Origin
San Jose, CA
Afternoon in San Jose on Sunday
Local time
12:34 PM
PDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from San Jose, CA to San Joaquin, CA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 51m
Distance
133.6 mi
215 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$31
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 40m
★
6 AM
2h 52m
8 AM
3h 14m
10 AM
2h 59m
12 PM
2h 57m
3 PM
3h 0m
5 PM
3h 12m
8 PM
2h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
San Jose, CA
Wikimedia Commons
San Joaquin, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
San Jose to San Joaquin is 133.6 miles and takes about 2 hours 51 minutes via Pacheco Pass Highway and Westside Freeway, with a fuel budget near $31 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within California's Pacific Coast region, offering a mixed driving experience. It's a straightforward journey suitable for a single day, making it a convenient option for a quick trip. Consider this route if you're looking for a manageable drive with a predictable fuel cost and a relatively short travel time.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
66.8 miles from San Jose, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 21m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pacheco Pass Highway | 40.6 mi | 50m |
| Westside Freeway | 37.3 mi | 40m |
| West Manning Avenue | 22 mi | 38m |
| US 101 | 20.3 mi | 23m |
| CA 85 | 5.1 mi | 5m |
| Guadalupe Parkway | 4.1 mi | 4m |
| Guadalupe Freeway | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| South 9th Street | 0.3 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Pacheco Pass Highway
— 40.6 mi, about 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Jose, CA and San Joaquin, 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
37 mi
·
40 min
·
Westside Freeway
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Toward Manning Avenue
21
Turn left onto West Manning Avenue
22 mi
·
38 min
·
West Manning Avenue
22
Turn left onto South Pine Avenue
75 ft
·
3 sec
·
South Pine Avenue
23
Turn right onto South 9th Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
South 9th Street
24
Arrive at destination
South 9th Street
Trip Plan
Given the 2 hour 51 minute duration, leaving San Jose in the morning will comfortably get you to San Joaquin with plenty of daylight remaining. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost estimated at $31, this is a drive where you can be quite flexible with your timing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 40.6-mile stretch on Pacheco Pass Highway, as services might be less frequent there. This relatively short trip allows for spontaneous breaks if needed.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 66.8 miles from San Jose, CA, or about 1h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 40.6 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 29 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 66.8 miles or 1h 21m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near San Joaquin, 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 133.6 miles and 2h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 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 Pacheco Pass Highway for about 40.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
67 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 29 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 66.8 miles from San Jose, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 175 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 6.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North San Pedro Street
Turn left onto North San Pedro Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West Saint James Street
Turn right onto West Saint James Street
Navigation decision point
6
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the ramp toward CA 87 South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward CA 87 South
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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.71 one way
$61.41 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
47 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $31.64 | $63.29 |
| premium | $6.18 | $32.49 | $64.98 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $29.50 | $58.99 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 40.1 | 0 | $14.03 | $6.41 |
| Efficient EV | 33.4 | 0 | $11.69 | $5.34 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 53.4 | 0 | $18.70 | $8.55 |
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (66% 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
San Joaquin, CA
Afternoon in San Joaquin on Sunday
Local time
12:34 PM
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
2h 51m 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 features a 51% highway share, meaning you'll experience a blend of faster freeway travel and potentially more local road segments. The longest uninterrupted stretch spans 40.6 miles on Pacheco Pass Highway, so be prepared for a sustained period on this particular road. As you transition, expect the character of the drive to shift between the efficiency of the Westside Freeway and the varied conditions of Pacheco Pass Highway and West Manning Avenue. It’s a route that keeps you engaged without being overly demanding.
51% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 40.6 mi on Pacheco Pass Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near North San Pedro Street.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 133.6 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 0.1 miles (North San Pedro Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (West Saint James Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in San Jose, CA
Full guide →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.
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 2h 51m. Total distance: 133.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (51%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 40.6 miles on Pacheco Pass Highway. 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 San Joaquin, 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 0.1 miles (North San Pedro Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (West Saint James Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at San Joaquin, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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