Trip from Dixon, CA to San Jose, CA

Drive Time

1h 54m

Distance

94.8 mi

153 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$22

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 26 min
4 AM
1h 46m ★
6 AM
1h 55m
8 AM
2h 12m
10 AM
2h 1m
12 PM
1h 59m
3 PM
2h 2m
5 PM
2h 11m
8 PM
1h 50m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Dixon, CA, CA

Dixon, CA

Stephen Leonardi

Downtown San Jose, CA, CA

San Jose, CA

Stephen Leonardi

Trip Overview

If you are planning to travel from Dixon to San Jose, expect a 99.2-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 33 minutes. This route is best suited for a single-day trip, as it is short enough to complete in one go without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $13 for fuel to cover the distance. Since both the origin and destination are located within the Pacific Coast region, you will remain in the same geographic area throughout the drive. Navigating these local roads provides a direct, albeit turn-heavy, connection between these two California cities.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

47.4 miles from Dixon, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 56m into the drive .

Drive Character

Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this route relies on local roads like Dixon Avenue West, Schroeder Road, and Dwight D rather than high-speed freeways. In fact, the highway share for this trip is 0%, meaning you will be navigating surface streets for the entire 99.2 miles. Because the longest uninterrupted stretch on Dixon Avenue West is 0 miles, you should expect constant adjustments and turns rather than long, straightaways. It is a technical drive that requires your full attention from start to finish.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Donald D Doyle Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 32.4 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 24.5 miles in.

Route Complexity 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 94.8 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 24.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 45.5 miles (I 680 / Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 82.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 14 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

8
24.5 mi into trip | ~29m 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
45.5 mi into trip | ~54m 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
82.7 mi into trip | ~1h 37m 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
82.8 mi into trip | ~1h 37m 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
92.9 mi into trip | ~1h 50m 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

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Dixon, CA to San Jose, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Warm Springs District along the way.

Warm Springs District

82.8 mi in | ~1h 37m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Donald D Doyle Highway 32.4 mi 37m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway 22.2 mi 25m
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
West A Street 1.9 mi 3m
North 1st Street 1.5 mi 3m
Longest stretch: Donald D Doyle Highway — 32.4 mi, about 37m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Dixon, CA and San Jose, CA.

1

Start on West A Street

1.9 mi · 3 min · West A Street
2

Continue on Dixon Avenue West

0.1 mi · 17 sec · Dixon Avenue West
3

Turn right onto Schroeder Road

504 ft · 10 sec · Schroeder Road
4

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 24 sec
5

Merge onto I 80

22 mi · 25 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Exit 40 Toward I 680: Benicia, San Jose Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Continue on I 680

12 mi · 14 min · Luther E Gibson Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Continue on I 680

8.0 mi · 9 min · Benicia-Martinez Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Keep slight right at fork onto I 680

4.8 mi · 5 min · Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Continue on I 680

1.4 mi · 1 min · Donald D Doyle Highway
11

Keep slight right at fork onto I 680

31 mi · 35 min · Donald D Doyle Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 21 sec
Exit 12 Toward CA 262 Use the slight right lane.
13

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.
14

Merge onto CA 262

1.5 mi · 2 min · Mission Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
15

Merge onto I 880

8.3 mi · 9 min · Nimitz Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 26 sec
Exit 4A Toward Downtown, North First Street Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Turn left onto North 1st Street

1.5 mi · 3 min · North 1st Street
Use the left / uturn lanes.
18

Turn right onto West Julian Street

494 ft · 17 sec · West Julian Street
19

Turn left onto North Market Street

196 ft · 6 sec · North Market Street
20

Arrive at destination

North Market Street

Trip Plan

Since this is a relatively short drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. However, because the route is entirely local with zero highway miles, traffic patterns on these specific roads will significantly impact your travel time. Plan for a steady pace, as there are no scheduled stops required for a trip of this duration. Since you will be navigating primarily through local streets, keep a close eye on your GPS to manage the frequent turns effectively. A helpful tip for this route is to ensure your vehicle is fueled up before you leave Dixon, as the $13 cost is a baseline estimate that may fluctuate based on local fuel prices along the way.

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 47.4 miles from Dixon, CA, or about 56m 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 80 miles or 1h 34m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 47.4 miles or 56m 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 31m

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 Dixon, 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 Dixon, CA

This is one driving day of about 94.8 miles and 1h 54m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Dixon, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
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.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 47.4 mi from Dixon, CA · 56m into the drive

Downtown Mountain View, CA, CA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Mountain View, CA

47 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

Fremont, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Mountain View, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 47.4 miles from Dixon, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in San Jose, CA

The final approach into San Jose, CA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around San Jose, CA.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$21.95 one way

$43.91 round trip

$5.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 33 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.07 $22.64 $45.28
premium $6.24 $23.30 $46.60
diesel $5.64 $21.06 $42.12

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$22

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$47–$72

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 33.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 28.4 0 $9.95 $4.55
Efficient EV 23.7 0 $8.30 $3.79
EV Truck/SUV 37.9 0 $13.27 $6.07

Gas CO2

33 kg

EV CO2

11 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.

Forecast data refreshed 2 days ago

Origin

Dixon, CA

Afternoon in Dixon on Sunday

Local time

2:16 PM

PDT

Current temp

48°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

San Jose, CA

Afternoon in San Jose on Sunday

Local time

2:16 PM

PDT

Current temp

71°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

23 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 54m 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 Dixon, CA to San Jose, CA covers 94.8 miles and takes about 1h 54m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Donald D Doyle Highway, Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, Luther E Gibson Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 47.4 miles from Dixon, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $21.95 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 demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 94.8 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 24.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 45.5 miles (I 680 / Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 82.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Dixon, CA to San Jose, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Warm Springs District along the way.

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