Origin
Madera, CA
Morning in Madera on Thursday
Local time
10:53 AM
PDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Madera, CA to San Jose, CA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
2h 12m
Distance
128.4 mi
207 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$30
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 3m
★
6 AM
2h 12m
8 AM
2h 31m
10 AM
2h 19m
12 PM
2h 17m
3 PM
2h 20m
5 PM
2h 30m
8 PM
2h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Madera, CA
Wikimedia Commons
San Jose, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Madera, CA to San Jose, CA covers 128.4 miles and takes about 2h 12m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on West 4th Street, North H Street, SR 99 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $29.51 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
64.2 miles from Madera, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 6m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 12m. Total distance: 128.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 12m drive with frequent turns across 128.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West 4th Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Madera, CA to San Jose, CA is easy. At 2h 12m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Madera, CA to San Jose, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West 4th Street | — | — |
| North H Street | — | — |
| SR 99 | — | — |
| State Route 152 | — | — |
| Avenue 23 | — | — |
| US 101 North | — | — |
| South Valley Freeway | — | — |
| CA 85 North | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
West 4th Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Madera, CA and San Jose, CA.
1
Start on North Gateway Drive
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
North Gateway Drive
2
Turn left onto West 4th Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
West 4th Street
3
Turn right onto North H Street
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
North H Street
4
Take the ramp slight left
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
5
Merge slight left
11 mi
·
12 min
6
Keep slight left to continue on NB SR 99 to WB 152
0.4 mi
·
27 sec
·
NB SR 99 to WB 152
7
Continue on Westbound California State Route 152
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Westbound California State Route 152
8
Continue on Avenue 23
70 mi
·
1 hr 25 min
·
Avenue 23
9
Keep slight right
12 mi
·
16 min
10
Take the exit slight right toward US 101 North: San Jose
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
US 101 North: San Jose
11
Merge slight left onto South Valley Freeway
20 mi
·
23 min
·
South Valley Freeway
12
Keep slight right to continue on CA 85 North: Cupertino, Mountain View
5.2 mi
·
6 min
·
CA 85 North: Cupertino, Mountain View
13
Take the exit slight right toward CA 87 North: Downtown San Jose
0.6 mi
·
51 sec
·
CA 87 North: Downtown San Jose
14
Continue on Guadalupe Parkway
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Guadalupe Parkway
15
Continue on Guadalupe Freeway
0.4 mi
·
29 sec
·
Guadalupe Freeway
16
Take the exit slight right toward CA 82
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
CA 82
17
Keep slight left to continue on CA 87 North: Santa Clara Street, Julian Street
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
CA 87 North: Santa Clara Street, Julian Street
18
Keep slight left to continue on CA 87 North
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
CA 87 North
19
Keep slight right to continue on Julian Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Julian Street
20
Turn right onto West Saint James Street
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
West Saint James Street
21
Turn left onto North Market Street
417 ft
·
9 sec
·
North Market Street
22
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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 64.2 miles from Madera, CA, or about 1h 6m into the drive.
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 28 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 64.2 miles or 1h 6m 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 48m
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 Madera, 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 Madera, CA
This is one driving day of about 128.4 miles and 2h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Madera, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 64.2 mi from Madera, CA · 1h 6m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
64 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 28 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 64.2 miles from Madera, 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
$29.51 one way
$59.02 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
45 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $30.41 | $60.82 |
| premium | $6.18 | $31.23 | $62.45 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $28.35 | $56.70 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 44.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 38.5 | 0 | $13.48 | $6.16 |
| Efficient EV | 32.1 | 0 | $11.24 | $5.14 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 51.4 | 0 | $17.98 | $8.22 |
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 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
Morning in San Jose on Thursday
Local time
10:53 AM
PDT
Current temp
44°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
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
2h 12m 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 Madera, CA to San Jose, CA covers 128.4 miles and takes about 2h 12m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West 4th Street, North H Street, SR 99. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 64.2 miles from Madera, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $29.51 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.
The drive from Madera, CA to San Jose, CA is easy. At 2h 12m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Madera, CA to San Jose, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Madera, CA to San Jose, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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