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Trip from San Jose, CA to Red Bluff, CA

Drive Time

4h 3m

Distance

216.1 mi

348 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$50

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min
4 AM
3h 51m ★
6 AM
4h 4m
8 AM
4h 30m
10 AM
4h 13m
12 PM
4h 10m
3 PM
4h 14m
5 PM
4h 28m
8 PM
3h 56m

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 Red Bluff, CA, CA

Red Bluff, CA

Brett Sayles

Trip Overview

The drive from San Jose, CA to Red Bluff, CA covers 216.1 miles and takes about 4h 3m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 505, I 680, Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 128.4 miles on I 505. At current regular gas prices, budget about $50.04 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

108 miles from San Jose, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 6m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 4h 3m highway drive covering 216.1 miles, with most of the trip on I 505 and I 680. The longest continuous stretch is about 128.4 miles on I 505.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 505 is the longest continuous segment at about 128.4 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 505 and I 680. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.5 miles in.

Route Complexity 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 216.1 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 1.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 10.9 miles (CA 262): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 19 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
7
10.9 mi into trip | ~14m in | CA 262

Take the exit onto CA 262 toward Sacramento

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 12A Toward Sacramento
8
12.7 mi into trip | ~16m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 680 North: Sacramento

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane. Toward I 680 North: Sacramento
8
50.3 mi into trip | ~1h in | I 680 / Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 680 / Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway toward I 680 North: Martinez, Sacramento

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 680 North: Martinez, Sacramento
8
85.9 mi into trip | ~1h 42m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 505 North: Winters, Redding

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 505 North: Winters, Redding

Towns Along This Route

Between San Jose, CA and Red Bluff, CA, road signs point toward Sacramento and Redding.

Sacramento

10.9 mi in | ~14m | via CA 262

Redding

85.8 mi in | ~1h 41m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 505 128.4 mi 2h 17m
I 680 37.3 mi 42m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway 14.8 mi 17m
Luther E Gibson Freeway 12 mi 13m
I 880 8.5 mi 9m
Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway 7.9 mi 9m
CA 262 1.6 mi 2m
Coleman Avenue 1.4 mi 2m
Longest stretch: I 505 — 128.4 mi, about 2h 17m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between San Jose, CA and Red Bluff, 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

13 mi · 15 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
18

Take the exit slight right toward I 505 North: Winters, Redding

0.2 mi · 20 sec · I 505 North: Winters, Redding
19

Keep slight left to continue on I 505 North: Winters, Redding

0.6 mi · 1 min · I 505 North: Winters, Redding
20

Continue straight

128 mi · 2 hr 17 min
21

Take the exit slight right toward CA 36 East, CA 36 West, CA 99: Chico, Redbluff, Lassen Park

0.3 mi · 42 sec · CA 36 East, CA 36 West, CA 99: Chico, Redbluff, Lassen Park
22

Turn left onto Antelope Boulevard

0.6 mi · 1 min · Antelope Boulevard
23

Turn right onto Main Street

0.2 mi · 24 sec · Main Street
24

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 108 miles from San Jose, CA, or about 2h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 128.4 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 35m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 108 miles or 2h 6m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 20m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Red Bluff, 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 216.1 miles and 4h 3m.

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 I 505 for about 128.4 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 108 mi from San Jose, CA · 2h 6m into the drive

Downtown Mountain View, CA, CA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Mountain View, CA

108 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

Napa, CA

Fuel and coffee

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

Davis, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 108 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 I 505 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 128.4 miles.

Arriving in Red Bluff, CA

The final approach into Red Bluff, 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 Red Bluff, 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.

Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial

Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial

National Memorial

On July 17, 1944, a massive explosion jolted the San Francisco East Bay area, shattering windows and lighting up the night sky. At Port Chicago Naval Magazine, 320 men were killed instantly when two s...

5 mi from route ~13 min detour Free near mile 59.6
View on nps.gov
Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park

Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Celebrate and honor the contributions and sacrifices of American civilians on the WWII home front. Discover how diverse communities lived, worked, and interacted. Many faces, many stories, many truths...

17 mi from route ~42 min detour Free near mile 59.6
View on nps.gov
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Established in 1988, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park celebrates America’s maritime heritage on the Pacific Coast. Our 50-acre park has grown around Aquatic Park Cove, a protected area...

21 mi from route ~52 min detour Free near mile 44.7
View on nps.gov
Muir Woods National Monument

Muir Woods National Monument

National Monument

Walk among old growth coast redwoods, cooling their roots in the fresh water of Redwood Creek and lifting their crowns to reach the sun and fog. Federally protected as a National Monument since 1908,...

27 mi from route ~68 min detour $15 near mile 59.6
View on nps.gov
Golden Gate National Recreation Area

Golden Gate National Recreation Area

National Recreation Area

Experience a park so rich it supports 19 distinct ecosystems with over 2,000 plant and animal species. Go for a hike, enjoy a vista, have a picnic or learn about the centuries of overlapping history f...

29 mi from route ~74 min detour Free near mile 59.6
View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$50.04 one way

$100.09 round trip

$5.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 76 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.07 $51.61 $103.22
premium $6.24 $53.11 $106.23
diesel $5.64 $48.01 $96.02

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$50

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$75–$100

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 75.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 64.8 0 $22.69 $10.37
Efficient EV 54 0 $18.91 $8.64
EV Truck/SUV 86.4 1 $30.25 $13.83

Gas CO2

76 kg

EV CO2

25 kg (67% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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 3 hours ago

Origin

San Jose, CA

Late night in San Jose on Monday

Local time

2:50 AM

PDT

Current temp

71°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Red Bluff, CA

Late night in Red Bluff on Monday

Local time

2:50 AM

PDT

Current temp

44°F

Mostly Cloudy

NNW 2 mph 9% chance Live forecast

Winter Weather Advisory

Winter Weather Advisory issued April 12 at 12:40AM PDT until April 13 at 11:00AM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA

Winter Weather Advisory

Winter Weather Advisory issued April 12 at 12:40AM PDT until April 13 at 11:00AM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA

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

27 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

4h 3m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

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 Red Bluff, CA covers 216.1 miles and takes about 4h 3m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 505, I 680, Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 108 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 $50.04 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 216.1 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 1.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 10.9 miles (CA 262): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between San Jose, CA and Red Bluff, CA, road signs point toward Sacramento and Redding.

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