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Trip from San Jose, CA to Rio Vista, CA

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

1h 42m

Distance

75.9 mi

122 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$17

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 23 min
4 AM
1h 35m ★
6 AM
1h 42m
8 AM
1h 58m
10 AM
1h 48m
12 PM
1h 46m
3 PM
1h 49m
5 PM
1h 57m
8 PM
1h 38m

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 Rio Vista, CA, CA

Rio Vista, CA

Fernando Silva

Trip Overview

The drive from San Jose, CA to Rio Vista, CA covers 75.9 miles and takes about 1h 42m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on South Vasco Road, CA 160, I 880 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 17.7 miles on South Vasco Road. At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.45 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.

Midpoint

37.9 miles from San Jose, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 50m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 42m. Total distance: 75.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (66%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 1h 42m highway drive covering 75.9 miles, with most of the trip on South Vasco Road and CA 160. The longest continuous stretch is about 17.7 miles on South Vasco Road.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South Vasco Road is the longest continuous segment at about 17.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on South Vasco Road and CA 160. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 12.7 miles in.

Driving Effort 10/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 75.9 miles you will encounter 18 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 12.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.5 miles (CA 84): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 35.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 18 key points

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

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
21.5 mi into trip | ~27m in | CA 84

Take the exit onto CA 84 toward CA 84 East: Livermore, Vallecitos Road

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 21B Toward CA 84 East: Livermore, Vallecitos Road
8
35.7 mi into trip | ~47m in

Take the exit toward Brentwood, Vasco Road

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 55 Toward Brentwood, Vasco Road
9
35.8 mi into trip | ~47m in

Keep slight left at fork toward Vasco Road North, Brentwood

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward Vasco Road North, Brentwood
8
61 mi into trip | ~1h 21m in

Take the exit toward CA 160 North: Rio Vista, Sacramento

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 30 Toward CA 160 North: Rio Vista, Sacramento

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 Rio Vista, CA, road signs point toward Sacramento, Brentwood and Vasco Road North.

Sacramento

10.9 mi in | ~14m | via CA 262

Brentwood

35.7 mi in | ~47m

Vasco Road North

35.8 mi in | ~47m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
South Vasco Road 17.7 mi 24m
CA 160 12.8 mi 16m
I 880 8.5 mi 9m
I 680 8.5 mi 9m
CA 4 7.2 mi 8m
CA 84 5.5 mi 7m
Isabel Avenue 4.3 mi 6m
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway 3.8 mi 4m
Longest stretch: South Vasco Road — 17.7 mi, about 24m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between San Jose, CA and Rio Vista, 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

0.6 mi · 41 sec · Nimitz Freeway
6

Take the exit onto CA 262

1.6 mi · 2 min · CA 262
Exit 12A Toward Sacramento Use the slight right lane.
7

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 24 sec
Toward I 680 North: Sacramento Use the straight lane.
8

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 41 sec
Toward I 680 North: Sacramento Use the straight lane.
9

Merge onto I 680

8.5 mi · 9 min · I 680
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Take the exit onto CA 84

5.5 mi · 7 min · CA 84
Exit 21B Toward CA 84 East: Livermore, Vallecitos Road Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Merge onto CA 84

4.3 mi · 6 min · Isabel Avenue
Use the straight lane.
12

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward I 580 East: Stockton Use the right lane.
13

Merge onto I 580

3.8 mi · 4 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
14

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 18 sec
Exit 55 Toward Brentwood, Vasco Road Use the slight right lane.
15

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 36 sec
Toward Vasco Road North, Brentwood Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Merge onto South Vasco Road

18 mi · 24 min · South Vasco Road
Use the left lane.
17

Continue on CA 4

7.2 mi · 8 min · CA 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Exit 30 Toward CA 160 North: Rio Vista, Sacramento Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Continue on CA 160

13 mi · 16 min · CA 160
Use the straight lane.
20

Turn left onto CA 12

1.2 mi · 2 min · CA 12
21

Turn right onto Hillside Terrace

0.3 mi · 1 min · Hillside Terrace
22

Turn right onto Hill Court

175 ft · 7 sec · Hill Court
23

Arrive at destination

Hill Court

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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 37.9 miles from San Jose, CA, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 17.7 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 17 miles or 22m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 37.9 miles or 50m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 26m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Rio Vista, 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.

Day 1

Settle into the route from San Jose, CA

This is one driving day of about 75.9 miles and 1h 42m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from San Jose, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on South Vasco Road for about 17.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 37.9 mi from San Jose, CA · 50m into the drive

city in Alameda County, California, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Livermore, CA

38 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 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Livermore, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 37.9 miles from San Jose, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Rio Vista, CA

The final approach into Rio Vista, 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

$17.45 one way

$34.89 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 27 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $17.98 $35.95
premium $6.18 $18.46 $36.92
diesel $5.61 $16.76 $33.52

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$17

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$42–$67

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 26.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 22.8 0 $7.97 $3.64
Efficient EV 19 0 $6.64 $3.04
EV Truck/SUV 30.4 0 $10.63 $4.86

Gas CO2

27 kg

EV CO2

9 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.

Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026

Origin

San Jose, CA

Afternoon in San Jose on Thursday

Local time

3:12 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

Rio Vista, CA

Afternoon in Rio Vista on Thursday

Local time

3:12 PM

PDT

Current temp

67°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

4 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 42m 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 Rio Vista, CA covers 75.9 miles and takes about 1h 42m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Vasco Road, CA 160, I 880. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 37.9 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 $17.45 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 75.9 miles you will encounter 18 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 12.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.5 miles (CA 84): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 35.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between San Jose, CA and Rio Vista, CA, road signs point toward Sacramento, Brentwood and Vasco Road North.

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Return Trip

Rio Vista, CA to San Jose, CA

Plan the drive back the other way.

74.9 mi 1h 41m

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