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Trip from San Jose, CA to Oxnard, CA

Drive Time

6h 17m

Distance

316.5 mi

509 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$73

one way

EV Charging

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station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min
4 AM
6h 4m ★
6 AM
6h 17m
8 AM
6h 42m
10 AM
6h 26m
12 PM
6h 23m
3 PM
6h 27m
5 PM
6h 41m
8 PM
6h 10m

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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Downtown San Jose, CA, CA

San Jose, CA

Stephen Leonardi

Downtown Oxnard, CA, CA

Oxnard, CA

Saidamir Mukhitdinov

Trip Overview

The drive from San Jose, CA to Oxnard, CA covers 316.5 miles and takes about 6h 17m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on El Camino Real, US 101, Chumash Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 197.7 miles on El Camino Real. At current regular gas prices, budget about $73.29 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

158.3 miles from San Jose, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 4m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 6h 17m drive with frequent turns across 316.5 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 31 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
El Camino Real is the longest continuous segment at about 197.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. 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 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 316.5 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 21 key points

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

6
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
7
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
8
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
6
250.7 mi into trip | ~4h 54m in | CA 154 / Chumash Highway

Enter roundabout onto CA 154 / Chumash Highway toward CA 154 East: Cachuma Lake, Santa Barbara

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward CA 154 East: Cachuma Lake, Santa Barbara
7
313.4 mi into trip | ~6h 12m in

Take the exit toward Oxnard Boulevard

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 62B Toward Oxnard Boulevard

Towns Along This Route

Between San Jose, CA and Oxnard, CA, road signs point toward Lake Cachuma and Santa Barbara.

Lake Cachuma

241.8 mi in | ~4h 40m

Santa Barbara

250.7 mi in | ~4h 54m | via CA 154

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
El Camino Real 197.7 mi 3h 48m
US 101 36.6 mi 42m
Chumash Highway 32.6 mi 45m
Ventura Freeway 21.5 mi 24m
Cabrillo Highway 11.8 mi 13m
CA 85 5.1 mi 5m
Guadalupe Parkway 4.1 mi 4m
North Oxnard Boulevard 2.9 mi 4m
Longest stretch: El Camino Real — 197.7 mi, about 3h 48m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on North Market Street

110 ft · 5 sec · North Market Street
2

Turn right onto Devine Street

275 ft · 17 sec · Devine Street
3

Turn left onto North San Pedro Street

306 ft · 17 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

356 ft · 7 sec · West Julian Street
Use the straight lane.
6

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 31 sec
Toward CA 87 South Use the right lane.
7

Merge onto CA 87

1.4 mi · 1 min · Guadalupe Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Continue on CA 87

4.1 mi · 4 min · Guadalupe Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 30 sec
Exit 1C Toward Santa Teresa Boulevard Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Continue on CA 87

0.1 mi · 22 sec · Santa Teresa Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
11

Turn left

0.3 mi · 41 sec
Toward CA 85 South Use the left lane.
12

Merge onto CA 85

4.7 mi · 5 min · CA 85
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Continue on CA 85

0.4 mi · 27 sec · CA 85
Exit 1A Toward US 101 South
14

Continue on US 101

37 mi · 42 min · US 101
15

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 50 sec
16

Merge onto US 101; CA 156

136 mi · 2 hr 36 min · El Camino Real
Use the straight lane.
17

Continue on US 101

12 mi · 13 min · Cabrillo Highway
18

Continue on US 101

45 mi · 51 min · El Camino Real
19

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 38 sec
Toward CA 154: Los Olivos, Lake Cachuma
20

Turn left onto CA 154

6.4 mi · 9 min · Chumash Highway
21

Enter roundabout onto CA 154

127 ft · 2 sec · Chumash Highway
22

Continue on CA 154

2.2 mi · 3 min · Chumash Highway
23

Enter roundabout onto CA 154

113 ft · 2 sec · Chumash Highway
Toward CA 154 East: Cachuma Lake, Santa Barbara
24

Continue on CA 154

24 mi · 32 min · Chumash Highway
Toward CA 154 East: Cachuma Lake, Santa Barbara Use the straight lane.
25

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 32 sec
Toward US 101 South Use the slight left lane.
26

Merge onto US 101

17 mi · 19 min · El Camino Real
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27

Continue on US 101

22 mi · 24 min · Ventura Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 18 sec
Exit 62B Toward Oxnard Boulevard Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29

Turn right onto North Oxnard Boulevard

2.9 mi · 4 min · North Oxnard Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
30

Turn left onto East 5th Street

124 ft · 2 sec · East 5th Street
Use the left lane.
31

Arrive at destination

East 5th Street

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Evening Departure

This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 158.3 miles from San Jose, CA, or about 3h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 197.7 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 80 miles or 1h 33m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 158.3 miles or 3h 4m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 5h 6m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Oxnard, 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 316.5 miles and 6h 17m.

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.
The longest stretch is on El Camino Real for about 197.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 158.3 mi from San Jose, CA · 3h 4m into the drive

Downtown Bakersfield, CA, CA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Bakersfield, CA

158 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

Salinas, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Fresno, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 158.3 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 El Camino Real if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 197.7 miles.

Arriving in Oxnard, CA

The final approach into Oxnard, 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 Oxnard, CA.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

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.

Pinnacles National Park

Pinnacles National Park

National Park

Around 23 million years ago, a series of volcanic eruptions shaped the landscape that is now Pinnacles National Park. The remnants of these ancient eruptions have formed a striking terrain of rocky sp...

10 mi from route ~24 min detour $30 near mile 87.3
View on nps.gov
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

National Recreation Area

The Santa Monica Mountains offer easy access to surprisingly wild places. Experience the famous beaches of Malibu or explore more than 500 miles of trails. The park abounds with historical and cultura...

24 mi from route ~61 min detour Free near mile 316.5
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$73.29 one way

$146.59 round trip

$5.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 111 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.07 $75.59 $151.17
premium $6.24 $77.79 $155.58
diesel $5.64 $70.32 $140.63

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$73

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$98–$123

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 110.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $33 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 95 1 $33.23 $15.19
Efficient EV 79.1 0 $27.69 $12.66
EV Truck/SUV 126.6 1 $44.31 $20.26

Gas CO2

111 kg

EV CO2

37 kg (67% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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 data refreshed 1 hour ago

Origin

San Jose, CA

Afternoon in San Jose on Sunday

Local time

2:48 PM

PDT

Current temp

61°F

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

SW 13 mph 68% chance Live forecast

Winter Storm Warning

Winter Storm Warning issued April 12 at 11:59AM PDT until April 12 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Reno NV

Winter Weather Advisory

Winter Weather Advisory issued April 12 at 11:59AM PDT until April 12 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Reno NV

Destination

Oxnard, CA

Afternoon in Oxnard on Sunday

Local time

2:48 PM

PDT

Current temp

52°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

9 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

6h 17m on the road

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

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 Oxnard, CA covers 316.5 miles and takes about 6h 17m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are El Camino Real, US 101, Chumash Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 158.3 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 $73.29 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 316.5 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 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.
Between San Jose, CA and Oxnard, CA, road signs point toward Lake Cachuma and Santa Barbara.

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