Origin
Vacaville, CA
Morning in Vacaville on Tuesday
Local time
8:20 AM
PDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Vacaville, 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 41m
Distance
83.5 mi
134 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 34m
★
6 AM
1h 41m
8 AM
1h 56m
10 AM
1h 46m
12 PM
1h 45m
3 PM
1h 47m
5 PM
1h 55m
8 PM
1h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Vacaville, CA
Stephen Leonardi
San Jose, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Vacaville, CA to San Jose, CA is 83.5 miles and takes about 1 hour 41 minutes via Donald D Doyle Highway, with a fuel budget near $19 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip takes you from the Pacific Coast region of California to another part of the Pacific Coast, entirely within the Golden State. Given that it's mostly surface roads and can be completed in under two hours, this is a straightforward drive suitable for a single day. Consider this route if you need a direct path between these two Northern California locations without extensive freeway time.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
41.7 miles from Vacaville, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 49m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Donald D Doyle Highway | 32.4 mi | 37m |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 12.5 mi | 14m |
| Luther E Gibson Freeway | 12.4 mi | 14m |
| Nimitz Freeway | 8.3 mi | 9m |
| Benicia-Martinez Bridge | 8 mi | 9m |
| Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway | 4.8 mi | 5m |
| North 1st Street | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| Mission Boulevard | 1.5 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Donald D Doyle Highway
— 32.4 mi, about 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Vacaville, CA and San Jose, CA.
1
Start on Merchant Street
17 ft
·
0 sec
·
Merchant Street
2
Continue on Main Street
351 ft
·
17 sec
·
Main Street
3
Turn right onto Davis Street
0.3 mi
·
53 sec
·
Davis Street
4
Turn right onto Hickory Lane
457 ft
·
12 sec
·
Hickory Lane
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
6
Merge onto I 80
12 mi
·
14 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 40
Toward I 680: Benicia, San Jose
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 680
12 mi
·
14 min
·
Luther E Gibson Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 680
8.0 mi
·
9 min
·
Benicia-Martinez Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 680
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 680
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Donald D Doyle Highway
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 680
31 mi
·
35 min
·
Donald D Doyle Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 12
Toward CA 262
Use the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward CA 262: Northwestern Polytechnic University, Warm Springs District
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto CA 262
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Mission Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Merge onto I 880
8.3 mi
·
9 min
·
Nimitz Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 4A
Toward Downtown, North First Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Turn left onto North 1st Street
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
North 1st Street
Use the left / uturn lanes.
19
Turn right onto West Julian Street
494 ft
·
17 sec
·
West Julian Street
20
Turn left onto North Market Street
196 ft
·
6 sec
·
North Market Street
21
Arrive at destination
North Market Street
Trip Plan
With a drive time of just under two hours, this route offers a lot of flexibility. You can leave anytime, but avoiding peak commute hours through the Bay Area will make your drive smoother. Since the total distance is only 83.5 miles, you likely won't need multiple long stops, but plan for a quick break if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $19, and gas stations might be more spaced out on the surface road sections. Pay attention to local traffic patterns as you approach San Jose.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 41.7 miles from Vacaville, CA, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 32.4 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 18 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.7 miles or 49m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 23m
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 Vacaville, CA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Vacaville, CA
This is one driving day of about 83.5 miles and 1h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Vacaville, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Donald D Doyle Highway for about 32.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
42 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 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 41.7 miles from Vacaville, 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 145 decision points cluster between mile 13.2 and 81.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
13.2 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Take the exit toward I 680: Benicia, San Jose
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 40
Toward I 680: Benicia, San Jose
6
34.2 mi into trip
|
~41m in
|
I 680 / Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 680 / Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
71.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 23m in
Take the exit toward CA 262
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 12
Toward CA 262
9
71.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 24m in
Keep slight right at fork toward CA 262: Northwestern Polytechnic University, Warm Springs District
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward CA 262: Northwestern Polytechnic Univers...
8
81.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 36m in
Take the exit toward Downtown, North First Street
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 4A
Toward Downtown, North First Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.19 one way
$38.38 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
29 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $19.78 | $39.55 |
| premium | $6.18 | $20.31 | $40.61 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $18.44 | $36.87 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 25.1 | 0 | $8.77 | $4.01 |
| Efficient EV | 20.9 | 0 | $7.31 | $3.34 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 33.4 | 0 | $11.69 | $5.34 |
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 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 Jose, CA
Morning in San Jose on Tuesday
Local time
8:20 AM
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
22 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 41m 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 route is primarily surface roads, with only 25% of the drive on highways. You'll encounter the longest continuous stretch of highway, 32.4 miles, on Donald D Doyle Highway. Expect to transition from highway cruising to navigating city streets and intersections as you progress. The frequent exits and merges on the highway portions suggest a busy corridor.
Only 25% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 32.4 mi on Donald D Doyle Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 13.2 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 83.5 miles you will encounter 14 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 13.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 34.2 miles (I 680 / Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 71.4 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.
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 Vacaville, CA to San Jose, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Warm Springs District along the way.
Warm Springs District
71.6 mi in
|
~1h 24m
About the Cities
Starting in Vacaville, CA
Full guide →Founded 1852
Vacaville is in Solano County in the Sacramento Valley of California.
Top landmarks
- • Will H. Buck House — Vacaville, California
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 41m. Total distance: 83.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 32.4 miles on Donald D Doyle 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 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 13.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 34.2 miles (I 680 / Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 71.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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