San Jose to Hydesville is 297.8 miles and takes about 6h 3m via Redwood Highway and I 880, with a fuel budget near $69 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip takes you from the Pacific Coast region of California to another part of the same coast, predominantly on surface roads. While there's a short stretch on the freeway, most of this drive offers a more grounded perspective of the landscape. Plan for a single-day excursion with a reasonable fuel cost, making it an accessible option for a quick getaway.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
148.9 miles from San Jose, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Redwood Highway
227.5 mi
4h 36m
I 880
26.4 mi
30m
Nimitz Freeway
16.8 mi
20m
John T. Knox Freeway
12.9 mi
17m
Willits Bypass
4.7 mi
5m
Eastshore Freeway
3.3 mi
4m
CA 36
2.7 mi
4m
Coleman Avenue
1.4 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Redwood Highway
— 227.5 mi, about 4h 36m
Traffic on I-880
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 10 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
1 PM
~5,333 veh/hr typical
Quietest
1 AM
~678 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Jose, CA and Hydesville, 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: OaklandUse 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
13 mi·14 min·Nimitz Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 880
18 mi·20 min·I 880
Use the slight left lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 880
2.3 mi·3 min·Nimitz Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 880
1.9 mi·2 min·Nimitz Freeway
Exit 46BToward I 80 East, I 580 West: San Rafael, Sacramento
9
Continue on I 80; I 580
3.3 mi·4 min·Eastshore Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
13 mi·17 min·John T. Knox Freeway
Exit 13BToward I 580 West: Point Richmond, San RafaelUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·54 sec
Exit 1AToward US 101 North: San Rafeal
12
Merge onto US 101
116 mi·2 hr 18 min·Redwood Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on US 101
4.5 mi·5 min·Willits Bypass
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.7 mi·48 sec
15
Merge onto US 101
0.2 mi·16 sec·Willits Bypass
16
Continue on US 101
111 mi·2 hr 17 min·Redwood Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
18
Turn right onto CA 36
2.7 mi·4 min·CA 36
19
Arrive at destination
CA 36
Trip Plan
Given the 6h 3m estimated drive time, leaving San Jose in the morning is advisable to maximize daylight. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing your journey. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $69, and gas stations might be less frequent on the surface road portions. Pay attention to the transition from freeway to highway, as this is where the driving experience notably changes and requires a different approach to navigation and speed.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 148.9 miles from San Jose, CA, or about 2h 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 227.5 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 66 miles or 1h 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 148.9 miles or 2h 59m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hydesville, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving San Jose, 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 San Jose, CA
This is one driving day of about 297.8 miles and 6h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 66 miles from San Jose, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Redwood Highway for about 227.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.5 and 48.3 — 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
6
10.3 mi into trip|~13m in|I 880 / Nimitz Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 880 / Nimitz Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
22.9 mi into trip|~27m 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
40.8 mi into trip|~48m in|I 880 / Nimitz Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 880 / Nimitz Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
48.3 mi into trip|~58m in|I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway toward I 580 West: Point Richmond, San Rafael
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 13B
Toward I 580 West: Point Richmond, San Rafael
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$62.30 one way
$124.61 round trip
$5.31/gal25.4 MPG avg104 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.52
$64.71
$129.41
premium
$5.67
$66.42
$132.84
diesel
$4.80
$56.23
$112.46
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$62
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$87–$112
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 104.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
89.3
1
$31.27
$14.29
Efficient EV
74.5
0
$26.06
$11.91
EV Truck/SUV
119.1
1
$41.69
$19.06
Gas CO2
104 kg
EV CO2
35 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
San Jose, CA
Night
in San Jose on Saturday
Local time
11:59 PM
PDT
Current temp
81°F
Sunny
NW 9 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 17 at 2:01PM PDT until July 17 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS Medford OR
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 17 at 12:53PM PDT until July 21 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Destination
Hydesville, CA
Night
in Hydesville on Saturday
Local time
11:59 PM
PDT
Current temp
65°F
Sunny
NW 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 17 at 2:01PM PDT until July 17 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS Medford OR
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 17 at 12:53PM PDT until July 21 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
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
16 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
6h 3m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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...
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,...
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...
8 mi from route
~20 min detour
Free
near mile 41.1
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...
9 mi from route
~22 min detour
Free
near mile 61.6
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 71.9
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
~48 min detour
Free
near mile 51.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route features a highway share of 21%, meaning you'll spend most of your time on surface roads. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 227.5 miles along the Redwood Highway. You'll transition from the urban environment of the Nimitz Freeway and I 880, characterized by dense exits and merging traffic, to more open cruising as you get closer to Hydesville.
Only 21% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 227.5 mi on Redwood Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. 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 Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 297.8 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 1.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 10.3 miles (I 880 / Nimitz Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.9 miles (I 880): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,723 ft15 ft
Total Climb
1,928 ft
Total Descent
1,638 ft
Highest Point
1,723 ft
~212.7 mi in
Elevation Range
1,708 ft
Notable High Points
1,723 ft at ~212.7 miles+509 ft prominence
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 Hydesville, CA, road signs point toward Sacramento and San Rafael.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 3m. Total distance: 297.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 3m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 227.5 miles on Redwood Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 7 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Hydesville, 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. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 7 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 10.3 miles (I 880 / Nimitz Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.9 miles (I 880): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.1 hours each way, a round trip means 12.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Hydesville, CA before the return drive.
