Signal Hill, CA to San Jose, CA is 362.2 miles and takes about 6h 49m via I-405 N and CA-152, with a fuel budget near $87 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within California, traversing the Pacific Coast region for its entirety. Given its mostly highway profile and single-day duration, this route is ideal for travelers looking for an efficient way to get from the Los Angeles area north towards the Bay Area. You'll spend nearly all your time on major freeways, making it a straightforward drive.
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
181.1 miles from Signal Hill, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 23m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Westside Freeway
182.5 mi
3h 15m
San Diego Freeway
43.2 mi
49m
CA 152
41.1 mi
51m
I 5 Truck
39.3 mi
45m
Golden State Freeway
22.3 mi
25m
South Valley Freeway
19.9 mi
22m
CA 85
5.2 mi
6m
Guadalupe Parkway
4.3 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 182.5 mi, about 3h 15m
Traffic on I-405
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 192 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~8,064 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~710 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 43 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Signal Hill, CA and San Jose, CA.
1
Start on East Willow Street
0.5 mi·1 min·East Willow Street
2
Turn right onto Orange Avenue
0.8 mi·1 min·Orange Avenue
Use the left lane.
3
Turn right onto East 32nd Street
444 ft·12 sec·East 32nd Street
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward I 405 North: Santa Monica
5
Keep slight left at fork
283 ft·6 sec
Toward I 405 North: San Diego FreewayUse the slight left lane.
6
Merge onto I 405
43 mi·49 min·San Diego Freeway
Use the straight lane.
7
Merge onto I 5 Truck
1.6 mi·1 min·I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
1.5 mi·1 min·I 5 Truck
Exit 161AToward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 TruckUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck
36 mi·41 min·I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
22 mi·25 min·Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
183 mi·3 hr 15 min·Westside Freeway
Toward I 5 NorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Exit 403BToward CA 152 West: Gilroy, Hollister, San Jose
13
Continue on CA 152; CA33
29 mi·33 min·CA 152; CA33
Use the straight lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 152
12 mi·16 min·CA 152
15
Take the exit onto CA 152
0.5 mi·1 min·CA 152
Toward US 101 North: San Jose
16
Merge onto US 101; CA 152
20 mi·22 min·South Valley Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 85
5.2 mi·6 min·CA 85
Exit 377BToward CA 85 North: Cupertino, Mountain ViewUse the slight right lane.
18
Take the exit
0.6 mi·51 sec
Exit 5AToward CA 87 North: Downtown San JoseUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on CA 87
4.3 mi·5 min·Guadalupe Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Continue on CA 87
0.4 mi·29 sec·Guadalupe Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi·19 sec
Exit 6Toward CA 82Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·51 sec
Toward CA 87 North: Santa Clara Street, Julian StreetUse the slight left lane.
23
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward CA 87 NorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·26 sec
Exit 6BToward Julian StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Turn right onto West Saint James Street
0.2 mi·28 sec·West Saint James Street
Use the straight lane.
26
Turn left onto North Market Street
416 ft·8 sec·North Market Street
27
Arrive at destination
North Market Street
Trip Plan
Starting early, around 7 AM, will help you beat the worst of the Southern California traffic. With a drive time of under 7 hours, this route is comfortably a one-day trip, but you'll want to take at least one break. Consider stopping around the halfway point, perhaps near Coalinga, to refuel and stretch your legs before tackling the final 182.5 miles. The fuel cost estimate of $87 assumes average gas prices, so adjust if you know current rates are higher or lower. Keep an eye on traffic conditions as you approach San Jose, as congestion can increase significantly.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 181.1 miles from Signal Hill, CA, or about 3h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 182.5 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 80 miles or 1h 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 181.1 miles or 3h 23m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 35m
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 Signal Hill, 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 Signal Hill, CA
This is one driving day of about 362.2 miles and 6h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Signal Hill, 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 182.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 22
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.6 and 361.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
1.6 mi into trip|~3m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 405 North: San Diego Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 405 North: San Diego Freeway
9
46.5 mi into trip|~55m in|I 5 Truck
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 161A
Toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
9
350.2 mi into trip|~6h 34m 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
8
361 mi into trip|~6h 46m 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
361.7 mi into trip|~6h 48m 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
$75.78 one way
$151.55 round trip
$5.31/gal25.4 MPG avg127 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.52
$78.70
$157.40
premium
$5.67
$80.78
$161.56
diesel
$4.80
$68.39
$136.78
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$76
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$101–$126
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 126.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $38 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
108.7
1
$38.03
$17.39
Efficient EV
90.6
1
$31.69
$14.49
EV Truck/SUV
144.9
1
$50.71
$23.18
Gas CO2
127 kg
EV CO2
42 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Signal Hill, CA
Night
in Signal Hill on Sunday
Local time
11:23 PM
PDT
Current temp
68°F
Patchy Fog
SSE 5 to 10 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 16 at 11:09PM PDT until July 17 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS Medford OR
Destination
San Jose, CA
Night
in San Jose on Sunday
Local time
11:23 PM
PDT
Current temp
56°F
Mostly Clear
NW 3 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 16 at 11:09PM PDT until July 17 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS Medford OR
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
12 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
6h 49m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
The Santa Monica Mountains offer easy access to surprisingly wild places. Experience the famous beaches of Malibu or explore more than 500 miles of trails. The park abounds with historical and cultura...
18 mi from route
~45 min detour
Free
near mile 37.5
Yes, we can! Widely recognized as the most important Latino leader in the United States during the twentieth century, Cesar Chavez led farm workers and supporters in the establishment of the country's...
28 mi from route
~69 min detour
Free
near mile 112.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect to be on the highway for 99% of this 362.2-mile drive. The longest continuous stretch on a freeway is 182.5 miles, primarily on the I-405 and CA-152. You'll experience plenty of urban merging and dense exit traffic as you navigate out of Southern California and through the Central Valley. Surface roads will be minimal, so plan for consistent freeway speeds for the majority of the trip.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 182.5 mi on Westside Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and San Diego Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.6 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
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 22 significant decision points across 362.2 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 1.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 46.5 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 350.2 miles (CA 85): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
2,744 ft81 ft
Total Climb
3,070 ft
Total Descent
3,136 ft
Highest Point
2,744 ft
~77.6 mi in
Elevation Range
2,663 ft
Notable High Points
2,744 ft at ~77.6 miles+1,365 ft prominence
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 Signal Hill, CA to San Jose, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Hollister along the way.
Long Beach is a large port city in Los Angeles County in Southern California. Long Beach has some nice people-gathering amenities and genuine tourist attractions, such as a world-class aquarium and the Queen Mary floating museum/hotel. Special events are also held in the city like the annual Long Beach Grand Prix (a premier racing event held on city streets) and the annual Long Beach Lesbian & Gay Pride event. When compared to other areas like Hollywood, West Hollywood, Santa Monica and West L.A., Long Beach may not always be at the top of someone's tourist visit to the Los Angeles area, but the city draws its fair share of visitors and has proven it can definitely hold its own.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 49m. Total distance: 362.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 49m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 182.5 miles on Westside Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 26 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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. There are 26 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 46.5 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 350.2 miles (CA 85): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and César E. Chávez National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.8 hours each way, a round trip means 13.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at San Jose, CA before the return drive.
