Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from San Jose, CA to Myrtletown, CA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 30m
Distance
317.5 mi
511 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$78
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 18m
★
6 AM
6h 31m
8 AM
6h 55m
10 AM
6h 39m
12 PM
6h 37m
3 PM
6h 40m
5 PM
6h 54m
8 PM
6h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
San Jose, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Myrtletown, CA
Erik Mclean
Trip Overview
San Jose to Myrtletown is 317.5 miles and takes about 6h 30m via Redwood Highway and I 880, with a fuel budget near $70 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive takes you from the Pacific Coast region in California to another part of the Pacific Coast, primarily on surface roads with a smaller portion on the interstate. With just one recommended stop and a manageable duration, this trip is well-suited for a single day of travel. Consider this route if you prefer a more scenic, less highway-intensive experience for your drive north.
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
158.7 miles from San Jose, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 11m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Redwood Highway | 244.7 mi | 4h 55m |
| 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 |
| Harris Street | 1.6 mi | 4m |
| Coleman Avenue | 1.4 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Redwood Highway
— 244.7 mi, about 4h 55m
Traffic on I-880
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 20 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
1 PM
~5,299 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~674 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 99 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 Myrtletown, 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
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 46B
Toward 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 13B
Toward I 580 West: Point Richmond, San Rafael
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi
·
54 sec
Exit 1A
Toward 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
128 mi
·
2 hr 37 min
·
Redwood Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward Herrick Avenue, Elk River Road
18
Turn right onto Herrick Avenue
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Herrick Avenue
19
Continue on Fairway Drive
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Fairway Drive
20
Continue on F Street
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
F Street
21
Turn right onto Oak Street
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
Oak Street
22
At end of road, turn left onto H Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
H Street
23
Turn right onto Harris Street
1.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Harris Street
24
Turn left onto Hubbard Lane
0.2 mi
·
46 sec
·
Hubbard Lane
25
Turn left onto Myrtle Avenue
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
·
Myrtle Avenue
26
Turn right onto Trinity Street
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Trinity Street
27
Turn left onto Robbie Lane
337 ft
·
14 sec
·
Robbie Lane
28
Arrive at destination
Robbie Lane
Trip Plan
For this 6h 30m drive, leaving San Jose in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight. Since it's a single-day trip with only one recommended stop, you have flexibility to adjust your timing. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially as you move further north; the $70 budget is an estimate and can fluctuate. A good tip for this route is to be mindful of the transition from I 880 to the Redwood Highway, as this marks a significant change in the driving environment from urban freeway to more rural surface roads.
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 158.7 miles from San Jose, CA, or about 3h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 244.7 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 70 miles or 1h 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 158.7 miles or 3h 11m 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 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Myrtletown, 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 317.5 miles and 6h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 70 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 244.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
159 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 70 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 158.7 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 Redwood Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 244.7 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Irvine Lodge Rest Area
0 mi from route
Moss Cove Rest Area
0 mi from route
Empire Camp Rest Area
0 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Alameda County Industries
0.4 mi from route
Service Plaza
1.2 mi from route
Auto Repair
1.6 mi from route
Service Plaza
1.7 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 205 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
$77.70 one way
$155.40 round trip
$6.22/gal
25.4 MPG avg
111 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.40 | $80.01 | $160.03 |
| premium | $6.57 | $82.08 | $164.15 |
| diesel | $6.18 | $77.24 | $154.48 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$78
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$103–$128
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 111.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 95.3 | 1 | $33.34 | $15.24 |
| Efficient EV | 79.4 | 0 | $27.78 | $12.70 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 127 | 1 | $44.45 | $20.32 |
Gas CO2
111 kg
EV CO2
37 kg (67% 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.
Origin
San Jose, CA
Morning in San Jose on Sunday
Local time
10:28 AM
PDT
Current temp
54°F
Clear
W 1 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued October 18 at 12:59AM PDT until October 20 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS San Diego CA
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued October 17 at 7:32PM PDT until October 20 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Destination
Myrtletown, CA
Morning in Myrtletown on Sunday
Local time
10:28 AM
PDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
51°F
Fort Bragg, CA
159 mi in
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
5 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 30m 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...
2 mi from route
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 54.7
View on nps.gov
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
National Historical Park
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...
7 mi from route
~18 min detour
Free
near mile 43.8
View on nps.gov
Muir Woods National Monument
National Monument
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,...
8 mi from route
~21 min detour
$15
near mile 65.7
View on nps.gov
Golden Gate National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
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...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 65.7
View on nps.gov
Point Reyes National Seashore
National Seashore
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
~46 min detour
Free
near mile 76.6
View on nps.gov
Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial
National Memorial
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...
22 mi from route
~54 min detour
Free
near mile 43.8
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
About 19% of this 317.5-mile route is on highways like I 880. You'll experience 244.7 miles on the Redwood Highway, which will feel more like cruising through varied terrain rather than high-speed travel. Expect to transition from freeway driving, particularly on I 880, to surface roads for the majority of your trip. The density of exits on the freeway portion will be noticeably different from the more open feel of the Redwood Highway.
Only 19% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 244.7 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 Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 317.5 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
1,661 ft
16 ft
Total Climb
1,805 ft
Total Descent
1,766 ft
Highest Point
1,661 ft
~204.1 mi in
Elevation Range
1,645 ft
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 Myrtletown, CA, road signs point toward Sacramento and San Rafael.
Sacramento
43.1 mi in
|
~51m
|
via I 880
San Rafael
48.3 mi in
|
~58m
|
via I 580
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.
- • Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum — building in San Jose, California, United States
- • Hayes Mansion — hotel resort in San Jose, California
Arriving in Myrtletown, CA
Full guide →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 30m. Total distance: 317.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 30m 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 244.7 miles on Redwood Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 9 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 Myrtletown, 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 9 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, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park and Muir Woods National Monument (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.5 hours each way, a round trip means 13.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Myrtletown, 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, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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