Origin
San Jose, CA
Morning in San Jose on Thursday
Local time
8:40 AM
PDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from San Jose, CA to Madera, CA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
2h 37m
Distance
128.4 mi
207 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 27m
★
6 AM
2h 38m
8 AM
2h 59m
10 AM
2h 45m
12 PM
2h 43m
3 PM
2h 46m
5 PM
2h 58m
8 PM
2h 32m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
San Jose, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Madera, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from San Jose, CA to Madera, CA covers 128.4 miles and takes about 2h 37m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Devine Street, North San Pedro Street, West Saint James Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $29.51 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
64.2 miles from San Jose, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 18m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 37m. Total distance: 128.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 37m drive with frequent turns across 128.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Devine Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 San Jose, CA to Madera, CA is easy. At 2h 37m 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 San Jose, CA to Madera, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Devine Street | — | — |
| North San Pedro Street | — | — |
| West Saint James Street | — | — |
| West Julian Street | — | — |
| CA 87 South | — | — |
| Guadalupe Freeway | — | — |
| Guadalupe Parkway | — | — |
| Santa Teresa Boulevard | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Devine Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Jose, CA and Madera, CA.
1
Start on North Market Street
108 ft
·
6 sec
·
North Market Street
2
Turn right onto Devine Street
276 ft
·
18 sec
·
Devine Street
3
Turn left onto North San Pedro Street
305 ft
·
18 sec
·
North San Pedro Street
4
Turn right onto West Saint James Street
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
West Saint James Street
5
Continue on West Julian Street
358 ft
·
7 sec
·
West Julian Street
6
Take the ramp slight right toward CA 87 South
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
CA 87 South
7
Merge slight left onto Guadalupe Freeway
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Guadalupe Freeway
8
Continue on Guadalupe Parkway
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Guadalupe Parkway
9
Take the exit slight right toward Santa Teresa Boulevard
0.4 mi
·
31 sec
·
Santa Teresa Boulevard
10
Continue on Santa Teresa Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
Santa Teresa Boulevard
11
Turn left onto CA 85 South
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
CA 85 South
12
Merge slight left
4.7 mi
·
5 min
13
Continue on US 101 South
0.4 mi
·
27 sec
·
US 101 South
14
Continue straight
20 mi
·
23 min
15
Take the exit slight right toward CA 152 East: 10th Street, Pacheco Pass Road
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
CA 152 East: 10th Street, Pacheco Pass Road
16
Turn left onto East 10th Street
354 ft
·
13 sec
·
East 10th Street
17
Continue on Pacheco Pass Highway
83 mi
·
1 hr 42 min
·
Pacheco Pass Highway
18
Continue on Eastbound California State Route 152
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Eastbound California State Route 152
19
Continue on EB SR 152 to SB SR 99
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
EB SR 152 to SB SR 99
20
Continue on Southbound California State Route 99
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Southbound California State Route 99
21
Take the exit slight right toward Fourth Street
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Fourth Street
22
Turn left onto North I Street
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
North I Street
23
Turn left onto West 4th Street
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
West 4th Street
24
Turn right onto North Gateway Drive
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
North Gateway Drive
25
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 64.2 miles from San Jose, CA, or about 1h 18m 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 28 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 64.2 miles or 1h 18m 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 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Madera, 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 128.4 miles and 2h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 64.2 mi from San Jose, CA · 1h 18m into the drive
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 64.2 miles from San Jose, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Madera, CA
The final approach into Madera, 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 Madera, 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
$29.51 one way
$59.02 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
45 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $30.41 | $60.82 |
| premium | $6.18 | $31.23 | $62.45 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $28.35 | $56.70 |
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: 44.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 38.5 | 0 | $13.48 | $6.16 |
| Efficient EV | 32.1 | 0 | $11.24 | $5.14 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 51.4 | 0 | $17.98 | $8.22 |
Gas CO2
45 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
Madera, CA
Morning in Madera on Thursday
Local time
8:40 AM
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
2h 37m 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 Madera, CA covers 128.4 miles and takes about 2h 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Devine Street, North San Pedro Street, West Saint James Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 64.2 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 $29.51 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from San Jose, CA to Madera, CA is easy. At 2h 37m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from San Jose, CA to Madera, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from San Jose, CA to Madera, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Madera, CA
More trips to Madera, CA
Explore more options from San Jose, CA or browse trips ending in Madera, CA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CA road trips.
Explore maps for San Jose, CA or Madera, CA on MapSof.net.