Origin
San Jose, CA
Late night in San Jose on Friday
Local time
12:01 AM
PDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from San Jose, CA to Templeton, CA
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
3h 11m
Distance
163.2 mi
263 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$38
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 59m
★
6 AM
3h 11m
8 AM
3h 35m
10 AM
3h 19m
12 PM
3h 17m
3 PM
3h 20m
5 PM
3h 33m
8 PM
3h 4m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
San Jose, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Templeton, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Trip Overview
This 163.2-mile journey from San Jose, CA to Templeton, CA is a manageable one-day trip, estimated to take about 3 hours and 11 minutes. You'll be navigating primarily along El Camino Real and US 101, with a brief stint on CA 85. With a highway share of just 29%, expect a more local feel than a pure freeway experience. The estimated fuel cost for this drive is around $38. Both your origin and destination are within the Pacific Coast region, offering a consistent regional flavor throughout your travels.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
81.6 miles from San Jose, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 35m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 11m. Total distance: 163.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
This route presents a 'turn-heavy local drive' profile, meaning you won't be on uninterrupted highway for most of the trip. While 29% of the drive is on highways, the longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 112.4 miles on El Camino Real, indicating a significant portion of the journey involves navigating local roads. This blend suggests a drive that requires more attention to navigation and traffic signals compared to a standard interstate route, with the road character likely shifting between faster highway sections and slower, more intricate local thoroughfares.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
El Camino Real is the longest continuous segment at about 112.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near North San Pedro Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 163.2 miles you will encounter 14 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 0.1 miles (North San Pedro Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (West Saint James Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North San Pedro Street
Turn left onto North San Pedro Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West Saint James Street
Turn right onto West Saint James Street
Navigation decision point
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
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| El Camino Real | 112.4 mi | 2h 9m |
| US 101 | 36.6 mi | 42m |
| CA 85 | 5.1 mi | 5m |
| Guadalupe Parkway | 4.1 mi | 4m |
| Guadalupe Freeway | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| North Main Street | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Santa Teresa Boulevard | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| West Saint James Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
El Camino Real
— 112.4 mi, about 2h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Jose, CA and Templeton, 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
37 mi
·
42 min
·
US 101
15
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
50 sec
16
Merge onto US 101; CA 156
112 mi
·
2 hr 9 min
·
El Camino Real
Use the straight lane.
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward North Main Street
18
Turn left onto North Main Street
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
North Main Street
19
Turn right
160 ft
·
11 sec
20
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour duration, this trip is perfectly suited for a single day. Consider leaving San Jose in the morning to avoid peak traffic. With only one recommended stop and a longest stretch of 112.4 miles on El Camino Real, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the $38 estimated cost suggests it's a moderate expense. A practical tip for this route: pay close attention to signage, especially when transitioning between El Camino Real and US 101, as the 'turn-heavy' nature of the drive means you'll be making frequent adjustments.
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 81.6 miles from San Jose, CA, or about 1h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 112.4 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 36 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 81.6 miles or 1h 35m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Templeton, 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 163.2 miles and 3h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 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 El Camino Real for about 112.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 81.6 mi from San Jose, CA · 1h 35m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
82 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 36 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 81.6 miles from San Jose, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before El Camino Real if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 112.4 miles.
Arriving in Templeton, CA
The final approach into Templeton, 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 Templeton, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.51 one way
$75.02 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
57 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $38.65 | $77.31 |
| premium | $6.18 | $39.69 | $79.38 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $36.03 | $72.07 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 57.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 49 | 0 | $17.14 | $7.83 |
| Efficient EV | 40.8 | 0 | $14.28 | $6.53 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 65.3 | 0 | $22.85 | $10.44 |
Gas CO2
57 kg
EV CO2
19 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.
Destination
Templeton, CA
Late night in Templeton on Friday
Local time
12:01 AM
PDT
Current temp
43°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
1 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
3h 11m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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 Templeton, CA covers 163.2 miles and takes about 3h 11m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are El Camino Real, US 101, CA 85. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 81.6 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 $37.51 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 163.2 miles you will encounter 14 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 0.1 miles (North San Pedro Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (West Saint James Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
The route from San Jose, CA to Templeton, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Data sources
The figures on this page are computed from open government and mapping datasets, not crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Full methodology, refresh cadence, and limitations are documented on the methodology page.
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