Origin
North Highlands, CA
Afternoon in North Highlands on Saturday
Local time
12:39 PM
PDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from North Highlands, CA to San Jose, CA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 34m
Distance
127.1 mi
205 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$29
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 24m
★
6 AM
2h 34m
8 AM
2h 55m
10 AM
2h 41m
12 PM
2h 39m
3 PM
2h 42m
5 PM
2h 54m
8 PM
2h 28m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
North Highlands, CA
Wikimedia Commons
San Jose, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from North Highlands, CA to San Jose, CA covers 127.1 miles and takes about 2h 34m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, Donald D Doyle Highway, Luther E Gibson Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 37.2 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $29.21 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.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
63.5 miles from North Highlands, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 17m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 37.2 mi | 42m |
| Donald D Doyle Highway | 32.4 mi | 37m |
| Luther E Gibson Freeway | 12.4 mi | 14m |
| North Sacramento Beltline Freeway | 12.1 mi | 13m |
| Nimitz Freeway | 8.3 mi | 9m |
| Benicia-Martinez Bridge | 8 mi | 9m |
| Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway | 4.8 mi | 5m |
| Yolo Causeway | 3.9 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 37.2 mi, about 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North Highlands, CA and San Jose, CA.
1
Start on La Cienega Drive
0.2 mi
·
46 sec
·
La Cienega Drive
2
Turn right onto Don Julio Boulevard
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Don Julio Boulevard
3
Turn left onto Watt Avenue
2.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Watt Avenue
4
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 80 West: San Francisco
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Merge onto I 80
12 mi
·
13 min
·
North Sacramento Beltline Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 80
3.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Yolo Causeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 80
37 mi
·
42 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 40
Toward I 680: Benicia, San Jose
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 680
12 mi
·
14 min
·
Luther E Gibson Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 680
8.0 mi
·
9 min
·
Benicia-Martinez Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 680
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 680
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Donald D Doyle Highway
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 680
31 mi
·
35 min
·
Donald D Doyle Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 12
Toward CA 262
Use the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward CA 262: Northwestern Polytechnic University, Warm Springs District
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Merge onto CA 262
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Mission Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Merge onto I 880
8.3 mi
·
9 min
·
Nimitz Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 4A
Toward Downtown, North First Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Turn left onto North 1st Street
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
North 1st Street
Use the left / uturn lanes.
20
Turn right onto West Julian Street
494 ft
·
17 sec
·
West Julian Street
21
Turn left onto North Market Street
196 ft
·
6 sec
·
North Market Street
22
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 63.5 miles from North Highlands, CA, or about 1h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 37.2 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 28 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 63.5 miles or 1h 17m 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 4m
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 Highlands, 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 Highlands, CA
This is one driving day of about 127.1 miles and 2h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from North Highlands, 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 Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 37.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
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 63.5 miles from North Highlands, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 56.8 and 125.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
56.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
Take the exit toward I 680: Benicia, San Jose
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 40
Toward I 680: Benicia, San Jose
6
77.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 34m in
|
I 680 / Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 680 / Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
115 mi into trip
|
~2h 17m 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
115.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 17m 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
125.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 29m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.21 one way
$58.43 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
45 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $30.10 | $60.21 |
| premium | $6.18 | $30.91 | $61.82 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $28.06 | $56.12 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 44.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 38.1 | 0 | $13.35 | $6.10 |
| Efficient EV | 31.8 | 0 | $11.12 | $5.08 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 50.8 | 0 | $17.79 | $8.13 |
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 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
Afternoon in San Jose on Saturday
Local time
12:39 PM
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 34m 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.
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...
5 mi from route
~12 min detour
Free
near mile 77
View on nps.gov
Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Celebrate and honor the contributions and sacrifices of American civilians on the WWII home front. Discover how diverse communities lived, worked, and interacted. Many faces, many stories, many truths...
16 mi from route
~39 min detour
Free
near mile 72.5
View on nps.gov
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Established in 1988, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park celebrates America’s maritime heritage on the Pacific Coast. Our 50-acre park has grown around Aquatic Park Cove, a protected area...
21 mi from route
~52 min detour
Free
near mile 86.1
View on nps.gov
Muir Woods National Monument
National Monument
Walk among old growth coast redwoods, cooling their roots in the fresh water of Redwood Creek and lifting their crowns to reach the sun and fog. Federally protected as a National Monument since 1908,...
27 mi from route
~67 min detour
$15
near mile 72.5
View on nps.gov
Golden Gate National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
Experience a park so rich it supports 19 distinct ecosystems with over 2,000 plant and animal species. Go for a hike, enjoy a vista, have a picnic or learn about the centuries of overlapping history f...
29 mi from route
~72 min detour
Free
near mile 72.5
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
127.1 mi in 2h 34m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 26% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 37.2 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 56.8 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 127.1 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 56.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 77.8 miles (I 680 / Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 115 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 North Highlands, CA to San Jose, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Warm Springs District along the way.
Warm Springs District
115.2 mi in
|
~2h 17m
About the Cities
Arriving in San Jose, CA
Full guide →Often called "the capital of Silicon Valley", San Jose is the largest city in the Bay Area, 3rd largest in California, and the 12th largest city in the United States, with a population of over 997,000 residents as of 2024. It was named the 6th safest big city in the U.S. in 2015. This clean, sprawling metropolis has sports, beautiful vistas, and ethnic enclaves and bleeds into the greater Bay Area for travelers who want to take their time in Northern California.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 34m. Total distance: 127.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 37.2 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at San Jose, CA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 56.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 77.8 miles (I 680 / Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 115 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial, Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park and San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park (5 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at San Jose, CA before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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