Origin
Occidental, CA
Late night in Occidental on Tuesday
Local time
2:37 AM
PDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Occidental, 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
2h 23m
Distance
108.4 mi
174 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$25
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 14m
★
6 AM
2h 24m
8 AM
2h 44m
10 AM
2h 31m
12 PM
2h 29m
3 PM
2h 32m
5 PM
2h 43m
8 PM
2h 18m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Occidental, CA
Stephen Leonardi
San Jose, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 108.4-mile drive from Occidental, CA to San Jose, CA is a manageable one-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 23 minutes. You'll primarily navigate the Redwood Highway and then transition to I-880 and Nimitz Freeway for the latter half of your journey. The estimated fuel cost for this route is around $25. Given the relatively short duration and distance, this trip is well-suited for a single day, allowing for flexibility in your departure and arrival times. The drive offers a mixed experience, transitioning from the Pacific Coast region towards the heart of the San Francisco Bay Area.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
54.2 miles from Occidental, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 16m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Redwood Highway | 29.6 mi | 34m |
| I 880 | 27.4 mi | 31m |
| Nimitz Freeway | 14.3 mi | 18m |
| John T. Knox Freeway | 13.6 mi | 17m |
| Gravenstein Highway | 7.6 mi | 11m |
| Occidental Road | 6.6 mi | 16m |
| Eastshore Freeway | 3.8 mi | 4m |
| Gravenstein Highway North | 1.6 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Redwood Highway
— 29.6 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Occidental, CA and San Jose, CA.
1
Start on Coleman Valley Road
165 ft
·
14 sec
·
Coleman Valley Road
2
Turn left onto Bohemian Highway
355 ft
·
11 sec
·
Bohemian Highway
3
Turn right onto Hill Street
161 ft
·
4 sec
·
Hill Street
4
Turn slight left onto Occidental Road
6.6 mi
·
16 min
·
Occidental Road
5
Turn right onto CA 116
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Gravenstein Highway North
6
Continue on CA 116
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
Healdsburg Avenue
7
Continue on CA 116
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Continue on CA 116
7.6 mi
·
11 min
·
Gravenstein Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Take the ramp onto CA 116
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
CA 116
Toward US 101 South: San Francisco
Use the right lane.
10
Merge onto US 101; CA 116
30 mi
·
34 min
·
Redwood Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
14 mi
·
17 min
·
John T. Knox Freeway
Exit 451B
Toward I 580: Richmond Bridge, Oakland
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto I 80; I 580
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Eastshore Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
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.
14
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.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 880
5.6 mi
·
6 min
·
I 880
Use the slight left lane.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 880
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
I 880
Use the slight left lane.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 880
19 mi
·
22 min
·
I 880
Use the slight left lane.
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 4A
Toward Downtown, North First Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Turn left onto North 1st Street
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
North 1st Street
Use the left / uturn lanes.
20
Turn right onto West Julian Street
494 ft
·
17 sec
·
West Julian Street
21
Turn left onto North Market Street
196 ft
·
6 sec
·
North Market Street
22
Arrive at destination
North Market Street
Trip Plan
For this 108.4-mile journey, consider an early morning departure to avoid potential traffic, especially as you approach the San Jose area. Since the total drive time is just over two hours, you won't need to split it into overnight stays, offering you the flexibility to stop as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $25, and plan your refueling stops accordingly. A practical tip for this route is to monitor real-time traffic conditions, particularly for the I-880 and Nimitz Freeway sections, as congestion can significantly impact your travel time.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 54.2 miles from Occidental, CA, or about 1h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 29.6 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 24 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 54.2 miles or 1h 16m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near San Jose, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Occidental, CA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Occidental, CA
This is one driving day of about 108.4 miles and 2h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Occidental, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Redwood Highway for about 29.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
54 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 24 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 54.2 miles from Occidental, 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 165 decision points cluster between mile 47.2 and 106.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
9
47.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m in
|
I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway toward I 580: Richmond Bridge, Oakland
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 451B
Toward I 580: Richmond Bridge, Oakland
8
64.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 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
64.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 30m 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
79.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 48m 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
106.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 19m 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
$24.91 one way
$49.83 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
38 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $25.67 | $51.35 |
| premium | $6.18 | $26.36 | $52.72 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $23.93 | $47.87 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 32.5 | 0 | $11.38 | $5.20 |
| Efficient EV | 27.1 | 0 | $9.49 | $4.34 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 43.4 | 0 | $15.18 | $6.94 |
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (66% 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
2:37 AM
PDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
13 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Celebrate and honor the contributions and sacrifices of American civilians on the WWII home front. Discover how diverse communities lived, worked, and interacted. Many faces, many stories, many truths...
1 mi from route
~3 min detour
Free
near mile 57.3
View on nps.gov
Muir Woods National Monument
National Monument
Walk among old growth coast redwoods, cooling their roots in the fresh water of Redwood Creek and lifting their crowns to reach the sun and fog. Federally protected as a National Monument since 1908,...
6 mi from route
~15 min detour
$15
near mile 49.7
View on nps.gov
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Established in 1988, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park celebrates America’s maritime heritage on the Pacific Coast. Our 50-acre park has grown around Aquatic Park Cove, a protected area...
7 mi from route
~18 min detour
Free
near mile 68.8
View on nps.gov
Golden Gate National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
Experience a park so rich it supports 19 distinct ecosystems with over 2,000 plant and animal species. Go for a hike, enjoy a vista, have a picnic or learn about the centuries of overlapping history f...
8 mi from route
~21 min detour
Free
near mile 49.7
View on nps.gov
Point Reyes National Seashore
National Seashore
From its thunderous ocean breakers crashing against rocky headlands and expansive sand beaches to its open grasslands, brushy hillsides, and forested ridges, Point Reyes offers visitors over 1500 spec...
18 mi from route
~44 min detour
Free
near mile 30.6
View on nps.gov
Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial
National Memorial
On July 17, 1944, a massive explosion jolted the San Francisco East Bay area, shattering windows and lighting up the night sky. At Port Chicago Naval Magazine, 320 men were killed instantly when two s...
19 mi from route
~47 min detour
Free
near mile 61.1
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route presents a mixed driving profile, with 55% of the drive being on highways. You'll experience a 29.6-mile stretch on the Redwood Highway, which likely offers a more scenic and potentially winding experience. As you progress, the drive transitions to faster-paced interstate driving on I-880 and Nimitz Freeway. This shift means you can expect varying road conditions, from potentially more relaxed cruising to busier, high-speed traffic as you approach San Jose. The character of the road changes significantly as you move from the northern California coast towards the urban environment.
55% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 29.6 mi on Redwood Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 47.2 miles in near I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway.
Driving Effort
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 108.4 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 47.2 miles (I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 64.5 miles (I 580 / Interstate Highway 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 64.8 miles (I 880 / Nimitz Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Occidental, CA and San Jose, CA, road signs point toward Oakland, Hayward, Stockton and Alameda.
Oakland
47.2 mi in
|
~1h 7m
|
via I 580
Hayward
64.5 mi in
|
~1h 29m
|
via I 580
Stockton
64.5 mi in
|
~1h 29m
|
via I 580
Alameda
64.5 mi in
|
~1h 29m
|
via I 580
About the Cities
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 2h 23m. Total distance: 108.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (55%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 29.6 miles on Redwood Highway. 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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 47.2 miles (I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 64.5 miles (I 580 / Interstate Highway 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 64.8 miles (I 880 / Nimitz Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park, Muir Woods National Monument and San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park (6 total within detour distance). 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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