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Trip from Ripon, CA to San Jose, CA

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 28m

Distance

71 mi

114 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$16

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 20 min
4 AM
1h 22m ★
6 AM
1h 28m
8 AM
1h 42m
10 AM
1h 33m
12 PM
1h 32m
3 PM
1h 34m
5 PM
1h 41m
8 PM
1h 24m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in California, United States

Ripon, CA

Wikimedia Commons

city and county seat of Santa Clara County, California, United States

San Jose, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Connecting the Central Valley to the Bay Area, this 75.3-mile trip between Ripon and San Jose is a straightforward journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes. It is perfectly suited as a quick day trip, allowing you to easily complete the drive without the need for an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $10 for fuel, making it a very cost-effective commute or visit. The route relies on a combination of CA 120 West, the Westside Freeway, and Robert T. Road. Since both cities are located within the Pacific Coast region, you will experience a consistent coastal-adjacent climate throughout the transit.

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
CA 120 6.8 mi 7m
Vallecitos Road 5.2 mi 7m
Isabel Avenue 4.7 mi 6m
CA 99 4.2 mi 4m
Longest stretch: Robert T. Monagan Freeway — 13.9 mi, about 15m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Ripon, CA and San Jose, CA.

1

Start on CA 99

4.2 mi · 4 min · CA 99
2

Take the exit

0.9 mi · 1 min
Toward CA 120 West: Manteca, San Francisco
3

Merge onto CA 120

6.8 mi · 7 min · CA 120
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4

Merge onto I 5

1.2 mi · 1 min · Westside Freeway
5

Keep slight right at fork onto I 205

14 mi · 15 min · Robert T. Monagan Freeway
6

Continue on I 580

13 mi · 14 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 41 sec
Exit 51 Toward CA 84: Isabel Avenue, Portola Avenue Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Turn left onto CA 84

4.7 mi · 6 min · Isabel Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
9

Continue on CA 84

5.2 mi · 7 min · Vallecitos Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
10

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 55 sec
Toward I 680 South: Fremont, San Jose
11

Merge onto I 680

8.3 mi · 9 min · I 680
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 21 sec
Exit 12 Toward CA 262 Use the slight right lane.
13

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.
14

Merge onto CA 262

1.5 mi · 2 min · Mission Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
15

Merge onto I 880

8.3 mi · 9 min · Nimitz Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 26 sec
Exit 4A Toward Downtown, North First Street Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Turn left onto North 1st Street

1.5 mi · 3 min · North 1st Street
Use the left / uturn lanes.
18

Turn right onto West Julian Street

494 ft · 17 sec · West Julian Street
19

Turn left onto North Market Street

196 ft · 6 sec · North Market Street
20

Arrive at destination

North Market Street

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Alameda County, California, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Livermore, CA

36 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.

Popular next leg

Livermore, CA to San Jose, CA

31.1 mi · 42m

Pacing Suggestions

Tracy, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Livermore, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 35.5 miles from Ripon, 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 16

5 decision points cluster between mile 39.9 and 69.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

8
39.9 mi into trip | ~46m 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
50.1 mi into trip | ~1h 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
58.9 mi into trip | ~1h 11m 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
59.1 mi into trip | ~1h 11m 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
69.1 mi into trip | ~1h 23m 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

$16.32 one way

$32.64 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 25 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $16.82 $33.63
premium $6.18 $17.27 $34.53
diesel $5.61 $15.68 $31.35

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$16

Estimated CO2 emission: 24.8 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 21.3 0 $7.46 $3.41
Efficient EV 17.8 0 $6.21 $2.84
EV Truck/SUV 28.4 0 $9.94 $4.54

Gas CO2

25 kg

EV CO2

8 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.

Forecast as of Apr 17, 2026

Origin

Ripon, CA

Late night in Ripon on Tuesday

Local time

5:21 AM

PDT

Current temp

44°F

Clear

NW 10 to 15 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Lake Wind Advisory

Lake Wind Advisory issued April 16 at 2:48PM PDT until April 16 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Hanford CA

Wind Advisory

Wind Advisory issued April 16 at 2:48PM PDT until April 17 at 11:00AM PDT by NWS Hanford CA

Destination

San Jose, CA

Late night in San Jose on Tuesday

Local time

5:21 AM

PDT

Current temp

42°F

Clear

NW 5 to 14 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Lake Wind Advisory

Lake Wind Advisory issued April 16 at 2:48PM PDT until April 16 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Hanford CA

Wind Advisory

Wind Advisory issued April 16 at 2:48PM PDT until April 17 at 11:00AM PDT by NWS Hanford 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

2 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

1h 28m 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 rather than a monotonous interstate haul on this 75.3-mile stretch. Unlike long-distance highway cruises, this path requires your full attention as you navigate through various local road segments. Because the highway share is 0%, the experience is defined by shifting road conditions and localized traffic patterns. You will find that the character of the drive changes frequently, moving away from high-speed transit and toward more technical, winding stretches. Stay alert, as the lack of long, uninterrupted highway segments means you will be managing turns and intersections for the duration of your 1 hour and 15 minute journey.

78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 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 39.9 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 71 miles you will encounter 16 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 39.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 50.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 58.9 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.

Between Ripon, CA and San Jose, CA, road signs point toward San Francisco and Warm Springs District.

San Francisco

4.2 mi in | ~4m

Warm Springs District

59.1 mi in | ~1h 11m

About the Cities

Starting in Ripon, CA

Full guide →

Founded 1945

Ripon is a city in San Joaquin County, California.

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 28m. Total distance: 71 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (78%). 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 39.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 50.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 58.9 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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