Origin
Walnut Grove, CA
Late night in Walnut Grove on Tuesday
Local time
2:28 AM
PDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Walnut Grove, 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
2h 2m
Distance
87.7 mi
141 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$20
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 53m
★
6 AM
2h 2m
8 AM
2h 20m
10 AM
2h 8m
12 PM
2h 6m
3 PM
2h 9m
5 PM
2h 19m
8 PM
1h 57m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Walnut Grove, CA
ML ARANDA
San Jose, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Walnut Grove to San Jose is 87.7 miles and takes about 2h 2m via Victory Highway and I-680, with a fuel budget near $20 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive connects two points within California's Pacific Coast region, offering a blend of highway speeds and surface road cruising. Expect a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in a single day. The relatively short distance and moderate duration make it a convenient option for connecting these two areas.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
43.9 miles from Walnut Grove, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 2m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Victory Highway | 24.6 mi | 34m |
| Vasco Road | 17.5 mi | 24m |
| I 680 | 8.3 mi | 9m |
| Nimitz Freeway | 8.3 mi | 9m |
| CA 4 | 7.1 mi | 8m |
| Vallecitos Road | 5.2 mi | 7m |
| Isabel Avenue | 4.7 mi | 6m |
| Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway | 3.7 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
Victory Highway
— 24.6 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Walnut Grove, CA and San Jose, CA.
1
Start on Lord Street
56 ft
·
4 sec
·
Lord Street
2
Turn right onto Grove Street
71 ft
·
6 sec
·
Grove Street
3
Turn left onto C Street
499 ft
·
28 sec
·
C Street
4
At end of road, turn left onto E13
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
River Road
5
Turn right onto J11
461 ft
·
57 sec
·
Walnut Grove Bridge
6
Turn left onto CA 160
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Victory Highway
7
Continue on CA 160
5.9 mi
·
8 min
·
Victory Highway
8
Continue on CA 160
0.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Victory Highway
9
Turn right onto CA 160
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
River Road
10
Continue on CA 160
469 ft
·
8 sec
·
2nd Street
11
Continue on CA 160
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
River Road
12
Continue on CA 160
16 mi
·
21 min
·
Victory Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward CA 4 East: Stockton
Use the slight left lane.
14
Merge onto CA 4
7.1 mi
·
8 min
·
CA 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on Vasco Road
18 mi
·
24 min
·
Vasco Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Toward I 580 West: Oakland
Use the right lane.
17
Merge onto I 580
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 51
Toward CA 84: Isabel Avenue, Portola Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Turn left onto CA 84
4.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Isabel Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Continue on CA 84
5.2 mi
·
7 min
·
Vallecitos Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
21
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
Toward I 680 South: Fremont, San Jose
22
Merge onto I 680
8.3 mi
·
9 min
·
I 680
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 12
Toward CA 262
Use the slight right lane.
24
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.
25
Merge onto CA 262
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Mission Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
26
Merge onto I 880
8.3 mi
·
9 min
·
Nimitz Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 4A
Toward Downtown, North First Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Turn left onto North 1st Street
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
North 1st Street
Use the left / uturn lanes.
29
Turn right onto West Julian Street
494 ft
·
17 sec
·
West Julian Street
30
Turn left onto North Market Street
196 ft
·
6 sec
·
North Market Street
31
Arrive at destination
North Market Street
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 2m duration, this is a very manageable one-day trip. Leaving Walnut Grove in the morning, perhaps around 9 AM, should get you into San Jose by lunchtime, avoiding peak commute times. With only 87.7 miles, you have flexibility for unscheduled stops if needed, though there are no designated stops listed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge; the estimated $20 budget is a good baseline, but it’s always wise to refuel before hitting the highway if you're near empty.
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 43.9 miles from Walnut Grove, CA, or about 1h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 24.6 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 19 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.9 miles or 1h 2m 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 43m
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 Walnut Grove, 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 Walnut Grove, CA
This is one driving day of about 87.7 miles and 2h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Walnut Grove, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Victory Highway for about 24.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
44 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 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 43.9 miles from Walnut Grove, 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 27 and 85.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
27 mi into trip
|
~39m in
Keep slight left at fork toward CA 4 East: Stockton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward CA 4 East: Stockton
8
56.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 19m in
Take the exit toward CA 84: Isabel Avenue, Portola Avenue
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 51
Toward CA 84: Isabel Avenue, Portola Avenue
7
75.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 44m 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
75.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 45m 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
85.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 57m 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
$20.16 one way
$40.31 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
31 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $20.77 | $41.54 |
| premium | $6.18 | $21.33 | $42.66 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $19.36 | $38.73 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 26.3 | 0 | $9.21 | $4.21 |
| Efficient EV | 21.9 | 0 | $7.67 | $3.51 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 35.1 | 0 | $12.28 | $5.61 |
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (68% 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
Late night in San Jose on Tuesday
Local time
2:28 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
21 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
2h 2m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial
National Memorial
On July 17, 1944, a massive explosion jolted the San Francisco East Bay area, shattering windows and lighting up the night sky. At Port Chicago Naval Magazine, 320 men were killed instantly when two s...
15 mi from route
~38 min detour
Free
near mile 24.2
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This 87.7-mile route features a 31% highway share, meaning you'll spend a significant portion of your time on surface roads. The longest continuous stretch on Victory Highway covers 24.6 miles, offering a feel for more open cruising before transitioning to Vasco Road and then I-680. You'll notice the change from more rural road conditions to freeway merging as you approach the San Jose area.
31% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 24.6 mi on Victory Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 27 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
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 87.7 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 27 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 56.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 75.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
747 ft
3 ft
Total Climb
1,063 ft
Total Descent
989 ft
Highest Point
747 ft
~62.7 mi in
Elevation Range
744 ft
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 Grove, CA to San Jose, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Warm Springs District along the way.
Warm Springs District
75.8 mi in
|
~1h 45m
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 2h 2m. Total distance: 87.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (31%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 24.6 miles on Victory 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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 27 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 56.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 75.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial. 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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