The drive from Morada, CA to San Jose, CA covers 80.9 miles and takes about 1h 41m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Robert T. Monagan Freeway, Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway, Westside Freeway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 13.9 miles on Robert T. Monagan Freeway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.59 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
40.4 miles from Morada, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 48m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 41m. Total distance: 80.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 41m highway drive covering 80.9 miles, with most of the trip on Robert T. Monagan Freeway and Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 13.9 miles on Robert T. Monagan Freeway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Robert T. Monagan Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 13.9 miles.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
768 ft21 ft
Total Climb
1,022 ft
Total Descent
980 ft
Highest Point
768 ft
~40.4 mi in
Elevation Range
747 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Robert T. Monagan Freeway and Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 80.9 miles you will encounter 23 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 49.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 68.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 23 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
1 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
8
49.8 mi into trip|~59m in
Take the exit toward CA 84: Isabel Avenue, Portola Avenue
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 51
Toward CA 84: Isabel Avenue, Portola Avenue
7
68.8 mi into trip|~1h 24m 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
68.9 mi into trip|~1h 24m 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
79 mi into trip|~1h 37m 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 Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Morada, CA to San Jose, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Warm Springs District along the way.
Warm Springs District
68.9 mi in|~1h 24m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Robert T. Monagan Freeway
13.9 mi
15m
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
12.9 mi
14m
Westside Freeway
12.9 mi
14m
I 680
8.3 mi
9m
Nimitz Freeway
8.3 mi
9m
Vallecitos Road
5.2 mi
7m
CA 99
5 mi
5m
Isabel Avenue
4.7 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
Robert T. Monagan Freeway
— 13.9 mi, about 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Morada, CA and San Jose, CA.
1
Start on Oakwilde Avenue
221 ft·14 sec·Oakwilde Avenue
2
Turn left onto Plum Avenue
0.2 mi·37 sec·Plum Avenue
3
At end of road, turn right onto East Morada Lane
0.7 mi·1 min·East Morada Lane
4
Turn right onto 99 Frontage Road
381 ft·12 sec·99 Frontage Road
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·20 sec
Use the slight right lane.
6
Merge onto CA 99
5.0 mi·5 min·CA 99
7
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward CA 4
8
Merge onto CA 4
2.4 mi·2 min·Crosstown Freeway
9
Take the exit onto CA 4
0.4 mi·50 sec·CA 4
Toward I 5: Sacramento
10
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 4
0.7 mi·1 min·CA 4
Toward I 5 South
11
Merge onto I 5; CA 4
13 mi·14 min·Westside Freeway
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 205
14 mi·15 min·Robert T. Monagan Freeway
13
Continue on I 580
13 mi·14 min·Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Exit 51Toward CA 84: Isabel Avenue, Portola AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Turn left onto CA 84
4.7 mi·6 min·Isabel Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Continue on CA 84
5.2 mi·7 min·Vallecitos Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·55 sec
Toward I 680 South: Fremont, San Jose
18
Merge onto I 680
8.3 mi·9 min·I 680
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi·21 sec
Exit 12Toward CA 262Use the slight right lane.
20
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward CA 262: Northwestern Polytechnic University, Warm Springs DistrictUse the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Merge onto CA 262
1.5 mi·2 min·Mission Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
22
Merge onto I 880
8.3 mi·9 min·Nimitz Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Exit 4AToward Downtown, North First StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Turn left onto North 1st Street
1.5 mi·3 min·North 1st Street
Use the left / uturn lanes.
25
Turn right onto West Julian Street
494 ft·17 sec·West Julian Street
26
Turn left onto North Market Street
196 ft·6 sec·North Market Street
27
Arrive at destination
North Market Street
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 40.4 miles from Morada, CA, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 13.9 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 18 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.4 miles or 48m 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 24m
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 Morada, CA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Morada, CA
This is one driving day of about 80.9 miles and 1h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Morada, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Robert T. Monagan Freeway for about 13.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 40.4 mi from Morada, CA
· 48m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial
National Memorial
On July 17, 1944, a massive explosion jolted the San Francisco East Bay area, shattering windows and lighting up the night sky. At Port Chicago Naval Magazine, 320 men were killed instantly when two s...
28 mi from route
~69 min detour
Free
near mile 50.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.59 one way
$37.19 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$19.16
$38.32
premium
$6.18
$19.67
$39.35
diesel
$5.61
$17.86
$35.72
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.3
0
$8.49
$3.88
Efficient EV
20.2
0
$7.08
$3.24
EV Truck/SUV
32.4
0
$11.33
$5.18
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (68% 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 as of Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Morada, CA
Evening
in Morada on Thursday
Local time
8:32 PM
PDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
San Jose, CA
Evening
in San Jose on Thursday
Local time
8:32 PM
PDT
Current temp
42°F
Clear
NW 5 to 14 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Lake Wind Advisory
Lake Wind Advisory issued April 16 at 2:48PM PDT until April 16 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Hanford CA
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 16 at 2:48PM PDT until April 17 at 11:00AM PDT by NWS Hanford CA
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
26 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
1h 41m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Morada, CA to San Jose, CA covers 80.9 miles and takes about 1h 41m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Robert T. Monagan Freeway, Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway, Westside Freeway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 40.4 miles from Morada, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $18.59 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 80.9 miles you will encounter 23 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 49.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 68.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Morada, CA to San Jose, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Warm Springs District along the way.
Gently rolling terrain. The route ranges from 21 ft to 768 ft elevation with about 1,022 ft of total climbing.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial.
