Origin
Ben Lomond, CA
Afternoon in Ben Lomond on Thursday
Local time
3:44 PM
PDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ben Lomond, CA to San Jose, CA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
52m
Distance
34.2 mi
55 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 48m
★
6 AM
0h 53m
8 AM
1h 1m
10 AM
0h 56m
12 PM
0h 55m
3 PM
0h 56m
5 PM
1h 1m
8 PM
0h 50m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ben Lomond, CA
Wikimedia Commons
San Jose, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 34.2-mile drive from Ben Lomond, CA, to San Jose, CA, is a manageable trip that can easily be completed in about 52 minutes. Operating primarily on Santa Cruz Highway, Mount Hermon Road, and Highway 9, this route is best suited for a single day trip, with no overnight split recommended. With an estimated fuel cost of $8, it's an economical option for exploring the Pacific Coast region. Expect a turn-heavy local drive experience, making it a more engaging journey than a straightforward interstate cruise. This trip offers a practical way to transition between these two California locations.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 52m. Total distance: 34.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
The character of this drive is decidedly 'turn-heavy,' suggesting a dynamic and engaging experience behind the wheel. While only 15% of the route utilizes highway speeds, the majority unfolds on local roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 22.6 miles on Santa Cruz Highway, offering a period of more consistent travel before the turns pick up again. This route isn't a monotonous interstate grind; rather, it's a more involved local drive that requires your attention throughout the 52-minute journey.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Santa Cruz Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 22.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 29.7 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 13 decision points packed into just 34.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 52m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 29.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 32.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 32.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
29.7 mi into trip
|
~45m in
Take the exit toward I 280 South: Downtown San Jose
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 27A
Toward I 280 South: Downtown San Jose
8
32.5 mi into trip
|
~48m in
Take the exit toward CA 87 North, CA 87 South: San Jose International Airport, Guadalupe Parkway
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 3A
Toward CA 87 North, CA 87 South: San Jose Inter...
8
32.8 mi into trip
|
~49m in
Keep slight left at fork toward CA 87 North: San Jose International Airport, Guadalupe Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward CA 87 North: San Jose International Airp...
7
33.5 mi into trip
|
~50m in
Keep slight left at fork toward CA 87 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward CA 87 North
9
33.8 mi into trip
|
~51m 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
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz Highway | 22.6 mi | 30m |
| Mount Hermon Road | 3.8 mi | 7m |
| Highway 9 | 2.9 mi | 6m |
| Sinclair Freeway | 2.3 mi | 2m |
| Graham Hill Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West Saint James Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Glen Arbor Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| North Market Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Santa Cruz Highway
— 22.6 mi, about 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ben Lomond, CA and San Jose, CA.
1
Start on Glen Arbor Road
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
Glen Arbor Road
2
Turn left onto CA 9
2.9 mi
·
6 min
·
Highway 9
3
Turn left onto Graham Hill Road
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
Graham Hill Road
4
Turn left onto Mount Hermon Road
3.8 mi
·
7 min
·
Mount Hermon Road
Use the left lane.
5
Take the ramp
188 ft
·
4 sec
6
Turn right
423 ft
·
5 sec
7
Merge onto CA 17
23 mi
·
30 min
·
Santa Cruz Highway
Use the straight lane.
8
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
50 sec
Exit 27A
Toward I 280 South: Downtown San Jose
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 280
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Sinclair Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 3A
Toward CA 87 North, CA 87 South: San Jose International Airport, Guadalupe Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward CA 87 North: San Jose International Airport, Guadalupe Parkway
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward CA 87 North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 6B
Toward Julian Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn right onto West Saint James Street
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
West Saint James Street
Use the straight lane.
15
Turn left onto North Market Street
416 ft
·
8 sec
·
North Market Street
16
Arrive at destination
North Market Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 17.1 mi from Ben Lomond, CA · 28m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 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 34 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.1 miles from Ben Lomond, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in San Jose, CA
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into San Jose, CA if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.86 one way
$15.72 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $8.10 | $16.20 |
| premium | $6.18 | $8.32 | $16.63 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.55 | $15.10 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 12 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.3 | 0 | $3.59 | $1.64 |
| Efficient EV | 8.6 | 0 | $2.99 | $1.37 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.7 | 0 | $4.79 | $2.19 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (67% 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
Afternoon in San Jose on Thursday
Local time
3:44 PM
PDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
8 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
52m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Ben Lomond, CA to San Jose, CA covers 34.2 miles and takes about 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Santa Cruz Highway, Mount Hermon Road, Highway 9. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 17.1 miles from Ben Lomond, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.86 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 34.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 52m.
The main spots that need attention: at 29.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 32.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 32.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Ben Lomond, CA to San Jose, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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