Origin
San Jose, CA
Morning in San Jose on Tuesday
Local time
8:21 AM
PDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
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
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
San Jose, CA
Wikimedia Commons
La Verne, CA
Wikimedia Commons
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 .
| 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 |
Step-by-step road directions between San Jose, CA and La Verne, CA.
Start on North Market Street
Turn right onto Devine Street
Turn left onto North San Pedro Street
Turn right onto West Saint James Street
Continue on West Julian Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto CA 87
Continue on CA 87
Take the exit
Continue on CA 87
Turn left
Merge onto CA 85
Continue on CA 85
Continue on US 101
Take the exit onto CA 152
Turn left onto CA 152
Continue on CA 152
Take the exit
Merge onto I 5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
Take the exit
Continue on I 210
Keep slight right at fork onto I 210
Keep slight right at fork onto I 210
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn straight onto CA 66; US 66 Hist
Turn right onto Wheeler Avenue
Turn left onto Bonita Avenue
Arrive at destination
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.
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.
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.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
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 checkTop 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.
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.
Take the exit toward Santa Teresa Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Turn left toward CA 85 South
Lane positioning matters here
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
Take the exit toward CA 66: Foothill Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
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
Regular Gas
$83.82 one way
$167.65 round trip
| 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in San Jose on Tuesday
Local time
8:21 AM
PDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Destination
Morning in La Verne on Tuesday
Local time
8:21 AM
PDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
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.
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.
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.
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
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
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
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
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.
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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