Trip from San Jose, CA to Laton, CA

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

3h 35m

Distance

173.2 mi

279 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$40

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min

4 AM

3h 23m ★

6 AM

3h 36m

8 AM

4h 1m

10 AM

3h 45m

12 PM

3h 42m

3 PM

3h 46m

5 PM

4h 0m

8 PM

3h 28m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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

San Jose, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Laton, CA

Stephen Leonardi

Trip Overview

Traveling from San Jose to Laton covers 173.2 miles and takes approximately 3 hours and 35 minutes of drive time. Because this journey is manageable within a single day, you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay unless you prefer a slower pace. Plan to budget around $40 for fuel to complete the trip comfortably. You will navigate through the Pacific Coast region, moving away from the urban density of San Jose toward the inland terrain of Laton. This route is best suited for those who don't mind a turn-heavy local drive rather than a straightforward interstate sprint.

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

86.6 miles from San Jose, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 46m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a highly technical experience behind the wheel, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will navigate primarily via local roads like Devine Street, North San Pedro Street, and West Saint James Street, which demands your full attention compared to a standard freeway drive. Because the path relies entirely on local streets, the journey feels more like an intricate navigation task than a monotonous cruise. Prepare for a series of turns and consistent maneuvering throughout the entire 173.2-mile distance. The lack of high-speed highway stretches means your pace will be dictated by local traffic patterns and intersection navigation.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.

There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Pacheco Pass Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 82.6 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 173.2 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 0.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 6.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 14 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

0.3 mi into trip | ~1m in

Take the ramp toward CA 87 South

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Toward CA 87 South

6.1 mi into trip | ~8m in

Take the exit toward Santa Teresa Boulevard

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 1C Toward Santa Teresa Boulevard

6.6 mi into trip | ~8m in

Turn left toward CA 85 South

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane. Toward CA 85 South

150.2 mi into trip | ~3h 1m in | CA 99

Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

159.2 mi into trip | ~3h 11m in

Take the exit toward Merced Street

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 123A Toward Merced Street

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Pacheco Pass Highway	82.6 mi	1h 42m
Southbound California State Route 99	33.5 mi	37m
US 101	20.3 mi	23m
South Fowler Avenue	13.7 mi	24m
CA 99	9 mi	9m
CA 85	5.1 mi	5m
Guadalupe Parkway	4.1 mi	4m
Guadalupe Freeway	1.4 mi	1m

Longest stretch: Pacheco Pass Highway — 82.6 mi, about 1h 42m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on North Market Street

110 ft · 5 sec · North Market Street

Turn right onto Devine Street

275 ft · 17 sec · Devine Street

Turn left onto North San Pedro Street

306 ft · 17 sec · North San Pedro Street

Turn right onto West Saint James Street

0.1 mi · 16 sec · West Saint James Street

Continue on West Julian Street

356 ft · 7 sec · West Julian Street

Use the straight lane.

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 31 sec

Toward CA 87 South Use the right lane.

Merge onto CA 87

1.4 mi · 1 min · Guadalupe Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on CA 87

4.1 mi · 4 min · Guadalupe Parkway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 30 sec

Exit 1C Toward Santa Teresa Boulevard Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on CA 87

0.1 mi · 22 sec · Santa Teresa Boulevard

Use the straight lane.

Turn left

0.3 mi · 41 sec

Toward CA 85 South Use the left lane.

Merge onto CA 85

4.7 mi · 5 min · CA 85

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on CA 85

0.4 mi · 27 sec · CA 85

Exit 1A Toward US 101 South

Continue on US 101

20 mi · 23 min · US 101

Take the exit onto CA 152

0.3 mi · 39 sec · CA 152

Toward CA 152 East: 10th Street, Pacheco Pass Road

Turn left onto CA 152

353 ft · 12 sec · East 10th Street

Continue on CA 152

83 mi · 1 hr 42 min · Pacheco Pass Highway

Continue on CA 152

1.1 mi · 1 min · Eastbound California State Route 152

Continue on CA 152

0.3 mi · 23 sec · EB SR 152 to SB SR 99

Continue on CA 99

33 mi · 37 min · Southbound California State Route 99

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99

9.0 mi · 9 min · CA 99

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 40 sec

Exit 123A Toward Merced Street Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on South Fowler Avenue

0.2 mi · 20 sec · South Fowler Avenue

Keep slight right at fork onto South Fowler Avenue

14 mi · 23 min · South Fowler Avenue

Arrive at destination

South Fowler Avenue

Trip Plan

Since your travel time is just over 3.5 hours, you have the flexibility to depart whenever fits your schedule best. With only one recommended stop planned, try to time your break mid-way to keep your energy levels consistent during this turn-heavy drive. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge before leaving San Jose, as the $40 estimated cost can fluctuate depending on your vehicle's efficiency and local city pricing. Because this route lacks major highway stretches, ensure your GPS is updated and ready to handle frequent turn-by-turn directions. Use the single stop to stretch your legs, as the continuous local road navigation requires more sustained focus than typical highway driving.

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 86.6 miles from San Jose, CA, or about 1h 46m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 82.6 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 38 miles or 46m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 86.6 miles or 1h 46m 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 52m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Laton, 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 173.2 miles and 3h 35m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 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 Pacheco Pass Highway for about 82.6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 86.6 mi from San Jose, CA · 1h 46m into the drive

city in and county seat of San Benito County, California, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Hollister, CA

87 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

Gilroy, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Los Banos, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 86.6 miles from San Jose, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Pacheco Pass Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 82.6 miles.

Arriving in Laton, CA

The final approach into Laton, 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 Laton, 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

$39.81 one way

$79.62 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 61 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$6.02	$41.02	$82.04
premium	$6.18	$42.12	$84.24
diesel	$5.61	$38.24	$76.48

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$40

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$65–$90

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 60.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	52	$18.19	$8.31
Efficient EV	43.3	$15.15	$6.93
EV Truck/SUV	69.3	$24.25	$11.08

Gas CO2

61 kg

EV CO2

20 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

Evening in San Jose on Wednesday

Local time

5:24 PM

PDT

Current temp

44°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Laton, CA

Evening in Laton on Wednesday

Local time

5:24 PM

PDT

Current temp

69°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 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 35m 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 Laton, CA covers 173.2 miles and takes about 3h 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Pacheco Pass Highway, Southbound California State Route 99, US 101. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 86.6 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 $39.81 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.