Origin
San Jose, CA
Late night in San Jose on Tuesday
Local time
2:08 AM
PDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from San Jose, CA to Byron, 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 12m
Distance
52.1 mi
84 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 7m
★
6 AM
1h 13m
8 AM
1h 24m
10 AM
1h 17m
12 PM
1h 15m
3 PM
1h 17m
5 PM
1h 23m
8 PM
1h 9m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
San Jose, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Byron, CA
Tori Pezzulla❤️
Trip Overview
This 52.1-mile drive from San Jose, CA to Byron, CA takes approximately 1 hour and 12 minutes, making it a perfect one-day trip. You'll primarily navigate South Vasco Road, I-880, and I-680, with 55% of the journey on highways. Expect a fuel cost of around $12 for this journey. The drive offers a mixed driving experience as you transition between different road types. Both your origin and destination are within the Pacific Coast region, so you won't be crossing any major geographical boundaries. This route is straightforward and manageable for a single day of travel.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Vasco Road | 14.3 mi | 20m |
| I 880 | 8.5 mi | 9m |
| I 680 | 8.5 mi | 9m |
| CA 84 | 5.5 mi | 7m |
| Isabel Avenue | 4.3 mi | 6m |
| Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway | 3.8 mi | 4m |
| Camino Diablo | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| CA 262 | 1.6 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
South Vasco Road
— 14.3 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Jose, CA and Byron, CA.
1
Start on North Market Street
196 ft
·
8 sec
·
North Market Street
2
Continue on Coleman Avenue
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Coleman Avenue
Use the straight lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward I 880 North: Oakland
Use the right lane.
4
Merge onto I 880
8.5 mi
·
9 min
·
I 880
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 880
0.6 mi
·
41 sec
·
Nimitz Freeway
6
Take the exit onto CA 262
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
CA 262
Exit 12A
Toward Sacramento
Use the slight right lane.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Toward I 680 North: Sacramento
Use the straight lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward I 680 North: Sacramento
Use the straight lane.
9
Merge onto I 680
8.5 mi
·
9 min
·
I 680
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit onto CA 84
5.5 mi
·
7 min
·
CA 84
Exit 21B
Toward CA 84 East: Livermore, Vallecitos Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto CA 84
4.3 mi
·
6 min
·
Isabel Avenue
Use the straight lane.
12
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 580 East: Stockton
Use the right lane.
13
Merge onto I 580
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
14
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Exit 55
Toward Brentwood, Vasco Road
Use the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward Vasco Road North, Brentwood
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Merge onto South Vasco Road
14 mi
·
20 min
·
South Vasco Road
Use the left lane.
17
Turn right onto Camino Diablo
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Camino Diablo
18
Turn right onto J4
158 ft
·
8 sec
·
Byron Highway
19
Turn left
17 ft
·
1 sec
20
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 26 miles from San Jose, 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 1.5 and 35.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
1.5 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp toward I 880 North: Oakland
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 880 North: Oakland
8
12.7 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 680 North: Sacramento
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 680 North: Sacramento
8
21.5 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
CA 84
Take the exit onto CA 84 toward CA 84 East: Livermore, Vallecitos Road
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 21B
Toward CA 84 East: Livermore, Vallecitos Road
8
35.7 mi into trip
|
~47m in
Take the exit toward Brentwood, Vasco Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 55
Toward Brentwood, Vasco Road
9
35.8 mi into trip
|
~47m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Vasco Road North, Brentwood
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Vasco Road North, Brentwood
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.97 one way
$23.95 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $12.34 | $24.68 |
| premium | $6.18 | $12.67 | $25.34 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.50 | $23.01 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.6 | 0 | $5.47 | $2.50 |
| Efficient EV | 13 | 0 | $4.56 | $2.08 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.8 | 0 | $7.29 | $3.33 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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
Byron, CA
Late night in Byron on Tuesday
Local time
2:08 AM
PDT
Current temp
--
Unavailable
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Road read
1h 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?
The character of this drive is a blend of highway cruising and local road navigation. With 55% of the route on highways, you'll experience stretches of faster-paced travel, interspersed with segments on South Vasco Road. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 14.3 miles on South Vasco Road. This means you'll have opportunities for both efficient highway driving and more varied road conditions as you progress from San Jose to Byron. The overall feel is a mixed drive, providing a dynamic experience behind the wheel.
55% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 14.3 mi on South Vasco Road.
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 1.5 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 52.1 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 1.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 12.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.5 miles (CA 84): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 San Jose, CA and Byron, CA, road signs point toward Sacramento, Brentwood and Vasco Road North.
Sacramento
10.9 mi in
|
~14m
|
via CA 262
Brentwood
35.7 mi in
|
~47m
Vasco Road North
35.8 mi in
|
~47m
About the Cities
Starting 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 12m. Total distance: 52.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
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 14.3 miles on South Vasco Road. 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 Byron, 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 1.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 12.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.5 miles (CA 84): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Byron, 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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