Origin
Rio Linda, CA
Afternoon in Rio Linda on Saturday
Local time
1:19 PM
PDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Rio Linda, 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 11m
Distance
130.5 mi
210 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 30m
10 AM
2h 18m
12 PM
2h 17m
3 PM
2h 19m
5 PM
2h 30m
8 PM
2h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Rio Linda, CA
Nicole Broetto
San Jose, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Rio Linda, CA to San Jose, CA covers 130.5 miles and takes about 2h 11m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Rio Linda Boulevard, Bell Avenue, Norwood Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. At current regular gas prices, budget about $29.99 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
65.2 miles from Rio Linda, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 5m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Rio Linda Boulevard | — | — |
| Bell Avenue | — | — |
| Norwood Avenue | — | — |
| I 80 West | — | — |
| North Sacramento Beltline Freeway | — | — |
| Yolo Causeway | — | — |
| Dwight D | — | — |
| I 680 | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Rio Linda Boulevard
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rio Linda, CA and San Jose, CA.
1
Start on M Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
M Street
2
Turn left onto Rio Linda Boulevard
3.1 mi
·
6 min
·
Rio Linda Boulevard
3
Turn right onto Bell Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Bell Avenue
4
Turn left onto Norwood Avenue
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
·
Norwood Avenue
5
Take the ramp right toward I 80 West: San Francisco
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
I 80 West: San Francisco
6
Merge slight left onto North Sacramento Beltline Freeway
7.8 mi
·
9 min
·
North Sacramento Beltline Freeway
7
Continue on Yolo Causeway
3.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Yolo Causeway
8
Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
37 mi
·
42 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
9
Take the exit slight right toward I 680: Benicia, San Jose
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 680: Benicia, San Jose
10
Continue on Luther E Gibson Freeway
12 mi
·
14 min
·
Luther E Gibson Freeway
11
Continue on Benicia-Martinez Bridge
8.0 mi
·
9 min
·
Benicia-Martinez Bridge
12
Keep slight right to continue on Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
13
Continue on Donald D Doyle Highway
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Donald D Doyle Highway
14
Keep slight right to continue on Donald D Doyle Highway
31 mi
·
35 min
·
Donald D Doyle Highway
15
Take the exit slight right toward CA 262
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
CA 262
16
Keep slight right to continue on CA 262: Northwestern Polytechnic University, Warm Springs District
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
CA 262: Northwestern Polytechnic University, Warm Springs District
17
Merge slight left onto Mission Boulevard
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Mission Boulevard
18
Merge slight left onto Nimitz Freeway
8.3 mi
·
9 min
·
Nimitz Freeway
19
Take the exit slight right toward Downtown, North First Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Downtown, North First Street
20
Turn left onto North 1st Street
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
North 1st Street
21
Turn right onto West Julian Street
495 ft
·
18 sec
·
West Julian Street
22
Turn left onto North Market Street
197 ft
·
7 sec
·
North Market Street
23
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 65.2 miles from Rio Linda, CA, or about 1h 5m 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 29 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 65.2 miles or 1h 5m 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 Rio Linda, 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 Rio Linda, CA
This is one driving day of about 130.5 miles and 2h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Rio Linda, 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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
65 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 29 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 65.2 miles from Rio Linda, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.99 one way
$59.99 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
46 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $30.91 | $61.82 |
| premium | $6.18 | $31.74 | $63.47 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $28.81 | $57.63 |
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: 45.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 39.2 | 0 | $13.70 | $6.26 |
| Efficient EV | 32.6 | 0 | $11.42 | $5.22 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 52.2 | 0 | $18.27 | $8.35 |
Gas CO2
46 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
Afternoon in San Jose on Saturday
Local time
1:19 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
23 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 11m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
130.5 mi in 2h 11m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Main road: Rio Linda Boulevard.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
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 Rio Linda, CA to San Jose, CA is easy. At 2h 11m 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 Rio Linda, CA to San Jose, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
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 11m. Total distance: 130.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Rio Linda, CA to San Jose, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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