Origin
Sausalito, CA
Morning in Sausalito on Tuesday
Local time
9:54 AM
PDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sausalito, CA to San Jose, 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
1h 18m
Distance
57.3 mi
92 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 12m
★
6 AM
1h 18m
8 AM
1h 31m
10 AM
1h 23m
12 PM
1h 21m
3 PM
1h 23m
5 PM
1h 30m
8 PM
1h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sausalito, CA
Wikimedia Commons
San Jose, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Spanning 60.5 miles between Sausalito and San Jose, this route connects two iconic points along the California Pacific Coast. You should plan for a drive time of approximately 1 hour and 14 minutes, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. Since the journey stays entirely on local roads—utilizing routes like Bridgeway, San Carlos Avenue, and Spencer Avenue—you won't have to worry about the monotony of long-distance interstate travel. Budget roughly $14 for fuel to cover the distance. Because this is a turn-heavy local drive, it is best suited for those who prefer navigating town streets over high-speed highway cruising. Whether you are commuting or exploring, the trip is straightforward enough to complete without needing an overnight stop.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Bayshore Freeway | 38.6 mi | 44m |
| Central Freeway | 5 mi | 7m |
| Guadalupe Freeway | 2.5 mi | 2m |
| Golden Gate Bridge | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Redwood Highway | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Presidio Parkway | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| Webster Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| Divisadero Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Bayshore Freeway
— 38.6 mi, about 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sausalito, CA and San Jose, CA.
1
Start on Pine Street
70 ft
·
7 sec
·
Pine Street
2
Turn right onto Bridgeway
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
·
Bridgeway
3
Turn right onto San Carlos Avenue
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
San Carlos Avenue
4
Keep slight right at fork onto Spencer Avenue
198 ft
·
5 sec
·
Spencer Avenue
5
Continue on Spencer Avenue
149 ft
·
7 sec
·
Spencer Avenue
6
Continue on Spencer Avenue
227 ft
·
8 sec
·
Spencer Avenue
7
Continue on Spencer Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Spencer Avenue
8
At end of road, turn right onto Monte Mar Drive
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
Monte Mar Drive
9
Turn left
453 ft
·
11 sec
10
Turn right
396 ft
·
6 sec
Toward US 101 South, CA 1 South
11
Merge onto US 101; CA 1
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Redwood Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on US 101
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Golden Gate Bridge
13
Merge
34 ft
·
0 sec
14
Keep slight left at fork
130 ft
·
1 sec
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
8 sec
16
Continue on US 101; CA 1
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Presidio Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on US 101
0.2 mi
·
43 sec
·
Richardson Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Continue on US 101
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
Lombard Street
19
Turn right onto Divisadero Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Divisadero Street
Use the right lane.
20
Turn left onto California Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
California Street
21
Turn right onto Webster Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Webster Street
Use the straight lane.
22
Turn left onto Oak Street
0.3 mi
·
57 sec
·
Oak Street
Use the left lane.
23
Turn right onto Octavia Boulevard
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Octavia Boulevard
Use the right lane.
24
Continue on US 101
5.0 mi
·
7 min
·
Central Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Continue on US 101
5.2 mi
·
6 min
·
Bayshore Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Keep slight left at fork onto US 101
25 mi
·
28 min
·
Bayshore Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Keep slight left at fork onto US 101
8.4 mi
·
9 min
·
Bayshore Freeway
Toward US 101 South: San Jose, Los Angeles
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Exit 390
Toward CA 87 South: Guadalupe Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Continue on CA 87
2.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Guadalupe Freeway
Use the straight lane.
30
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Exit 6B
Toward Julian Street, Saint James Street
Use the slight right lane.
31
Turn left onto West Julian Street
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
West Julian Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
32
Continue on West Saint James Street
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
West Saint James Street
Use the straight lane.
33
Turn left onto North Market Street
416 ft
·
8 sec
·
North Market Street
34
Arrive at destination
North Market Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
29 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 28.7 miles from Sausalito, 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 225 decision points cluster between mile 1.4 and 56.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.4 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Turn right toward US 101 South, CA 1 South
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 101 South, CA 1 South
6
7 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
Divisadero Street
Turn right onto Divisadero Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
8
45.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
|
US 101 / Bayshore Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 101 / Bayshore Freeway toward US 101 South: San Jose, Los Angeles
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 101 South: San Jose, Los Angeles
7
53.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 12m in
Take the exit toward CA 87 South: Guadalupe Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 390
Toward CA 87 South: Guadalupe Parkway
8
56.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m in
Take the exit toward Julian Street, Saint James Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 6B
Toward Julian Street, Saint James Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.17 one way
$26.34 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $13.57 | $27.14 |
| premium | $6.18 | $13.93 | $27.87 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.65 | $25.30 |
Estimated Tolls: $9.00
Golden Gate Bridge
$9.00
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$13
Tolls
$9
Total
$22
Estimated CO2 emission: 20 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.2 | 0 | $6.02 | $2.75 |
| Efficient EV | 14.3 | 0 | $5.01 | $2.29 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.9 | 0 | $8.02 | $3.67 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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 Jose, CA
Morning in San Jose on Tuesday
Local time
9:54 AM
PDT
Current temp
42°F
Clear
NW 5 to 14 mph
0% chance
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
5 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 18m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect an engaging, turn-heavy experience behind the wheel, as this 60.5-mile journey avoids highways entirely. With a 0% highway share, the road requires your full attention as you navigate through local streets rather than cruising on an open expressway. The route maintains a consistent, technical feel, shifting away from the fast-paced nature of typical transit corridors. Because there are no designated long-haul stretches, you will spend the entire 1 hour and 14 minutes managing turns and local traffic patterns. This drive offers a distinct, hands-on driving experience that keeps you involved from start to finish.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
34 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 38.6 mi on Bayshore Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Bayshore Freeway and Central Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 57.3 miles you will encounter 22 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 1.4 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7 miles (Divisadero Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 45.4 miles (US 101 / Bayshore Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Sausalito, CA to San Jose, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Los Angeles along the way.
Los Angeles
45.4 mi in
|
~1h 3m
|
via US 101
About the Cities
Starting in Sausalito, CA
Full guide →Arriving 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 1h 18m. Total distance: 57.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 38.6 miles on Bayshore Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $9.00 in tolls one way, starting with Golden Gate Bridge. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
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 Jose, 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 1.4 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7 miles (Divisadero Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 45.4 miles (US 101 / Bayshore Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, Golden Gate National Recreation Area and Muir Woods National Monument (6 total within detour distance). 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 San Jose, 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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