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Trip from Shafter, CA to San Jose, CA

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

4h 20m

Distance

222.9 mi

359 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$51

one way

EV Charging

Good

5 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 7m ★
6 AM
4h 21m
8 AM
4h 47m
10 AM
4h 30m
12 PM
4h 27m
3 PM
4h 31m
5 PM
4h 46m
8 PM
4h 13m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in Kern County, California, United States

Shafter, CA

Wikimedia Commons

city and county seat of Santa Clara County, California, United States

San Jose, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 222.9-mile drive from Shafter, CA to San Jose, CA is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can easily be completed in a single day. Expect to spend about 4 hours and 20 minutes on the road, primarily utilizing Westside Freeway, CA 152, and South Valley Freeway. With 92% of the route on highways, it's designed for efficient travel. The estimated fuel cost is around $51, making it an economical option for a quick trip. This drive fits comfortably within the Pacific Coast region, offering a direct connection between these two California locations without needing an overnight stop.

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

111.4 miles from Shafter, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 10m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Westside Freeway 134.7 mi 2h 24m
CA 152 41.1 mi 51m
South Valley Freeway 19.9 mi 22m
East Lerdo Highway 14.6 mi 25m
CA 85 5.2 mi 6m
Guadalupe Parkway 4.3 mi 5m
Guadalupe Freeway 0.4 mi <1m
West Saint James Street 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Westside Freeway — 134.7 mi, about 2h 24m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Shafter, CA and San Jose, CA.

1

Start on Jackson Avenue

322 ft · 14 sec · Jackson Avenue
2

Turn right onto East Lerdo Highway

15 mi · 25 min · East Lerdo Highway
3

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 45 sec
4

Merge onto I 5

135 mi · 2 hr 24 min · Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 26 sec
Exit 403B Toward CA 152 West: Gilroy, Hollister, San Jose
6

Continue on CA 152; CA33

29 mi · 33 min · CA 152; CA33
Use the straight lane.
7

Keep slight right at fork onto CA 152

12 mi · 16 min · CA 152
8

Take the exit onto CA 152

0.5 mi · 1 min · CA 152
Toward US 101 North: San Jose
9

Merge onto US 101; CA 152

20 mi · 22 min · South Valley Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
10

Keep slight right at fork onto CA 85

5.2 mi · 6 min · CA 85
Exit 377B Toward CA 85 North: Cupertino, Mountain View Use the slight right lane.
11

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 51 sec
Exit 5A Toward CA 87 North: Downtown San Jose Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Continue on CA 87

4.3 mi · 5 min · Guadalupe Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Continue on CA 87

0.4 mi · 29 sec · Guadalupe Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 19 sec
Exit 6 Toward CA 82 Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 51 sec
Toward CA 87 North: Santa Clara Street, Julian Street Use the slight left lane.
16

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 35 sec
Toward CA 87 North Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 26 sec
Exit 6B Toward Julian Street Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

Turn right onto West Saint James Street

0.2 mi · 28 sec · West Saint James Street
Use the straight lane.
19

Turn left onto North Market Street

416 ft · 8 sec · North Market Street
20

Arrive at destination

North Market Street

Trip Plan

For this 4-hour and 20-minute drive, an early morning departure from Shafter is recommended to maximize your time in San Jose. With only one stop suggested for this 222.9-mile route, you have flexibility in pacing yourself. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the longest stretch of 134.7 miles on the Westside Freeway, as services can be spaced out. The $51 fuel cost is a reasonable budget to keep in mind. Consider a brief stop around the halfway point to stretch your legs and grab a snack.

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 111.4 miles from Shafter, CA, or about 2h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 134.7 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 49 miles or 1h 3m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 111.4 miles or 2h 10m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 30m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near San Jose, CA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Shafter, 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 Shafter, CA

This is one driving day of about 222.9 miles and 4h 20m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from Shafter, 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 Westside Freeway for about 134.7 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Santa Clara County, California, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Gilroy, CA

111 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.

