Origin
Walnut Creek, CA
Morning in Walnut Creek on Tuesday
Local time
7:39 AM
PDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Walnut Creek, 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
57m
Distance
46.1 mi
74 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 53m
★
6 AM
0h 57m
8 AM
1h 7m
10 AM
1h 1m
12 PM
1h 0m
3 PM
1h 1m
5 PM
1h 6m
8 PM
0h 55m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Walnut Creek, CA
Wikimedia Commons
San Jose, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 46.1-mile drive from Walnut Creek, CA to San Jose, CA is best tackled in a single day, taking approximately 57 minutes. With an estimated fuel cost of $11, this trip is quite economical. You'll primarily navigate via the Donald D Doyle Highway and the Nimitz Freeway, with a significant portion on local roads like North 1st Street. The route is characterized by frequent turns, making it more of a local exploration than a high-speed transit. Given its short distance and duration, it's perfectly suited for a quick day trip within the Pacific Coast region of California.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Donald D Doyle Highway | 32.4 mi | 37m |
| Nimitz Freeway | 8.3 mi | 9m |
| North 1st Street | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| Mission Boulevard | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway | 1 mi | 1m |
| Ygnacio Valley Road | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| West Julian Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| North Market Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Donald D Doyle Highway
— 32.4 mi, about 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Walnut Creek, CA and San Jose, CA.
1
Start on North Main Street
94 ft
·
4 sec
·
North Main Street
2
Turn right onto Ygnacio Valley Road
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Ygnacio Valley Road
Use the right lane.
3
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Toward I 680 South: San Jose
Use the left lane.
4
Merge onto I 680
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on I 680
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Donald D Doyle Highway
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 680
31 mi
·
35 min
·
Donald D Doyle Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 12
Toward CA 262
Use the slight right lane.
8
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.
9
Merge onto CA 262
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Mission Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 880
8.3 mi
·
9 min
·
Nimitz Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 4A
Toward Downtown, North First Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn left onto North 1st Street
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
North 1st Street
Use the left / uturn lanes.
13
Turn right onto West Julian Street
494 ft
·
17 sec
·
West Julian Street
14
Turn left onto North Market Street
196 ft
·
6 sec
·
North Market Street
15
Arrive at destination
North Market Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.1 miles from Walnut Creek, 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 125 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 44.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the exit toward I 680 South: San Jose
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 680 South: San Jose
6
3 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 680 / Donald D Doyle Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 680 / Donald D Doyle Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
34 mi into trip
|
~40m 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
34.2 mi into trip
|
~40m 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
44.3 mi into trip
|
~52m 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
$10.60 one way
$21.19 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $10.92 | $21.84 |
| premium | $6.18 | $11.21 | $22.42 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.18 | $20.36 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.8 | 0 | $4.84 | $2.21 |
| Efficient EV | 11.5 | 0 | $4.03 | $1.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.4 | 0 | $6.45 | $2.95 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
7:39 AM
PDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
75°F
Fremont, CA
23 mi in
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
17 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
57m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive with only an 18% highway share. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 32.4 miles on the Donald D Doyle Highway. As you progress, the road will transition from highway segments to more local streets, requiring your attention for frequent directional changes. This isn't a monotonous interstate cruise; rather, it's a drive that keeps you engaged with its varied road types and navigational demands.
Only 18% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
15 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 0.4 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 46.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 57m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles (I 680 / Donald D Doyle Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 34 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 Walnut Creek, CA to San Jose, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Warm Springs District along the way.
Warm Springs District
34.2 mi in
|
~40m
About the Cities
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 57m. Total distance: 46.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
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 0.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles (I 680 / Donald D Doyle Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 34 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial, Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park and San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park (5 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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