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Trip from San Jose, CA to La Verne, 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

6h 52m

Distance

364.7 mi

587 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$84

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 35 min
4 AM
6h 41m ★
6 AM
6h 53m
8 AM
7h 16m
10 AM
7h 1m
12 PM
6h 59m
3 PM
7h 2m
5 PM
7h 15m
8 PM
6h 46m

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

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

San Jose, CA

Wikimedia Commons

city in Los Angeles County, California, United States

La Verne, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

San Jose to La Verne is 364.7 miles and takes about 6h 52m via Westside Freeway and I 5 Truck, with a fuel budget near $84 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily stays within California's Pacific Coast region, taking you from the Bay Area down towards Southern California. Given its mostly highway profile and single-day recommendation, it's a straightforward transit that should feel familiar if you've driven in California before. Plan for a solid chunk of time on the freeway, making it a good option for a direct trip.

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

182.3 miles from San Jose, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 27m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Westside Freeway 181.1 mi 3h 14m
I 5 Truck 58.4 mi 1h 6m
Foothill Freeway 46.6 mi 53m
Pacheco Pass Highway 40.6 mi 50m
US 101 20.3 mi 23m
CA 85 5.1 mi 5m
Guadalupe Parkway 4.1 mi 4m
Golden State Freeway 2 mi 2m
Longest stretch: Westside Freeway — 181.1 mi, about 3h 14m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on North Market Street

110 ft · 5 sec · North Market Street
2

Turn right onto Devine Street

275 ft · 17 sec · Devine Street
3

Turn left onto North San Pedro Street

306 ft · 17 sec · North San Pedro Street
4

Turn right onto West Saint James Street

0.1 mi · 16 sec · West Saint James Street
5

Continue on West Julian Street

356 ft · 7 sec · West Julian Street
Use the straight lane.
6

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 31 sec
Toward CA 87 South Use the right lane.
7

Merge onto CA 87

1.4 mi · 1 min · Guadalupe Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Continue on CA 87

4.1 mi · 4 min · Guadalupe Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 30 sec
Exit 1C Toward Santa Teresa Boulevard Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Continue on CA 87

0.1 mi · 22 sec · Santa Teresa Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
11

Turn left

0.3 mi · 41 sec
Toward CA 85 South Use the left lane.
12

Merge onto CA 85

4.7 mi · 5 min · CA 85
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Continue on CA 85

0.4 mi · 27 sec · CA 85
Exit 1A Toward US 101 South
14

Continue on US 101

20 mi · 23 min · US 101
15

Take the exit onto CA 152

0.3 mi · 39 sec · CA 152
Toward CA 152 East: 10th Street, Pacheco Pass Road
16

Turn left onto CA 152

353 ft · 12 sec · East 10th Street
17

Continue on CA 152

41 mi · 50 min · Pacheco Pass Highway
18

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Toward I 5: Los Angeles
19

Merge onto I 5

181 mi · 3 hr 14 min · Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck

58 mi · 1 hr 6 min · I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

2.0 mi · 2 min · Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 17 sec
Exit 161A Toward I 210 East: Pasadena Use the slight right lane.
23

Continue on I 210

24 mi · 28 min · Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24

Keep slight right at fork onto I 210

19 mi · 22 min · Foothill Freeway
Toward CA 134 West, I 210 East: San Bernardino, Ventura Use the slight right lane.
25

Keep slight right at fork onto I 210

2.9 mi · 3 min · Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26

Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210

0.3 mi · 19 sec · Foothill Freeway
27

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 21 sec
Exit 47 Toward CA 66: Foothill Boulevard Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28

Keep slight right at fork

0.1 mi · 14 sec
Toward Foothill Boulevard East, Fairplex Use the straight lane.
29

Turn straight onto CA 66; US 66 Hist

0.5 mi · 48 sec · Foothill Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
30

Turn right onto Wheeler Avenue

0.9 mi · 1 min · Wheeler Avenue
31

Turn left onto Bonita Avenue

0.7 mi · 1 min · Bonita Avenue
Use the left lane.
32

Arrive at destination

Bonita Avenue

Trip Plan

To make the most of this 6-hour, 52-minute drive, consider leaving San Jose early in the morning to beat potential traffic, especially around the Los Angeles area. With a recommended single day of travel, you have flexibility in pacing your stops. The longest stretch without a significant change in road type is 181.1 miles on the Westside Freeway, so plan a break before or after that segment. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $84, and gas stations are readily available along the main highway corridors.

