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Trip from North Edwards, CA to San Jose, CA

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

5h 21m

Distance

323.8 mi

521 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$74

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 41 min
4 AM
5h 8m ★
6 AM
5h 22m
8 AM
5h 49m
10 AM
5h 31m
12 PM
5h 29m
3 PM
5h 33m
5 PM
5h 47m
8 PM
5h 14m

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

city and county seat of Santa Clara County, California, United States

San Jose, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from North Edwards, CA to San Jose, CA covers 323.8 miles and takes about 5h 21m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Clay Mine Road, Mojave-Barstow Highway, Barstow–Bakersfield Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $74.42 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

161.9 miles from North Edwards, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 40m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 21m. Total distance: 323.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 21m 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 5h 21m drive with frequent turns across 323.8 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 30 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Clay Mine Road 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 5h 21m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from North Edwards, CA to San Jose, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Clay Mine Road
Mojave-Barstow Highway
Barstow–Bakersfield Highway
Bakersfield–Tehachapi Highway
Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway
Centennial Corridor
Westside Parkway
Stockdale Highway

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: Clay Mine Road — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Bellaire Avenue

0.2 mi · 45 sec · Bellaire Avenue
2

Turn left onto Clay Mine Road

0.6 mi · 1 min · Clay Mine Road
3

Take the ramp right

0.4 mi · 46 sec
4

Merge slight left onto Mojave-Barstow Highway

15 mi · 16 min · Mojave-Barstow Highway
5

Continue on Barstow–Bakersfield Highway

8.2 mi · 9 min · Barstow–Bakersfield Highway
6

Continue on Bakersfield–Tehachapi Highway

0.7 mi · 51 sec · Bakersfield–Tehachapi Highway
7

Continue on Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway

55 mi · 1 hr 3 min · Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway
8

Continue on Centennial Corridor

2.3 mi · 2 min · Centennial Corridor
9

Continue on Westside Parkway

6.6 mi · 8 min · Westside Parkway
10

Continue on Stockdale Highway

4.3 mi · 5 min · Stockdale Highway
11

Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Stockdale Highway

151 ft · 2 sec · Stockdale Highway
12

Exit the roundabout onto Stockdale Highway

4.5 mi · 6 min · Stockdale Highway
13

Take the exit straight toward I 5 North

0.5 mi · 1 min · I 5 North
14

Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway

150 mi · 2 hr 40 min · Westside Freeway
15

Take the exit slight right toward CA 152 West: Gilroy, Hollister, San Jose

0.2 mi · 27 sec · CA 152 West: Gilroy, Hollister, San Jose
16

Continue straight

29 mi · 33 min
17

Keep slight right

12 mi · 16 min
18

Take the exit slight right toward US 101 North: San Jose

0.5 mi · 1 min · US 101 North: San Jose
19

Merge slight left onto South Valley Freeway

20 mi · 23 min · South Valley Freeway
20

Keep slight right to continue on CA 85 North: Cupertino, Mountain View

5.2 mi · 6 min · CA 85 North: Cupertino, Mountain View
21

Take the exit slight right toward CA 87 North: Downtown San Jose

0.6 mi · 51 sec · CA 87 North: Downtown San Jose
22

Continue on Guadalupe Parkway

4.3 mi · 5 min · Guadalupe Parkway
23

Continue on Guadalupe Freeway

0.4 mi · 29 sec · Guadalupe Freeway
24

Take the exit slight right toward CA 82

0.2 mi · 19 sec · CA 82
25

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
26

Keep slight left to continue on CA 87 North

0.3 mi · 36 sec · CA 87 North
27

Keep slight right to continue on Julian Street

0.2 mi · 26 sec · Julian Street
28

Turn right onto West Saint James Street

0.2 mi · 28 sec · West Saint James Street
29

Turn left onto North Market Street

417 ft · 9 sec · North Market Street
30

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

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 161.9 miles from North Edwards, CA, or about 2h 40m 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 71 miles or 1h 10m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 161.9 miles or 2h 40m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 23m

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 North Edwards, 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 North Edwards, CA

This is one driving day of about 323.8 miles and 5h 21m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 71 miles from North Edwards, 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.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 161.9 mi from North Edwards, CA · 2h 40m into the drive

Downtown Coalinga, CA, CA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Coalinga, CA

162 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.

Popular next leg

Coalinga, CA to San Jose, CA

152.3 mi · 2h 59m

Pacing Suggestions

Bakersfield, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 71 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Coalinga, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 161.9 miles from North Edwards, 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

$74.42 one way

$148.85 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 113 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $76.69 $153.38
premium $6.18 $78.74 $157.49
diesel $5.61 $71.49 $142.98

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$74

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$99–$124

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 113.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $34 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 97.1 1 $34.00 $15.54
Efficient EV 81 0 $28.33 $12.95
EV Truck/SUV 129.5 1 $45.33 $20.72

Gas CO2

113 kg

EV CO2

38 kg (66% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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 15, 2026

Origin

North Edwards, CA

Morning in North Edwards on Thursday

Local time

9:53 AM

PDT

Current temp

70°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

San Jose, CA

Morning in San Jose on Thursday

Local time

9:53 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

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

5h 21m on the road

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from North Edwards, CA to San Jose, CA covers 323.8 miles and takes about 5h 21m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Clay Mine Road, Mojave-Barstow Highway, Barstow–Bakersfield Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 161.9 miles from North Edwards, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $74.42 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 5h 21m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from North Edwards, CA to San Jose, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from North Edwards, CA to San Jose, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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