Spanning 52.9 miles, this straightforward trek from San Jose to Tracy typically takes about 1 hour and 9 minutes to complete. Because of the manageable distance and duration, it serves as an ideal day trip, requiring no overnight stays. You can expect to spend approximately $7 on fuel, making it a budget-friendly transit between these two Pacific Coast locations. The route relies on a combination of Coleman Avenue and I-880 North, also known as the Nimitz Freeway. It is a practical connection that gets you from the heart of the South Bay into the Central Valley area efficiently. Whether you are traveling for business or a quick visit, this drive offers a direct path without unnecessary complications.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
12.9 mi
14m
I 880
8.5 mi
9m
I 680
8.5 mi
9m
CA 84
5.5 mi
7m
Isabel Avenue
4.3 mi
6m
I 205 Bus
4.3 mi
6m
Robert T. Monagan Freeway
3.9 mi
4m
CA 262
1.6 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
— 12.9 mi, about 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Jose, CA and Tracy, 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: OaklandUse 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 12AToward SacramentoUse the slight right lane.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward I 680 North: SacramentoUse the straight lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·41 sec
Toward I 680 North: SacramentoUse the straight lane.
9
Merge onto I 680
8.5 mi·9 min·I 680
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit onto CA 84
5.5 mi·7 min·CA 84
Exit 21BToward CA 84 East: Livermore, Vallecitos RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto CA 84
4.3 mi·6 min·Isabel Avenue
Use the straight lane.
12
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 580 East: StocktonUse the right lane.
13
Merge onto I 580
13 mi·14 min·Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 205
3.9 mi·4 min·Robert T. Monagan Freeway
Toward I 205 East: Tracy, Stockton
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 205 Bus
4.3 mi·6 min·I 205 Bus
Toward Eleventh Street
16
Arrive at destination
I 205 Bus
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 26.4 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.5 and 21.5 — 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
21.5 mi into trip|~27m in|CA 84
Take the exit onto CA 84 toward CA 84 East: Livermore, Vallecitos Road
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 21B
Toward CA 84 East: Livermore, Vallecitos Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.16 one way
$24.32 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg19 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$12.53
$25.06
premium
$6.18
$12.86
$25.73
diesel
$5.61
$11.68
$23.36
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
15.9
0
$5.55
$2.54
Efficient EV
13.2
0
$4.63
$2.12
EV Truck/SUV
21.2
0
$7.41
$3.39
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 13, 2026
Origin
San Jose, CA
Morning
in San Jose on Sunday
Local time
7:35 AM
PDT
Current temp
44°F
Areas Of Fog
SSE 2 mph21% chanceLive forecast
Winter Weather Advisory
Winter Weather Advisory issued April 13 at 12:17AM PDT until April 13 at 7:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Winter Weather Advisory
Winter Weather Advisory issued April 13 at 12:17AM PDT until April 13 at 7:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Destination
Tracy, CA
Morning
in Tracy on Sunday
Local time
7:35 AM
PDT
Current temp
69°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
25 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
1h 9m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. While you will utilize the Nimitz Freeway, the route is characterized by a high volume of local navigation rather than long-range highway stretches. In fact, there is no significant highway-dominant share, and the longest uninterrupted segment is found on Coleman Avenue. You should be prepared for a more active driving experience that demands your attention at intersections and turns. Navigating these local roads requires a steady hand, contrasting with the typical long, straight highway hauls found elsewhere in California.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 12.9 mi on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway 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 Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 52.9 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
724 ft20 ft
Total Climb
1,104 ft
Total Descent
1,134 ft
Highest Point
724 ft
~37.8 mi in
Elevation Range
704 ft
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 Tracy, CA, road signs point toward Sacramento and Stockton.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 9m. Total distance: 52.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 12.9 miles on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway. 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 Tracy, 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 Tracy, CA before heading back.
