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Trip from San Jose, CA to Tamalpais Valley, CA

Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026

Drive Time

1h 24m

Distance

60.3 mi

97 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$14

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 19 min
4 AM
1h 18m ★
6 AM
1h 24m
8 AM
1h 37m
10 AM
1h 29m
12 PM
1h 28m
3 PM
1h 30m
5 PM
1h 37m
8 PM
1h 20m

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 Tamalpais Valley, CA, CA

Tamalpais Valley, CA

Robert So

Trip Overview

The drive from San Jose, CA to Tamalpais Valley, CA covers 60.3 miles and takes about 1h 24m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US 101, Bayshore Freeway, Redwood Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 35.8 miles on US 101. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.86 one way before food or hotel costs.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 24m. Total distance: 60.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 1h 24m highway drive covering 60.3 miles, with most of the trip on US 101 and Bayshore Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 35.8 miles on US 101.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 101 is the longest continuous segment at about 35.8 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 101 and Bayshore Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 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 60.3 miles you will encounter 20 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 0.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.3 miles (US 101): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 20 key points

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

7
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in

Take the ramp toward CA 87 North

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Toward CA 87 North
8
3.2 mi into trip | ~4m in

Keep slight left at fork toward US 101 North: San Francisco

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Exit 9B Toward US 101 North: San Francisco
6
11.3 mi into trip | ~14m in | US 101

Keep slight left at fork onto US 101

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane.
7
47.8 mi into trip | ~58m in | Fell Street

At end of road, turn left onto Fell Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
8
57.9 mi into trip | ~1h 17m in | CA 1

Take the exit onto CA 1 toward CA 1: Mill Valley, Stinson Beach, Muir Woods, Mount Tamalpais

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 445B Toward CA 1: Mill Valley, Stinson Beach, Muir W...

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 101 35.8 mi 42m
Bayshore Freeway 7.5 mi 8m
Redwood Highway 3.7 mi 5m
Guadalupe Freeway 2.8 mi 3m
Presidio Parkway 1.8 mi 3m
Golden Gate Bridge 1.7 mi 2m
CA 1 1 mi 2m
Webster Street 1 mi 2m
Longest stretch: US 101 — 35.8 mi, about 42m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between San Jose, CA and Tamalpais Valley, 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 · 17 sec · West Saint James Street
5

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 32 sec
Toward CA 87 North Use the right lane.
6

Merge onto CA 87

2.8 mi · 3 min · Guadalupe Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 25 sec
Exit 9B Toward US 101 North: San Francisco Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
8

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 42 sec
Toward US 101 North: San Francisco
9

Merge onto US 101

7.5 mi · 8 min · Bayshore Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Keep slight left at fork onto US 101

36 mi · 42 min · US 101
Use the slight left lane.
11

Continue on Octavia Boulevard

0.7 mi · 1 min · Octavia Boulevard
Exit 434B Toward Octavia Boulevard, Fell Street Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

At end of road, turn left onto Fell Street

0.3 mi · 58 sec · Fell Street
Use the left lane.
13

Turn right onto Webster Street

1.0 mi · 2 min · Webster Street
14

Turn left onto California Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · California Street
15

Turn right onto Divisadero Street

0.8 mi · 1 min · Divisadero Street
16

Turn left onto US 101

0.1 mi · 29 sec · Lombard Street
Use the left lane.
17

Continue on US 101

0.2 mi · 40 sec · Richardson Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
18

Continue on US 101

1.8 mi · 3 min · Presidio Parkway
Use the straight lane.
19

Continue on US 101

1.7 mi · 2 min · Golden Gate Bridge
20

Continue on US 101; CA 1

3.7 mi · 5 min · Redwood Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21

Take the exit onto CA 1

1.0 mi · 2 min · CA 1
Exit 445B Toward CA 1: Mill Valley, Stinson Beach, Muir Woods, Mount Tamalpais Use the slight right lane.
22

Continue on CA 1

0.8 mi · 1 min · Shoreline Highway
23

Turn left onto Maple Street

34 ft · 6 sec · Maple Street
24

Turn right onto Northern Avenue

0.3 mi · 1 min · Northern Avenue
25

At end of road, turn left onto Northern Avenue

0.2 mi · 54 sec · Northern Avenue
26

Arrive at destination

Northern Avenue

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 30.1 mi from San Jose, CA · 37m into the drive

consolidated city and county in California, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

San Francisco, CA

30 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.

Popular next leg

San Francisco, CA to Tamalpais Valley, CA

13.3 mi · 28m

Pacing Suggestions

Palo Alto, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

San Bruno, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 30.1 miles from San Jose, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Tamalpais Valley, CA

The final approach into Tamalpais Valley, 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

$13.86 one way

$27.72 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 21 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $14.28 $28.56
premium $6.18 $14.66 $29.33
diesel $5.61 $13.31 $26.63

Estimated Tolls: $9.00

Golden Gate Bridge $9.00

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$14

Tolls

$9

Total

$23

Estimated CO2 emission: 21.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 18.1 0 $6.33 $2.89
Efficient EV 15.1 0 $5.28 $2.41
EV Truck/SUV 24.1 0 $8.44 $3.86

Gas CO2

21 kg

EV CO2

7 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

Night in San Jose on Thursday

Local time

9:02 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

Tamalpais Valley, CA

Night in Tamalpais Valley on Thursday

Local time

9:02 PM

PDT

Current temp

58°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

13 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 24m 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 Tamalpais Valley, CA covers 60.3 miles and takes about 1h 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 101, Bayshore Freeway, Redwood 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 30.1 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 $13.86 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 60.3 miles you will encounter 20 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 0.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.3 miles (US 101): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from San Jose, CA to Tamalpais Valley, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, Muir Woods National Monument and Golden Gate National Recreation Area. There are 6 parks within detour distance of this route.

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