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Trip from San Jose, CA to North Richmond, CA

Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026

Drive Time

1h 9m

Distance

55.4 mi

89 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$13

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 17 min
4 AM
1h 4m ★
6 AM
1h 10m
8 AM
1h 21m
10 AM
1h 14m
12 PM
1h 13m
3 PM
1h 14m
5 PM
1h 20m
8 PM
1h 6m

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

Downtown North Richmond, CA, CA

North Richmond, CA

Stephen Leonardi

Trip Overview

The drive from San Jose, CA to North Richmond, CA covers 55.4 miles and takes about 1h 9m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 880, Nimitz Freeway, John T. Knox Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 26.4 miles on I 880. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.73 one way before food or hotel costs.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 9m. Total distance: 55.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 1h 9m highway drive covering 55.4 miles, with most of the trip on I 880 and Nimitz Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 26.4 miles on I 880.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 880 is the longest continuous segment at about 26.4 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 880 and Nimitz Freeway. 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 Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 55.4 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

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 12 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
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.
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
7
52.3 mi into trip | ~1h 2m in

Take the exit toward Harbour Way North

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 9B Toward Harbour Way North

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between San Jose, CA and North Richmond, CA, road signs point toward Sacramento, San Rafael and Harbour Way North.

Sacramento

43.1 mi in | ~51m | via I 880

San Rafael

48.3 mi in | ~58m | via I 580

Harbour Way North

52.3 mi in | ~1h 2m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 880 26.4 mi 30m
Nimitz Freeway 16.8 mi 20m
John T. Knox Freeway 4 mi 4m
Eastshore Freeway 3.3 mi 4m
Coleman Avenue 1.4 mi 2m
Harbour Way South 1.3 mi 2m
7th Street 0.7 mi 1m
Fred Jackson Way 0.6 mi 1m
Longest stretch: I 880 — 26.4 mi, about 30m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between San Jose, CA and North Richmond, 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

4.0 mi · 4 min · John T. Knox Freeway
Exit 13B Toward I 580 West: Point Richmond, San Rafael Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 50 sec
Exit 9B Toward Harbour Way North Use the slight right lane.
12

Turn straight onto Harbour Way South

1.3 mi · 2 min · Harbour Way South
Use the straight / left lanes.
13

Turn left onto Pennsylvania Avenue

0.2 mi · 32 sec · Pennsylvania Avenue
Use the straight lane.
14

Turn right onto 7th Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · 7th Street
15

Continue on Fred Jackson Way

0.6 mi · 1 min · Fred Jackson Way
16

Turn left onto Market Avenue

150 ft · 6 sec · Market Avenue
17

Arrive at destination

Market Avenue

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 27.7 mi from San Jose, CA · 33m into the drive

city and county seat of Alameda County, California, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Oakland, CA

28 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

Fremont, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Ashland, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 27.7 miles from San Jose, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in North Richmond, CA

The final approach into North Richmond, CA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$12.73 one way

$25.47 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 19 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $13.12 $26.24
premium $6.18 $13.47 $26.95
diesel $5.61 $12.23 $24.46

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$13

Estimated CO2 emission: 19.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 16.6 0 $5.82 $2.66
Efficient EV 13.9 0 $4.85 $2.22
EV Truck/SUV 22.2 0 $7.76 $3.55

Gas CO2

19 kg

EV CO2

6 kg (68% 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 16, 2026

Origin

San Jose, CA

Night in San Jose on Thursday

Local time

9:16 PM

PDT

Current temp

71°F

Sunny

NNW 5 to 14 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Freeze Warning

Freeze Warning issued April 16 at 10:43AM PDT until April 17 at 11:00AM PDT by NWS Medford OR

Wind Advisory

Wind Advisory issued April 16 at 10:32AM PDT until April 17 at 11:00AM PDT by NWS Hanford CA

Destination

North Richmond, CA

Night in North Richmond on Thursday

Local time

9:16 PM

PDT

Current temp

68°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

3 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

1h 9m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

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 North Richmond, CA covers 55.4 miles and takes about 1h 9m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 880, Nimitz Freeway, John T. Knox Freeway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 27.7 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 $12.73 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 55.4 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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 North Richmond, CA, road signs point toward Sacramento, San Rafael and Harbour Way North.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park and Muir Woods National Monument. There are 6 parks within detour distance of this route.

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