Drive Time
6h 4m
Distance
349.3 mi
562 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$47
one way
Photo: Stephen Leonardi
The drive from Willow Creek, CA to San Jose, CA covers 349.3 miles and takes about 6h 4m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Hwy 299, Court Street, Tehama Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $47.44 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
174.6 miles from Willow Creek, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 2m into the drive .
Expect a 6h 4m drive with frequent turns across 349.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Hwy 299 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Court Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Tehama Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 5 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Cascade Wonderland Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Westside Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 505 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 80 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Willow Creek, CA and San Jose, CA.
Start on Bigfoot Scenic Byway
Turn left onto Trinity Highway / CA Hwy 299
Turn right onto Court Street
Turn left onto Tehama Street
Take the exit slight right toward I 5 South: Sacramento
Merge slight left onto Cascade Wonderland Highway
Continue on Westside Freeway
Keep slight right to continue on I 505 South: Winters, San Francisco
Keep slight left to continue on I 80 West: San Francisco
Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Take the exit slight right toward I 680: Benicia, San Jose
Continue on Luther E Gibson Freeway
Continue on Benicia-Martinez Bridge
Keep slight right to continue on Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Continue on Donald D Doyle Highway
Keep slight right to continue on Donald D Doyle Highway
Take the exit slight right toward CA 262
Keep slight right to continue on CA 262: Northwestern Polytechnic University, Warm Springs District
Merge slight left onto Mission Boulevard
Merge slight left onto Nimitz Freeway
Take the exit slight right toward Downtown, North First Street
Turn left onto North 1st Street
Turn right onto West Julian Street
Turn left onto North Market Street
Arrive at your destination
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
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 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 174.6 miles or 3h 2m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 2m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near San Jose, CA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Willow Creek, 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 Willow Creek, CA
This is one driving day of about 349.3 miles and 6h 4m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 174.6 mi from Willow Creek, CA · 3h 2m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
175 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 174.6 miles from Willow Creek, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into San Jose, 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 San Jose, CA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$47.44 one way
$94.89 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.85 | $52.95 | $105.89 |
| premium | $4.15 | $57.07 | $114.14 |
| diesel | $3.75 | $51.57 | $103.14 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 122.2 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 104.8 | 1 | $36.68 | $16.77 |
| Efficient EV | 87.3 | 0 | $30.56 | $13.97 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 139.7 | 1 | $48.90 | $22.36 |
Gas CO2
122 kg
EV CO2
41 kg (66% 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in Willow Creek on Saturday
Local time
7:38 AM
PDT
Current temp
42°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in San Jose on Saturday
Local time
7:38 AM
PDT
Current temp
71°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
49°F
Red Bluff, CA
175 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Willow Creek, CA or browse trips ending in San Jose, CA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CA road trips.
Explore maps for Willow Creek, CA or San Jose, CA on MapSof.net.
