How far is Brea, CA from San Jose, CA?

The driving distance from Brea, CA to San Jose, CA is about 377.9 miles (608.1 km), with a travel time of about 05h 59m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 325.9 miles (524.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 59m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
377.84 mi
05h 59m
Flight
325.91 mi
524.5 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Brea.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
325.91 mi
Kilometers
524.5 km
Flight Time
00h 39m

Driving Distance

Road route
377.84 mi
Kilometers
608.07 km
Drive Time
05h 59m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 05h 59m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in San Jose
Sun, Apr 19, 2:34 AM PDT
Return by in Brea
Sun, Apr 19, 8:34 AM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Brea
2026-04-18T20:35
Arrive San Jose
Sun, Apr 19, 2:34 AM PDT
Route Timing
05h 59m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
12:00 PM to 2:00 PM PDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
5:00 AM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Brea
9:00 PM PDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Lost Hills
CA

Census-designated place in Kern County, California

From Brea
182.4 mi
02h 59m
To San Jose
195.4 mi
02h 59m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
84°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SE
Destination
76°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
1 to 7 mph W

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Brea and San Jose.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Brea and San Jose.

  1. 1

    Start on South Brea Boulevard

    562 ft · 14 sec · South Brea Boulevard

  2. 2

    Continue on South Brea Boulevard

    747 ft · 36 sec · South Brea Boulevard

  3. 3

    Turn right onto West Imperial Highway

    10.3 mi · 19 min · West Imperial Highway

  4. 4

    Take the ramp right toward I 5 North: Los Angeles

    1625 ft · 40 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway

    10.6 mi · 12 min · Santa Ana Freeway

  6. 6

    Keep slight right to continue on Golden State Freeway

    25.5 mi · 30 min · Golden State Freeway

  7. 7

    Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway

    2.2 mi · 3 min · Golden State Freeway

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck

    1.5 mi · 2 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight left

    36.1 mi · 42 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway

    22.3 mi · 25 min · Golden State Freeway

  11. 11

    Keep slight right to continue on Westside Freeway

    182.5 mi · 3 hr 16 min · Westside Freeway

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward CA 152 West: Gilroy, Hollister, San Jose

    1038 ft · 27 sec

  13. 13

    Continue straight

    28.7 mi · 33 min

  14. 14

    Keep slight right

    11.9 mi · 17 min

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward US 101 North: San Jose

    2466 ft · 1 min

  16. 16

    Merge slight left onto South Valley Freeway

    19.9 mi · 23 min · South Valley Freeway

  17. 17

    Keep slight right to continue on CA 85 North: Cupertino, Mountain View

    5.2 mi · 6 min

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward CA 87 North: Downtown San Jose

    1 km · 51 sec

  19. 19

    Continue on Guadalupe Parkway

    4.3 mi · 5 min · Guadalupe Parkway

  20. 20

    Continue on Guadalupe Freeway

    2235 ft · 29 sec · Guadalupe Freeway

  21. 21

    Take the exit slight right toward CA 82

    1010 ft · 19 sec

  22. 22

    Keep slight left to continue on CA 87 North: Santa Clara Street, Julian Street

    2389 ft · 52 sec

  23. 23

    Keep slight left to continue on CA 87 North

    1469 ft · 36 sec

  24. 24

    Keep slight right to continue on Julian Street

    982 ft · 26 sec

  25. 25

    Turn right onto West Saint James Street

    867 ft · 28 sec · West Saint James Street

  26. 26

    Turn left onto North Market Street

    127 m · 9 sec · North Market Street

  27. 27

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Market Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Brea and San Jose.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
27 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
2 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Westside Freeway
183 mi · 48%
Golden State Freeway
50 mi · 13%
CA 152 West
40.9 mi · 11%
I 5 Truck North
37.7 mi · 10%
South Valley Freeway
19.9 mi · 5%
Santa Ana Freeway
10.6 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

Westside Freeway

Keep slight right to continue on Westside Freeway

183 mi · 03h 16m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
05h 59m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
12h 00m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+52 mi
325.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Lost Hills
02h 59m from Brea
Leave By
5:00 AM PDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Brea and Sunny near San Jose.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Brea to San Jose?

The road trip is about 377.9 miles (608.1 km) and usually takes 05h 59m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Lost Hills is a useful midpoint, sitting about 182.4 miles from Brea and 195.4 miles from San Jose.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 325.9 miles (524.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 52 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 5:00 AM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $76.90 one way or $153.80 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 118.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Brea and Sunny near San Jose.

Stop Ideas Near Lost Hills

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Lost Hills, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Lost Hills.

RAIL

Wasco station

33 mi away
700 G Street
BUS

Kettleman City, California

47 mi away
3300 Hubert Way
RAIL

Corcoran station

55 mi away
1099 Otis Ave.
RAIL

Bakersfield

67 mi away
601 Truxtun Ave

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Brea and San Jose. Straight-line distance: 325.91 mi (524.5 km).

Brea

#1 Brea

A city in Orange County, California.

Population44,484
Coordinates33.9166800, -117.9000600
Altitude110
CountryUnited States
San Jose

#2 San Jose

The tenth most populous city in the United States and the center of the San Jose metropolitan area.

Population1,013,616
Coordinates37.3393900, -121.8949600
Altitude26
CountryUnited States
Start: South Brea Boulevard (-117.900139, 33.916709)
End: North Market Street (-121.89496, 37.33939)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 608 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)12h 35m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)09h 26m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)07h 33m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)06h 17m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)05h 23m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 42m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
13.33 gal
50.47 L · about $76.90
Round trip
$153.80
26.66 gal · 100.94 L
Estimated CO2
118.5 kg one way
Round trip: 236.9 kg / 522 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $76.90 $153.80
Mid-grade $6.07 $80.86 $161.72
Premium $6.24 $83.22 $166.44
Diesel $7.57 $100.87 $201.74

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in California · Apr 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Brea and San Jose. The current time is 20:35:25.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.