Origin
San Jose, CA
Morning in San Jose on Sunday
Local time
11:42 AM
PDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from San Jose, CA to Nevada City, CA
Drive Time
3h 33m
Distance
176.9 mi
285 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$41
one way
Photo: Stephen Leonardi
Trip Overview
The drive from San Jose, CA to Nevada City, CA covers 176.9 miles and takes about 3h 33m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Coleman Avenue, I 880 North, Nimitz Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $40.97 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
88.4 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 3h 33m drive with frequent turns across 176.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 34 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Coleman Avenue 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.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from San Jose, CA to Nevada City, CA is easy. At 3h 33m 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 Nevada City, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Coleman Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 880 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Nimitz Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Sacramento | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 680 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Benicia-Martinez Bridge | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Luther E Gibson Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Coleman Avenue
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Jose, CA and Nevada City, CA.
1
Start on North Market Street
197 ft
·
9 sec
·
North Market Street
2
Continue on Coleman Avenue
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Coleman Avenue
3
Take the ramp right toward I 880 North: Oakland
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
I 880 North: Oakland
4
Merge slight left
8.5 mi
·
9 min
5
Keep slight right to continue on Nimitz Freeway
0.6 mi
·
41 sec
·
Nimitz Freeway
6
Take the exit slight right toward Sacramento
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Sacramento
7
Take the exit straight toward I 680 North: Sacramento
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
I 680 North: Sacramento
8
Keep slight left to continue on I 680 North: Sacramento
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
I 680 North: Sacramento
9
Merge slight left
37 mi
·
43 min
10
Keep slight left to continue on Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
6.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
11
Keep slight left to continue on Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
243 ft
·
3 sec
·
Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
12
Keep slight right to continue on Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
13
Keep slight right to continue on Benicia-Martinez Bridge
0.4 mi
·
27 sec
·
Benicia-Martinez Bridge
14
Continue on Luther E Gibson Freeway
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Luther E Gibson Freeway
15
Keep slight right to continue on I 80 East, CA 12 East: Fairfield, Sacramento
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
I 80 East, CA 12 East: Fairfield, Sacramento
16
Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
17
Keep slight left to continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
27 mi
·
31 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
18
Keep slight left to continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
8.4 mi
·
9 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
19
Continue on Yolo Causeway
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Yolo Causeway
20
Keep slight right to continue on North Sacramento Beltline Freeway
13 mi
·
14 min
·
North Sacramento Beltline Freeway
21
Keep slight left to continue on North Sacramento Beltline Freeway
0.8 mi
·
55 sec
·
North Sacramento Beltline Freeway
22
Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
7.0 mi
·
8 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
23
Continue on Alan S. Hart Freeway
17 mi
·
19 min
·
Alan S. Hart Freeway
24
Take the exit slight right toward CA 49 North: Grass Valley, Placerville
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
CA 49 North: Grass Valley, Placerville
25
Turn left onto Grass Valley Highway
5.8 mi
·
9 min
·
Grass Valley Highway
26
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Grass Valley Highway
118 ft
·
3 sec
·
Grass Valley Highway
27
Exit the roundabout onto Grass Valley Highway
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Grass Valley Highway
28
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Grass Valley Highway
118 ft
·
3 sec
·
Grass Valley Highway
29
Exit the roundabout onto Grass Valley Highway
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Grass Valley Highway
30
Continue on State Highway 49
19 mi
·
24 min
·
State Highway 49
31
Take the exit slight right toward Broad Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Broad Street
32
Turn left onto Broad Street
213 ft
·
12 sec
·
Broad Street
33
Take the ramp left
240 ft
·
4 sec
34
Arrive at your destination
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 88.4 miles from San Jose, CA, or about 1h 46m 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 80 miles or 1h 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 88.4 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 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Nevada 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from San Jose, CA
This is one driving day of about 176.9 miles and 3h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 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 88.4 mi from San Jose, CA · 1h 46m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
88 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 88.4 miles from San Jose, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Nevada City, CA
The final approach into Nevada 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 Nevada City, 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
$40.97 one way
$81.93 round trip
$5.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
62 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $42.25 | $84.49 |
| premium | $6.24 | $43.48 | $86.96 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $39.30 | $78.60 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 53.1 | 0 | $18.57 | $8.49 |
| Efficient EV | 44.2 | 0 | $15.48 | $7.08 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 70.8 | 0 | $24.77 | $11.32 |
Gas CO2
62 kg
EV CO2
21 kg (66% 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
Nevada City, CA
Morning in Nevada City on Sunday
Local time
11:42 AM
PDT
Current temp
45°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
26 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
3h 33m 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 Nevada City, CA covers 176.9 miles and takes about 3h 33m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Coleman Avenue, I 880 North, Nimitz Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 88.4 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 $40.97 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.
The drive from San Jose, CA to Nevada City, CA is easy. At 3h 33m 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 Nevada City, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from San Jose, CA to Nevada City, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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