Popular next leg

Gilroy, CA to San Jose, CA

32.5 mi · 40m

Pacing Suggestions

Avenal, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 49 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Los Banos, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 111.4 miles from Shafter, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Westside Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 134.7 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Urban Putt San Jose

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

San Jose, California

Near the end, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 222.9

Hours: 5–10 pm

+18339984994

Visit website

Urban Putt San Jose

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 222.9

San Jose, California

Hours: 5–10 pm

+18339984994

Visit website

Round1 Bowling & Arcade Eastridge Shopping Center

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, ~11 min detour

4.6 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 222.9

San Jose, California

Hours: 10 am–2 pm

+14085138290

Visit website

Electrify America Charging Station

3.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 79.6

Coalinga, California

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

3.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 79.6

Coalinga, California

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 111.4

Firebaugh, California

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Rivian Adventure Network

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

3.5 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 111.4

Firebaugh, California

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18337484267

Visit website

Electrify America Charging Station

3.1 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

3.5 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 111.4

Firebaugh, California

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

Breakout Studios

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 222.9

San Jose, California

Hours: Closed

+14083201962

Visit website

Rotary PlayGarden

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 222.9

San Jose, California

Hours: 10 am–6:30 pm

+14082987657

Visit website

The Tech Interactive

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 222.9

San Jose, California

Hours: 10 am–3 pm

+14082948324

Visit website

San Jose Museum of Art

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 222.9

San Jose, California

Hours: 4–9 pm

+14082716840

Visit website

Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 222.9

San Jose, California

Hours: 9:30 am–4:30 pm

+14082985437

Visit website

Guadalupe River Park

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 222.9

San Jose, California

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+14082987657

Visit website

Smash City Rage Rooms

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 222.9

San Jose, California

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+14085640916

Visit website

Discovery Meadow

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 222.9

San Jose, California

Hours: Open 24 hours

+14082987657

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 14

5 decision points cluster between mile 211 and 222.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

9
211 mi into trip | ~4h 5m in | CA 85

Keep slight right at fork onto CA 85 toward CA 85 North: Cupertino, Mountain View

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 377B Toward CA 85 North: Cupertino, Mountain View
7
216.2 mi into trip | ~4h 11m in

Take the exit toward CA 87 North: Downtown San Jose

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 5A Toward CA 87 North: Downtown San Jose
7
221.5 mi into trip | ~4h 17m in

Take the exit toward CA 82

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 6 Toward CA 82
8
221.7 mi into trip | ~4h 18m in

Keep slight left at fork toward CA 87 North: Santa Clara Street, Julian Street

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left lane. Toward CA 87 North: Santa Clara Street, Julian...
9
222.5 mi into trip | ~4h 19m in

Keep slight right at fork toward Julian Street

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 6B Toward Julian Street

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$51.23 one way

$102.46 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 78 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $52.79 $105.59
premium $6.18 $54.21 $108.41
diesel $5.61 $49.21 $98.43

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$51

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$76–$101

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 78 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 66.9 0 $23.40 $10.70
Efficient EV 55.7 0 $19.50 $8.92
EV Truck/SUV 89.2 1 $31.21 $14.27

Gas CO2

78 kg

EV CO2

26 kg (67% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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 15, 2026

Origin

Shafter, CA

Afternoon in Shafter on Sunday

Local time

12:34 PM

PDT

Current temp

76°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

San Jose, CA

Afternoon in San Jose on Sunday

Local time

12:34 PM

PDT

Current temp

49°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

27 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

4h 20m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

Prepare for a largely highway-focused experience, with 92% of your journey taking place on major roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 134.7 miles on the Westside Freeway. This route prioritizes steady progress over varied scenery, meaning you'll be on fast-paced freeway for the majority of the drive. While it's primarily a highway grind, the transition between Westside Freeway, CA 152, and South Valley Freeway offers a sense of forward momentum. You'll experience a consistent driving pace for most of the 222.9 miles.

92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 134.7 mi on Westside Freeway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and CA 152. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 211 miles in near CA 85.

Driving Effort 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 222.9 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 211 miles (CA 85): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 216.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 221.5 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.

Between Shafter, CA and San Jose, CA, road signs point toward Hollister and Mountain View.

Hollister

149.7 mi in | ~2h 51m

Mountain View

211 mi in | ~4h 5m | via CA 85

About the Cities

Arriving 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 4h 20m. Total distance: 222.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 134.7 miles on Westside Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

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.

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 211 miles (CA 85): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 216.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 221.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.7 hours — manageable with a long break at San Jose, CA, but most travelers stay overnight.

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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