behind the wheel. It is a technical, hands-on driving experience that demands constant engagement as you navigate the turn-heavy layout.
75% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 13.9 mi on Robert T. Monagan Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Robert T. Monagan Freeway and Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 32.5 miles in.
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 17 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 32.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 42.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 51.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
On the drive from Lathrop, CA to San Jose, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Warm Springs District along the way.
Warm Springs District
51.6 mi in
|
~1h 4m
About the Cities
Starting in Lathrop, CA
Full guide →Founded 1868
Lathrop is a city in San Joaquin County in California's San Joaquin Valley.
Arriving in San Jose, CA
Full guide →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.
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 20m. Total distance: 63.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (75%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 13.9 miles on Robert T. Monagan 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 32.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 42.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 51.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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