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Trip from San Jose, CA to Strathmore, CA

Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology

Drive Time

4h 14m

Distance

212.9 mi

343 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$49

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min
4 AM
4h 1m ★
6 AM
4h 14m
8 AM
4h 40m
10 AM
4h 23m
12 PM
4h 21m
3 PM
4h 25m
5 PM
4h 39m
8 PM
4h 6m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city and county seat of Santa Clara County, California, United States

San Jose, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Strathmore, CA, CA

Strathmore, CA

Sim Sam

Trip Overview

The drive from San Jose, CA to Strathmore, CA covers 212.9 miles and takes about 4h 14m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Pacheco Pass Highway, CA 99, Southbound California State Route 99 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 82.6 miles on Pacheco Pass Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $48.93 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

106.4 miles from San Jose, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 11m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 14m. Total distance: 212.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Drive Character

The drive from San Jose, CA to Strathmore, CA covers 212.9 miles and takes about 4h 14m, using a mix of highways and local roads.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 29 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Pacheco Pass Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 82.6 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 212.9 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 16 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
150.2 mi into trip | ~3h 1m in | CA 99

Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
194.7 mi into trip | ~3h 49m in

Take the exit toward CA 137: Tulare Avenue

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 87 Toward CA 137: Tulare Avenue

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Pacheco Pass Highway 82.6 mi 1h 42m
CA 99 41 mi 44m
Southbound California State Route 99 33.5 mi 37m
US 101 20.3 mi 23m
Avenue 232 11.1 mi 14m
CA 85 5.1 mi 5m
Tulare Lindsay Highway 4.2 mi 5m
Guadalupe Parkway 4.1 mi 4m
Longest stretch: Pacheco Pass Highway — 82.6 mi, about 1h 42m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

20 mi · 23 min · US 101
15

Take the exit onto CA 152

0.3 mi · 39 sec · CA 152
Toward CA 152 East: 10th Street, Pacheco Pass Road
16

Turn left onto CA 152

353 ft · 12 sec · East 10th Street
17

Continue on CA 152

83 mi · 1 hr 42 min · Pacheco Pass Highway
18

Continue on CA 152

1.1 mi · 1 min · Eastbound California State Route 152
19

Continue on CA 152

0.3 mi · 23 sec · EB SR 152 to SB SR 99
20

Continue on CA 99

33 mi · 37 min · Southbound California State Route 99
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21

Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99

41 mi · 44 min · CA 99
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22

Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99

3.6 mi · 3 min · Golden State Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 34 sec
Exit 87 Toward CA 137: Tulare Avenue Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24

At end of road, turn left onto CA 137

1.5 mi · 2 min · East Tulare Avenue
Use the straight lane.
25

Continue on CA 137

0.4 mi · 33 sec · East Tulare Avenue
26

Continue on CA 137

4.2 mi · 5 min · Tulare Lindsay Highway
27

Continue on CA 137

11 mi · 14 min · Avenue 232
28

Turn left onto J28

0.7 mi · 1 min · Avenue 196
29

Arrive at destination

J28

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 106.4 miles from San Jose, CA, or about 2h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 82.6 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 47 miles or 57m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 106.4 miles or 2h 11m 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 27m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Strathmore, 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 212.9 miles and 4h 14m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 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 Pacheco Pass Highway for about 82.6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 106.4 mi from San Jose, CA · 2h 11m into the drive

city ​​in Merced County, California, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Los Banos, CA

106 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

Gilroy, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 47 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Firebaugh, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 106.4 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 Pacheco Pass Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 82.6 miles.

Arriving in Strathmore, CA

The final approach into Strathmore, 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 Strathmore, 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

$48.93 one way

$97.87 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 75 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $50.43 $100.85
premium $6.18 $51.77 $103.55
diesel $5.61 $47.01 $94.01

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$49

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$74–$99

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 74.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 63.9 0 $22.35 $10.22
Efficient EV 53.2 0 $18.63 $8.52
EV Truck/SUV 85.2 1 $29.81 $13.63

Gas CO2

74 kg

EV CO2

25 kg (66% 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 15, 2026

Origin

San Jose, CA

Night in San Jose on Thursday

Local time

10:07 PM

PDT

Current temp

44°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Strathmore, CA

Night in Strathmore on Thursday

Local time

10:07 PM

PDT

Current temp

47°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

50°F

Los Banos, CA

106 mi in

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

3 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

4h 14m 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 Strathmore, CA covers 212.9 miles and takes about 4h 14m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Pacheco Pass Highway, CA 99, Southbound California State Route 99. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 106.4 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 $48.93 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 16 significant decision points across 212.9 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.
The route from San Jose, CA to Strathmore, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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