Origin
San Jose, CA
Afternoon in San Jose on Monday
Local time
2:48 PM
PDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from San Jose, CA to Crescent City, CA
Drive Time
8h 17m
Distance
400 mi
644 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$93
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
8h 9m
★
6 AM
8h 17m
8 AM
8h 32m
10 AM
8h 22m
12 PM
8h 21m
3 PM
8h 23m
5 PM
8h 32m
8 PM
8h 12m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
San Jose, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Crescent City, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from San Jose, CA to Crescent City, CA covers 400 miles and takes about 8h 17m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on Redwood Highway, I 880, Nimitz Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 327.7 miles on Redwood Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $92.63 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
200 miles from San Jose, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 8h 17m drive with frequent turns across 400 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.
Redwood Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 327.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 1.5 miles in.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 400 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 1.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 10.3 miles (I 880 / Nimitz Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.9 miles (I 880): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
1.5 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp toward I 880 North: Oakland
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 880 North: Oakland
6
10.3 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
I 880 / Nimitz Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 880 / Nimitz Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
22.9 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
I 880
Keep slight left at fork onto I 880
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
6
40.8 mi into trip
|
~48m in
|
I 880 / Nimitz Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 880 / Nimitz Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
48.3 mi into trip
|
~58m in
|
I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway toward I 580 West: Point Richmond, San Rafael
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 13B
Toward I 580 West: Point Richmond, San Rafael
Towns Along This Route
Between San Jose, CA and Crescent City, CA, road signs point toward Sacramento and San Rafael.
Sacramento
43.1 mi in
|
~51m
|
via I 880
San Rafael
48.3 mi in
|
~58m
|
via I 580
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Redwood Highway | 327.7 mi | 6h 42m |
| I 880 | 26.4 mi | 30m |
| Nimitz Freeway | 16.8 mi | 20m |
| John T. Knox Freeway | 12.9 mi | 17m |
| Willits Bypass | 4.7 mi | 5m |
| Eastshore Freeway | 3.3 mi | 4m |
| Broadway Street | 2.9 mi | 6m |
| Coleman Avenue | 1.4 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Redwood Highway
— 327.7 mi, about 6h 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Jose, CA and Crescent City, CA.
1
Start on North Market Street
196 ft
·
8 sec
·
North Market Street
2
Continue on Coleman Avenue
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Coleman Avenue
Use the straight lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward I 880 North: Oakland
Use the right lane.
4
Merge onto I 880
8.5 mi
·
9 min
·
I 880
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 880
13 mi
·
14 min
·
Nimitz Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 880
18 mi
·
20 min
·
I 880
Use the slight left lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 880
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Nimitz Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 880
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Nimitz Freeway
Exit 46B
Toward I 80 East, I 580 West: San Rafael, Sacramento
9
Continue on I 80; I 580
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Eastshore Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
13 mi
·
17 min
·
John T. Knox Freeway
Exit 13B
Toward I 580 West: Point Richmond, San Rafael
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi
·
54 sec
Exit 1A
Toward US 101 North: San Rafeal
12
Merge onto US 101
116 mi
·
2 hr 18 min
·
Redwood Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on US 101
4.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Willits Bypass
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
48 sec
15
Merge onto US 101
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
Willits Bypass
16
Continue on US 101
129 mi
·
2 hr 38 min
·
Redwood Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on US 101
2.9 mi
·
6 min
·
Broadway Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Turn right onto US 101
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
West 5th Street
19
Continue on US 101
83 mi
·
1 hr 46 min
·
Redwood Highway
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
20
Continue on US 101
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
M Street
21
Turn left onto 9th Street
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
9th Street
22
Arrive at destination
9th Street
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 200 miles from San Jose, CA, or about 4h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 327.7 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 88 miles or 1h 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 200 miles or 4h in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 200 miles or 4h
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Crescent City, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving San Jose, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from San Jose, CA
Aim for roughly 200 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Crescent City, CA
Aim for roughly 200 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 88 miles from San Jose, CA.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Redwood Highway for about 327.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 200 mi from San Jose, CA · 4h into the drive
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
200 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in McKinleyville, CAOvernight Options
Night 1
200 mi · about 4.1h in
A practical overnight split lands near McKinleyville, CA after about 200 miles or 4.1 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 88 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 200 miles from San Jose, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Redwood Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 327.7 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 200 miles or 4.1 hours on the road.
Arriving in Crescent City, CA
The final approach into Crescent City, 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 Crescent City, CA.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Crescent City, CA with some flexibility left in the schedule.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$92.63 one way
$185.26 round trip
$5.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
140 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $95.53 | $191.06 |
| premium | $6.24 | $98.31 | $196.63 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $88.87 | $177.73 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$93
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$223–$333
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 140 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $42 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 120 | 1 | $42.00 | $19.20 |
| Efficient EV | 100 | 1 | $35.00 | $16.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 160 | 1 | $56.00 | $25.60 |
Gas CO2
140 kg
EV CO2
47 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.
Destination
Crescent City, CA
Afternoon in Crescent City on Monday
Local time
2:48 PM
PDT
Current temp
63°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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
8 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
8h 17m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from San Jose, CA to Crescent City, CA covers 400 miles and takes about 8h 17m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Redwood Highway, I 880, Nimitz Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 200 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 200 miles from San Jose, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $92.63 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 400 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 10.3 miles (I 880 / Nimitz Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.9 miles (I 880): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between San Jose, CA and Crescent City, CA, road signs point toward Sacramento and San Rafael.
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