Origin
San Jose, CA
Morning in San Jose on Tuesday
Local time
9:40 AM
PDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from San Jose, CA to Pleasanton, 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
36m
Distance
26.8 mi
43 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 33m
★
6 AM
0h 36m
8 AM
0h 42m
10 AM
0h 38m
12 PM
0h 38m
3 PM
0h 39m
5 PM
0h 42m
8 PM
0h 34m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
San Jose, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Pleasanton, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
San Jose to Pleasanton is 26.8 miles and takes about 36 minutes via I-680 and I-880, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a very short, straightforward drive primarily on major highways, making it ideal for a quick trip between two points in California's Pacific Coast region. Given the minimal distance and duration, it's best suited for a single-day journey with plenty of flexibility for departure times. You'll be on the road for less than an hour, so plan for convenience rather than extensive sightseeing.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 680 | 11.9 mi | 13m |
| I 880 | 8.5 mi | 9m |
| CA 262 | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Coleman Avenue | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Sunol Boulevard | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Nimitz Freeway | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| 1st Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 680
— 11.9 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Jose, CA and Pleasanton, 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
12 mi
·
13 min
·
I 680
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 25
Toward Sunol Boulevard, Pleasanton
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn right onto Sunol Boulevard
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Sunol Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on 1st Street
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
1st Street
13
Turn left onto Abbie Street
454 ft
·
21 sec
·
Abbie Street
14
Turn right onto Main Street
0.3 mi
·
54 sec
·
Main Street
15
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 1.5 and 24.9 — 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
7
10.9 mi into trip
|
~14m in
|
CA 262
Take the exit onto CA 262 toward Sacramento
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 12A
Toward Sacramento
6
12.5 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Take the exit toward I 680 North: Sacramento
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 680 North: Sacramento
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
24.9 mi into trip
|
~31m in
Take the exit toward Sunol Boulevard, Pleasanton
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 25
Toward Sunol Boulevard, Pleasanton
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.16 one way
$12.32 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $6.35 | $12.70 |
| premium | $6.18 | $6.52 | $13.03 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.92 | $11.83 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8 | 0 | $2.81 | $1.29 |
| Efficient EV | 6.7 | 0 | $2.34 | $1.07 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.7 | 0 | $3.75 | $1.72 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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
Pleasanton, CA
Morning in Pleasanton on Tuesday
Local time
9:40 AM
PDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
19 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
36m 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?
This drive is decidedly highway-focused, with an 84% share of its total mileage on major freeways like I-680 and I-880. Expect a consistent pace for most of the journey, including an uninterrupted stretch of 11.9 miles on I-680. The route utilizes CA-262 as well, offering a smooth transition between the main arteries. The personality of this drive is one of efficiency and directness, with minimal deviations from the high-speed corridor.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 11.9 mi on I 680.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 680 and I 880. 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
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 11 decision points packed into just 26.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 36m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 10.9 miles (CA 262): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
On the drive from San Jose, CA to Pleasanton, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Sacramento along the way.
Sacramento
10.9 mi in
|
~14m
|
via CA 262
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 36m. Total distance: 26.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 11.9 miles on I 680. 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 Pleasanton, 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 10.9 miles (CA 262): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Pleasanton, 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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