Origin
Laton, CA
Evening in Laton on Wednesday
Local time
5:24 PM
PDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Laton, CA to San Jose, CA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
3h 35m
Distance
176.6 mi
284 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$41
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 23m
★
6 AM
3h 36m
8 AM
4h 1m
10 AM
3h 45m
12 PM
3h 42m
3 PM
3h 46m
5 PM
4h 0m
8 PM
3h 28m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Laton, CA
Stephen Leonardi
San Jose, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Laton to San Jose covers a distance of 175.5 miles and typically takes about 3 hours and 1 minute. This journey remains entirely within the Pacific Coast region of California, making it a manageable day trip that fits perfectly into a single day of travel. You should budget approximately $41 for fuel to complete the trek. Because the route relies on local roads rather than major interstates, you will want to keep your schedule flexible to account for the turn-heavy nature of the drive. It is a straightforward transit that avoids the high-speed monotony of long-haul highway driving.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
88.3 miles from Laton, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 46m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. You will navigate using South Fowler Avenue, De Woody Street, and East Riverdale Avenue, as the route features a 0% highway share. Unlike a typical interstate cruise, this path keeps you off the major freeways for the entirety of the 175.5-mile journey. The character of the road is technical and requires frequent adjustments, offering a more hands-on driving experience than standard highway travel. You will find that the road surface and navigation requirements remain consistent throughout the duration of your trip.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 29 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Avenue 23 is the longest continuous segment at about 70.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 38.8 miles in.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 176.6 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 38.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 164.7 miles (CA 85): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 169.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 19 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
38.8 mi into trip
|
~48m in
Take the exit toward Avenue 7
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 144
Toward Avenue 7
9
164.7 mi into trip
|
~3h 20m in
|
CA 85
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 85 toward CA 85 North: Cupertino, Mountain View
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 377B
Toward CA 85 North: Cupertino, Mountain View
7
169.9 mi into trip
|
~3h 26m in
Take the exit toward CA 87 North: Downtown San Jose
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 5A
Toward CA 87 North: Downtown San Jose
8
175.4 mi into trip
|
~3h 33m in
Keep slight left at fork toward CA 87 North: Santa Clara Street, Julian Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward CA 87 North: Santa Clara Street, Julian...
9
176.2 mi into trip
|
~3h 34m 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
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Laton, CA and San Jose, CA, road signs point toward Avenue 7 and Mountain View.
Avenue 7
38.8 mi in
|
~48m
Mountain View
164.7 mi in
|
~3h 20m
|
via CA 85
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Avenue 23 | 70.4 mi | 1h 25m |
| CA 99 | 47.3 mi | 52m |
| South Valley Freeway | 19.9 mi | 22m |
| CA 152 | 12.4 mi | 17m |
| South Highland Avenue | 9.1 mi | 12m |
| CA 85 | 5.2 mi | 6m |
| Guadalupe Parkway | 4.3 mi | 5m |
| East Riverdale Avenue | 1.7 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
Avenue 23
— 70.4 mi, about 1h 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Laton, CA and San Jose, CA.
1
Start on South Fowler Avenue
213 ft
·
31 sec
·
South Fowler Avenue
2
Continue on South Fowler Avenue
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
South Fowler Avenue
3
Turn right onto De Woody Street
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
De Woody Street
4
Turn straight onto East Riverdale Avenue
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
East Riverdale Avenue
5
Continue on Cairo Avenue
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
Cairo Avenue
6
Turn left onto CA 43
0.5 mi
·
43 sec
·
Central Valley Highway
7
Continue on CA 43
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
South Highland Avenue
8
Continue on CA 43
7.0 mi
·
9 min
·
South Highland Avenue
9
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward CA 99 North
10
Merge onto CA 99
26 mi
·
28 min
·
CA 99
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 144
Toward Avenue 7
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto CA 99
21 mi
·
24 min
·
CA 99
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 152
0.4 mi
·
27 sec
·
NB SR 99 to WB 152
Toward CA 152 West
14
Continue on CA 152
0.9 mi
·
59 sec
·
Westbound California State Route 152
15
Continue on CA 152
70 mi
·
1 hr 25 min
·
Avenue 23
Use the straight lane.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 152
12 mi
·
16 min
·
CA 152
17
Take the exit onto CA 152
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
CA 152
Toward US 101 North: San Jose
18
Merge onto US 101; CA 152
20 mi
·
22 min
·
South Valley Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
19
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 85
5.2 mi
·
6 min
·
CA 85
Exit 377B
Toward CA 85 North: Cupertino, Mountain View
Use the slight right lane.
20
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
51 sec
Exit 5A
Toward CA 87 North: Downtown San Jose
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Continue on CA 87
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Guadalupe Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Continue on CA 87
0.4 mi
·
29 sec
·
Guadalupe Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Exit 6
Toward CA 82
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
51 sec
Toward CA 87 North: Santa Clara Street, Julian Street
Use the slight left lane.
25
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward CA 87 North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 6B
Toward Julian Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Turn right onto West Saint James Street
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
West Saint James Street
Use the straight lane.
28
Turn left onto North Market Street
416 ft
·
8 sec
·
North Market Street
29
Arrive at destination
North Market Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 3-hour and 1-minute drive, try to depart early in the morning to avoid local traffic buildup on the secondary roads. You should plan for at least one stop during your transit to stretch your legs and break up the constant turning. Since you are relying on local streets rather than highways, keep a close eye on your GPS to ensure you do not miss a turn on South Fowler Avenue or East Riverdale Avenue. Budgeting $41 for gas is a solid starting point, but keep a little extra in reserve since local driving can sometimes impact fuel efficiency compared to steady highway cruising. The lack of a long uninterrupted stretch means you have plenty of natural opportunities to pull over for a quick rest.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 88.3 miles from Laton, CA, or about 1h 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 70.4 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 39 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 88.3 miles or 1h 46m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 57m
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 Laton, 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 Laton, CA
This is one driving day of about 176.6 miles and 3h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Laton, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Avenue 23 for about 70.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 88.3 mi from Laton, CA · 1h 46m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
88 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 39 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 88.3 miles from Laton, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Avenue 23 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 70.4 miles.
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
$40.59 one way
$81.18 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
62 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $41.83 | $83.66 |
| premium | $6.18 | $42.95 | $85.89 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $38.99 | $77.98 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 53 | 0 | $18.54 | $8.48 |
| Efficient EV | 44.2 | 0 | $15.45 | $7.06 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 70.6 | 0 | $24.72 | $11.30 |
Gas CO2
62 kg
EV CO2
21 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
Evening in San Jose on Wednesday
Local time
5:24 PM
PDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
50°F
Los Banos, CA
88 mi in
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
25 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
3h 35m 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 Laton, CA to San Jose, CA covers 176.6 miles and takes about 3h 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Avenue 23, CA 99, South Valley Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 88.3 miles from Laton, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $40.59 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 176.6 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 38.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 164.7 miles (CA 85): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 169.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Laton, CA and San Jose, CA, road signs point toward Avenue 7 and Mountain View.
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