How far is Chico, CA from San Jose, CA?
The driving distance from Chico, CA to San Jose, CA is about 206.4 miles (332.1 km), with a travel time of about 03h 17m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 165.1 miles (265.7 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 35m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT.
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 03h 17m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
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.
Place in Solano county, California, USA
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Chico and San Jose.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chico and San Jose.
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1
Start on East 5th Street
158 m · 30 sec · East 5th Street
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2
Turn left onto Broadway Street
994 ft · 49 sec · Broadway Street
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3
Turn slight left onto Oroville Avenue
818 ft · 18 sec · Oroville Avenue
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4
Continue on Park Avenue
1.3 mi · 3 min · Park Avenue
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5
Continue on East Park Avenue
2627 ft · 56 sec · East Park Avenue
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6
Take the ramp slight right
2452 ft · 32 sec
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7
Merge slight left
8 mi · 9 min
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8
Keep slight right to continue on Yuba City
43.3 mi · 57 min
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9
Take the exit slight right toward CA 113 South: Woodland, Tudor Road
1279 ft · 37 sec
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10
Turn right onto Tudor Road
2.1 mi · 3 min · Tudor Road
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11
Continue on South George Washington Boulevard
2.5 mi · 3 min · South George Washington Boulevard
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12
Continue on Sutter Causeway
12.7 mi · 17 min · Sutter Causeway
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13
Continue on County Road 102
7.9 mi · 11 min · County Road 102
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14
Continue on County Road 102
39 m · 7 sec · County Road 102
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15
Turn right onto East Main Street
1.3 mi · 3 min · East Main Street
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16
Take the ramp left toward CA 113 South: Davis
2270 ft · 55 sec
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17
Merge slight left onto Vic Fazio Highway
10.7 mi · 12 min · Vic Fazio Highway
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18
Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
29.2 mi · 34 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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19
Take the exit slight right toward I 680: Benicia, San Jose
3211 ft · 1 min
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20
Continue on Luther E Gibson Freeway
12.4 mi · 14 min · Luther E Gibson Freeway
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21
Continue on Benicia-Martinez Bridge
8 mi · 9 min · Benicia-Martinez Bridge
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22
Keep slight right to continue on Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
4.8 mi · 6 min · Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
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23
Continue on Donald D Doyle Highway
1.4 mi · 2 min · Donald D Doyle Highway
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24
Keep slight right to continue on Donald D Doyle Highway
31 mi · 36 min · Donald D Doyle Highway
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25
Take the exit slight right toward CA 262
866 ft · 21 sec
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26
Keep slight right to continue on CA 262: Northwestern Polytechnic University, Warm Springs District
1597 ft · 39 sec
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27
Merge slight left onto Mission Boulevard
1.5 mi · 2 min · Mission Boulevard
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28
Merge slight left onto Nimitz Freeway
8.3 mi · 10 min · Nimitz Freeway
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29
Take the exit slight right toward Downtown, North First Street
991 ft · 26 sec
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30
Turn left onto North 1st Street
1.5 mi · 4 min · North 1st Street
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31
Turn right onto West Julian Street
151 m · 18 sec · West Julian Street
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32
Turn left onto North Market Street
60 m · 7 sec · North Market Street
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33
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · North Market Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Chico and San Jose.
Interchange-aware route
The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.
Yuba City
Keep slight right to continue on Yuba City
43.3 mi · 00h 57m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Mostly Sunny leaving Chico 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 Chico to San Jose?
The road trip is about 206.4 miles (332.1 km) and usually takes 03h 17m 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?
Dixon is a useful midpoint, sitting about 95.8 miles from Chico and 110.6 miles from San Jose.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 165.1 miles (265.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 41.3 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 10:24 AM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $42.00 one way or $84.00 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 64.7 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Chico and Sunny near San Jose.
Stop Ideas Near Dixon
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Hall Park Off Leash Dog Park
City of Davis Gymnastics
Davis Police Department
Dixon City Hall
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Dixon.
Davis station
Suisun–Fairfield station
Elk Grove, California
Sacramento (State Capitol), California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Chico and San Jose. Straight-line distance: 165.1 mi (265.7 km).
#1 Chico
The most populous city in Butte County, California.
| Population | 102,867 |
| Coordinates | 39.7284900, -121.8374800 |
| Altitude | 60 |
| Country | United States |
#2 San Jose
The tenth most populous city in the United States and the center of the San Jose metropolitan area.
| Population | 1,013,616 |
| Coordinates | 37.3393900, -121.8949600 |
| Altitude | 26 |
| Country | United States |
End: North Market Street (-121.89496, 37.33939)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 332 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 06h 52m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 05h 09m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 04h 07m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 03h 26m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 02h 56m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 02h 34m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $42.00 | $84.00 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $44.16 | $88.32 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $45.45 | $90.90 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $55.09 | $110.18 |
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
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.