Origin
San Jose, CA
Afternoon in San Jose on Sunday
Local time
12:29 PM
PDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from San Jose, CA to Santa Clarita, CA
Drive Time
5h 51m
Distance
310.5 mi
500 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$72
one way
San Jose, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Santa Clarita, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Trip Overview
The drive from San Jose, CA to Santa Clarita, CA covers 310.5 miles and takes about 5h 51m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Devine Street, North San Pedro Street, West Saint James Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $71.90 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
155.3 miles from San Jose, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 55m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 5h 51m drive with frequent turns across 310.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 28 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Devine Street 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 5h 51m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from San Jose, CA to Santa Clarita, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Devine Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North San Pedro Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Saint James Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Julian Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| CA 87 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Guadalupe Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Guadalupe Parkway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Santa Teresa Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Devine Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Jose, CA and Santa Clarita, CA.
1
Start on North Market Street
108 ft
·
6 sec
·
North Market Street
2
Turn right onto Devine Street
276 ft
·
18 sec
·
Devine Street
3
Turn left onto North San Pedro Street
305 ft
·
18 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
358 ft
·
7 sec
·
West Julian Street
6
Take the ramp slight right toward CA 87 South
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
CA 87 South
7
Merge slight left onto Guadalupe Freeway
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Guadalupe Freeway
8
Continue on Guadalupe Parkway
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Guadalupe Parkway
9
Take the exit slight right toward Santa Teresa Boulevard
0.4 mi
·
31 sec
·
Santa Teresa Boulevard
10
Continue on Santa Teresa Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
Santa Teresa Boulevard
11
Turn left onto CA 85 South
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
CA 85 South
12
Merge slight left
4.7 mi
·
5 min
13
Continue on US 101 South
0.4 mi
·
27 sec
·
US 101 South
14
Continue straight
20 mi
·
23 min
15
Take the exit slight right toward CA 152 East: 10th Street, Pacheco Pass Road
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
CA 152 East: 10th Street, Pacheco Pass Road
16
Turn left onto East 10th Street
354 ft
·
13 sec
·
East 10th Street
17
Continue on Pacheco Pass Highway
41 mi
·
50 min
·
Pacheco Pass Highway
18
Take the exit slight right toward I 5: Los Angeles
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 5: Los Angeles
19
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
181 mi
·
3 hr 14 min
·
Westside Freeway
20
Keep slight right
53 mi
·
1 hr
21
Take the exit slight right toward McBean Parkway
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
McBean Parkway
22
Turn left
108 ft
·
3 sec
23
Turn straight onto Stevenson Ranch Parkway
217 ft
·
4 sec
·
Stevenson Ranch Parkway
24
Continue on McBean Parkway
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
McBean Parkway
25
Turn right onto Orchard Village Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Orchard Village Road
26
Turn left onto 16th Street
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
16th Street
27
Turn left onto Newhall Avenue
449 ft
·
20 sec
·
Newhall Avenue
28
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 155.3 miles from San Jose, CA, or about 2h 55m 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 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 155.3 miles or 2h 55m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Santa Clarita, 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 310.5 miles and 5h 51m.
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 155.3 mi from San Jose, CA · 2h 55m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
155 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 155.3 miles from San Jose, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Santa Clarita, CA
The final approach into Santa Clarita, 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 Santa Clarita, 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
$71.90 one way
$143.81 round trip
$5.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
109 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $74.15 | $148.31 |
| premium | $6.24 | $76.32 | $152.63 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $68.98 | $137.96 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$72
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$97–$122
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 108.6 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 | 93.1 | 1 | $32.60 | $14.90 |
| Efficient EV | 77.6 | 0 | $27.17 | $12.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 124.2 | 1 | $43.47 | $19.87 |
Gas CO2
109 kg
EV CO2
36 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.
Destination
Santa Clarita, CA
Afternoon in Santa Clarita on Sunday
Local time
12:29 PM
PDT
Current temp
76°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
5 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 51m 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 Santa Clarita, CA covers 310.5 miles and takes about 5h 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Devine Street, North San Pedro Street, West Saint James Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 155.3 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 $71.90 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 straightforward 5h 51m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from San Jose, CA to Santa Clarita, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from San Jose, CA to Santa Clarita, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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