The drive from San Jose, CA to Durham, CA covers 188 miles and takes about 3h 56m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on CA 99, I 680, Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 44.8 miles on CA 99.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $43.21 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
94 miles from San Jose, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 51m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 56m. Total distance: 188 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Drive Character
This is a 3h 56m highway drive covering 188 miles, with most of the trip on CA 99 and I 680. The longest continuous stretch is about 44.8 miles on CA 99.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 30 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
CA 99 is the longest continuous segment at about 44.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on CA 99 and I 680. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.5 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
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 23 significant decision points across 188 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 10.9 miles (CA 262): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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
1.5 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
7
10.9 mi into trip|~14m in|CA 262
Take the exit onto CA 262 toward Sacramento
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 12A
Toward Sacramento
8
12.7 mi into trip|~16m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 680 North: Sacramento
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 680 North: Sacramento
8
50.3 mi into trip|~1h in|I 680 / Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 680 / Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway toward I 680 North: Martinez, Sacramento
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 680 North: Martinez, Sacramento
8
99.9 mi into trip|~1h 58m in|CA 113 / Vic Fazio Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 113 / Vic Fazio Highway toward CA 113 North: Woodland
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 70
Toward CA 113 North: Woodland
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 San Jose, CA to Durham, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Sacramento along the way.
Sacramento
10.9 mi in|~14m|via CA 262
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
CA 99
44.8 mi
58m
I 680
37.3 mi
42m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
28.9 mi
33m
CA 113
17.4 mi
23m
Luther E Gibson Freeway
12 mi
13m
Vic Fazio Highway
11.1 mi
12m
I 880
8.5 mi
9m
County Road 102
8 mi
11m
Longest stretch:
CA 99
— 44.8 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Jose, CA and Durham, 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: OaklandUse 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
0.6 mi·41 sec·Nimitz Freeway
6
Take the exit onto CA 262
1.6 mi·2 min·CA 262
Exit 12AToward SacramentoUse the slight right lane.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward I 680 North: SacramentoUse the straight lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·41 sec
Toward I 680 North: SacramentoUse the straight lane.
9
Merge onto I 680
37 mi·42 min·I 680
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 680
6.0 mi·6 min·Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Toward I 680 North: Martinez, SacramentoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 680
243 ft·3 sec·Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 680
1.8 mi·2 min·Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Use the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 680
0.4 mi·26 sec·Benicia-Martinez Bridge
14
Continue on I 680
12 mi·13 min·Luther E Gibson Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·55 sec
Exit 71AToward I 80 East, CA 12 East: Fairfield, Sacramento
16
Merge onto I 80; CA 12
1.7 mi·1 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
27 mi·31 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 113
11 mi·12 min·Vic Fazio Highway
Exit 70Toward CA 113 North: WoodlandUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 37Toward I 5 South: Main StreetUse the slight right lane.
20
Turn right onto I 5 BUS
1.1 mi·2 min·East Main Street
Use the straight lane.
21
Turn left onto E8
227 ft·9 sec·County Road 102
Use the left lane.
22
Continue on E8
7.9 mi·11 min·County Road 102
23
Continue on CA 113
17 mi·23 min·CA 113
Use the straight lane.
24
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward CA 99 North: Yuba CityUse the slight right lane.
25
Merge onto CA 99
45 mi·58 min·CA 99
Use the straight lane.
26
Take the exit
0.3 mi·24 sec
Toward Butte Colllege-Durham, Pentz Road
27
Turn left onto Durham-Pentz Road
0.1 mi·11 sec·Durham-Pentz Road
28
Continue on Durham-Dayton Highway
4.6 mi·8 min·Durham-Dayton Highway
Use the straight lane.
29
Turn right onto Midway
71 ft·2 sec·Midway
30
Arrive at destination
Midway
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 94 miles from San Jose, CA, or about 1h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 44.8 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 41 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 94 miles or 1h 51m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Durham, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from San Jose, CA
This is one driving day of about 188 miles and 3h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 miles from San Jose, 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 CA 99 for about 44.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 94 mi from San Jose, CA
· 1h 51m into the drive
The midpoint is around 94 miles from San Jose, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Durham, CA
The final approach into Durham, 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 Durham, CA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
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
~13 min detour
Free
near mile 58.4
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
~40 min detour
Free
near mile 58.4
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
~51 min detour
Free
near mile 45.4
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 58.4
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 58.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$43.21 one way
$86.42 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg66 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$44.53
$89.06
premium
$6.18
$45.72
$91.44
diesel
$5.61
$41.51
$83.02
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 65.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
56.4
0
$19.74
$9.02
Efficient EV
47
0
$16.45
$7.52
EV Truck/SUV
75.2
0
$26.32
$12.03
Gas CO2
66 kg
EV CO2
22 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
San Jose, CA
Afternoon
in San Jose on Thursday
Local time
4:59 PM
PDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Durham, CA
Afternoon
in Durham on Thursday
Local time
4:59 PM
PDT
Current temp
66°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
22 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 56m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from San Jose, CA to Durham, CA covers 188 miles and takes about 3h 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are CA 99, I 680, Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 94 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 $43.21 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 188 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 10.9 miles (CA 262): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from San Jose, CA to Durham, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Sacramento along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial, Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park and San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park. There are 5 parks within detour distance of this route.
