Origin
Lindsay, CA
Afternoon in Lindsay on Sunday
Local time
2:55 PM
PDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Sign in
No account yet?
Create accountDrive Time
4h 9m
Distance
208.7 mi
336 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$48
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lindsay, CA
Efrem Efre
San Jose, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Spanning 214.7 miles, this journey from Lindsay to San Jose takes approximately 3 hours and 32 minutes of drive time. Because the route is categorized as a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed highway transit, it is best suited as a single-day trip. You should budget roughly $29 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Pacific Coast locations. While the drive is manageable in one go, the navigation requires your full attention due to the local road composition. Planning for one scheduled stop will help keep you refreshed as you transition from the Central Valley area toward the Bay Area. Overall, this route offers a practical, straightforward connection for travelers looking to navigate between these California points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
104.3 miles from Lindsay, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 1m into the drive .
Expect a very different experience from a standard interstate cruise, as this entire 214.7-mile trek consists of local roads rather than major highways. You will navigate via East Apia Street, South Mirage Avenue, and East Hermosa Street, which results in a 0% highway share. Because there is no long-haul speed, the longest uninterrupted stretch is 0 miles on East Apia Street, meaning you should prepare for frequent turns and a slower pace. The road's personality is defined by its technical, turn-heavy nature, requiring you to stay alert behind the wheel. It is a hands-on drive that demands constant engagement as you transition through the local infrastructure.
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 70.9 miles in.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 208.7 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 70.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 196.7 miles (CA 85): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 201.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Take the exit toward Avenue 7
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
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
Take the exit toward CA 87 North: Downtown San Jose
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
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
Keep slight right at fork toward Julian Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Between Lindsay, CA and San Jose, CA, road signs point toward Avenue 7 and Mountain View.
Avenue 7
Mountain View
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Avenue 23 | 70.4 mi | 1h 25m |
| Golden State Highway | 56.6 mi | 1h 1m |
| CA 99 | 21.4 mi | 24m |
| South Valley Freeway | 19.9 mi | 22m |
| CA 152 | 12.4 mi | 17m |
| CA 65 | 6.8 mi | 9m |
| CA 85 | 5.2 mi | 6m |
| Guadalupe Parkway | 4.3 mi | 5m |
Step-by-step road directions between Lindsay, CA and San Jose, CA.
Start on this road
Turn right onto East Apia Street
Turn right onto J29
Turn left onto J29
Enter roundabout onto J29
Continue on J29
Enter roundabout onto J29
Continue on J29
Turn right onto CA 65
Continue on CA 137
Continue on CA 137
At end of road, turn right onto CA 137
Turn left
Merge onto CA 99
Take the exit
Merge onto CA 99
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 152
Continue on CA 152
Continue on CA 152
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 152
Take the exit onto CA 152
Merge onto US 101; CA 152
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 85
Take the exit
Continue on CA 87
Continue on CA 87
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Turn right onto West Saint James Street
Turn left onto North Market Street
Arrive at destination
To make the most of this 3-hour and 32-minute trip, aim to depart early in the morning to beat local traffic congestion on the smaller roads. Since the route relies entirely on local streets like East Hermosa Street, you will find that flexibility is your biggest advantage; pull over whenever you need a break to maintain your focus. Budgeting $29 for fuel should be sufficient, but keep an eye on your gauge since local driving can often be less fuel-efficient than highway cruising. Plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs, as the continuous turning can be more fatiguing than a straight interstate shot. A route-specific tip: double-check your GPS settings to ensure you are routed correctly through East Apia Street and South Mirage Avenue before you pull out of the driveway.
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.
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 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 104.3 miles or 2h 1m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near San Jose, CA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Lindsay, 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 Lindsay, CA
This is one driving day of about 208.7 miles and 4h 9m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 104.3 mi from Lindsay, CA · 2h 1m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
104 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 104.3 miles from Lindsay, 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.
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.
Regular Gas
$48.33 one way
$96.66 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $49.84 | $99.68 |
| premium | $6.24 | $51.30 | $102.59 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $46.37 | $92.73 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$48
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 62.6 | 0 | $21.91 | $10.02 |
| Efficient EV | 52.2 | 0 | $18.26 | $8.35 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 83.5 | 1 | $29.22 | $13.36 |
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
24 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Lindsay on Sunday
Local time
2:55 PM
PDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Destination
Afternoon in San Jose on Sunday
Local time
2:55 PM
PDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Lindsay, CA or browse trips ending in San Jose, CA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CA road trips.
Explore maps for Lindsay, CA or San Jose, CA on MapSof.net.