How far is Cottonwood, CA from San Jose, CA?
The driving distance from Cottonwood, CA to San Jose, CA is about 234.1 miles (376.7 km), with a travel time of about 03h 46m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 211.5 miles (340.4 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 32m 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 46m.
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.
Census designated place
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Cottonwood and San Jose.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cottonwood and San Jose.
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1
Start on 1st Street
19 m · 2 sec · 1st Street
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2
Turn left onto Main Street
1.3 mi · 2 min · Main Street
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3
Continue on Bowman Road
922 ft · 25 sec · Bowman Road
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4
Take the ramp left
1263 ft · 31 sec
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5
Merge slight left onto Cascade Wonderland Highway
15.9 mi · 17 min · Cascade Wonderland Highway
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6
Continue on Westside Freeway
93 mi · 1 hr 40 min · Westside Freeway
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7
Keep slight right to continue on I 505 South: Winters, San Francisco
33.2 mi · 36 min
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8
Keep slight left to continue on I 80 West: San Francisco
2201 ft · 54 sec
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9
Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
14.7 mi · 17 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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10
Take the exit slight right toward I 680: Benicia, San Jose
3211 ft · 1 min
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11
Continue on Luther E Gibson Freeway
12.4 mi · 14 min · Luther E Gibson Freeway
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12
Continue on Benicia-Martinez Bridge
8 mi · 9 min · Benicia-Martinez Bridge
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13
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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14
Continue on Donald D Doyle Highway
1.4 mi · 2 min · Donald D Doyle Highway
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15
Keep slight right to continue on Donald D Doyle Highway
31 mi · 36 min · Donald D Doyle Highway
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16
Take the exit slight right toward CA 262
866 ft · 21 sec
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17
Keep slight right to continue on CA 262: Northwestern Polytechnic University, Warm Springs District
1597 ft · 39 sec
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18
Merge slight left onto Mission Boulevard
1.5 mi · 2 min · Mission Boulevard
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19
Merge slight left onto Nimitz Freeway
8.3 mi · 10 min · Nimitz Freeway
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20
Take the exit slight right toward Downtown, North First Street
991 ft · 26 sec
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21
Turn left onto North 1st Street
1.5 mi · 4 min · North 1st Street
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22
Turn right onto West Julian Street
151 m · 18 sec · West Julian Street
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23
Turn left onto North Market Street
60 m · 7 sec · North Market Street
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24
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · North Market Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Cottonwood and San Jose.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
Westside Freeway
Continue on Westside Freeway
93 mi · 01h 40m
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.
Sunny leaving Cottonwood 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 Cottonwood to San Jose?
The road trip is about 234.1 miles (376.7 km) and usually takes 03h 46m 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?
Esparto is a useful midpoint, sitting about 114.8 miles from Cottonwood and 119.4 miles from San Jose.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 211.5 miles (340.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 22.6 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 9:28 AM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $51.72 one way or $103.43 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 73.4 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Cottonwood and Sunny near San Jose.
Stop Ideas Near Esparto
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Denny's
Cache Creek Casino Resort
Pilot Travel Center
Woodland Fire Department
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Esparto.
Davis station
Sacramento (State Capitol), California
Sacramento Valley Station
Suisun–Fairfield station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Cottonwood and San Jose. Straight-line distance: 211.5 mi (340.38 km).
#1 Cottonwood
Located in Shasta County at an elevation of 433 feet, this Northern California census-designated place is situated in the northern Sacramento Valley near where Cottonwood Creek meets the Sacramento River.
| Population | 0 |
| Coordinates | 40.3857100, -122.2808400 |
| Altitude | 132 |
| 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 (-121.894962, 37.339389)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 377 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 07h 47m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 05h 51m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 04h 40m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 03h 54m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 03h 20m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 02h 55m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $6.26 | $51.72 | $103.43 |
| Mid-grade | $6.50 | $53.68 | $107.36 |
| Premium | $6.69 | $55.25 | $110.50 |
| Diesel | $8.41 | $69.49 | $138.98 |
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 · Oct 15, 2026