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 182.3 miles from San Jose, CA, or about 3h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 181.1 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 80 miles or 1h 37m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 182.3 miles or 3h 27m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 5h 42m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near La Verne, 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 364.7 miles and 6h 52m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 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 Westside Freeway for about 181.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

county seat of Fresno County, California, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Fresno, CA

182 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

Turlock, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Avenal, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 182.3 miles from San Jose, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Westside Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 181.1 miles.

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 24

5 decision points cluster between mile 6.1 and 362.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

7
6.1 mi into trip | ~8m in

Take the exit toward Santa Teresa Boulevard

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 1C Toward Santa Teresa Boulevard
8
6.6 mi into trip | ~8m in

Turn left toward CA 85 South

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane. Toward CA 85 South
8
340 mi into trip | ~6h 22m in | I 210 / Foothill Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 210 / Foothill Freeway toward CA 134 West, I 210 East: San Bernardino, Ventura

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward CA 134 West, I 210 East: San Bernardino,...
8
362.2 mi into trip | ~6h 48m in

Take the exit toward CA 66: Foothill Boulevard

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 47 Toward CA 66: Foothill Boulevard
9
362.4 mi into trip | ~6h 48m in

Keep slight right at fork toward Foothill Boulevard East, Fairplex

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight lane. Toward Foothill Boulevard East, Fairplex

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$83.82 one way

$167.65 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 128 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $86.38 $172.76
premium $6.18 $88.69 $177.38
diesel $5.61 $80.52 $161.04

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$84

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$109–$134

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 127.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $38 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 109.4 1 $38.29 $17.51
Efficient EV 91.2 1 $31.91 $14.59
EV Truck/SUV 145.9 1 $51.06 $23.34

Gas CO2

128 kg

EV CO2

43 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 Apr 19, 2026

Origin

San Jose, CA

Morning in San Jose on Tuesday

Local time

8:21 AM

PDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

La Verne, CA

Morning in La Verne on Tuesday

Local time

8:21 AM

PDT

Current temp

70°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

21 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

6h 52m 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.

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

National Recreation Area

The Santa Monica Mountains offer easy access to surprisingly wild places. Experience the famous beaches of Malibu or explore more than 500 miles of trails. The park abounds with historical and cultura...

22 mi from route ~55 min detour Free near mile 314.4
View on nps.gov
César E. Chávez National Monument

César E. Chávez National Monument

National Monument

Yes, we can! Widely recognized as the most important Latino leader in the United States during the twentieth century, Cesar Chavez led farm workers and supporters in the establishment of the country's...

27 mi from route ~68 min detour Free near mile 251.5
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 is predominantly highway, with 88% of the drive on freeways. You'll experience a longest stretch of 181.1 miles on the Westside Freeway before transitioning to surface roads. Expect a lot of merging and exits as you navigate through various urban and suburban areas. The majority of your time will be spent on the I 5 Truck and Foothill Freeway.

88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 181.1 mi on Westside Freeway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and I 5 Truck. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 6.1 miles in.

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 24 significant decision points across 364.7 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 6.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 340 miles (I 210 / Foothill Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Elevation Profile

Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes

2,892 ft 81 ft

Total Climb

3,324 ft

Total Descent

2,345 ft

Highest Point

2,892 ft

~286.5 mi in

Elevation Range

2,811 ft

Notable High Points

2,892 ft at ~286.5 miles +1,169 ft prominence

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 San Jose, CA to La Verne, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Ventura along the way.

Ventura

340 mi in | ~6h 22m | via I 210

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 6h 52m. Total distance: 364.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

6h 52m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 181.1 miles on Westside Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

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 La Verne, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: at 6.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 340 miles (I 210 / Foothill Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes — Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and César E. Chávez National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Not recommended in a single day. At 6.9 hours each way, a round trip means 13.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at La Verne, CA before the return drive.

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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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