How far is Fountain Valley, CA from San Jose, CA?

The driving distance from Fountain Valley, CA to San Jose, CA is about 377.7 miles (607.8 km), with a travel time of about 06h 09m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 334.7 miles (538.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 19m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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
377.66 mi
06h 09m
Flight
334.64 mi
538.55 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Fountain Valley.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
334.64 mi
Kilometers
538.55 km
Flight Time
00h 40m

Driving Distance

Road route
377.66 mi
Kilometers
607.79 km
Drive Time
06h 09m

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 06h 09m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in San Jose
Sun, Apr 19, 2:46 AM PDT
Return by in Fountain Valley
Sun, Apr 19, 8:56 AM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Fountain Valley
2026-04-18T20:36
Arrive San Jose
Sun, Apr 19, 2:46 AM PDT
Route Timing
06h 09m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM PDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
12:10 PM to 1:40 PM PDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
11:40 PM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Fountain Valley
8:00 PM PDT
Overnight-style route

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 Fountain Valley
187 mi
03h 04m
To San Jose
190.6 mi
03h 04m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
75°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SW
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 Fountain Valley and San Jose.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Fountain Valley and San Jose.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    11 m · 5 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Slater Avenue

    62 m · 6 sec · Slater Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Brookhurst Street

    141 m · 17 sec · Brookhurst Street

  4. 4

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 405 North

    1443 ft · 37 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto San Diego Freeway

    6.1 mi · 7 min · San Diego Freeway

  6. 6

    Keep slight left

    3.5 mi · 4 min

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward I 605 North

    3231 ft · 1 min

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto San Gabriel River Freeway

    10.2 mi · 12 min · San Gabriel River Freeway

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward I 5 North, I 5 South: Los Angeles, Santa Ana

    1385 ft · 34 sec

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on I 5 North, I 5 South: Los Angeles, Santa Ana

    1794 ft · 44 sec

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on I 5 North: Santa Ana Freeway, Los Angeles

    2020 ft · 49 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway

    8.9 mi · 10 min · Santa Ana Freeway

  13. 13

    Keep slight right to continue on Golden State Freeway

    25.5 mi · 30 min · Golden State Freeway

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway

    2.2 mi · 3 min · Golden State Freeway

  15. 15

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

    1.5 mi · 2 min

  16. 16

    Keep slight left

    36.1 mi · 42 min

  17. 17

    Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway

    22.3 mi · 25 min · Golden State Freeway

  18. 18

    Keep slight right to continue on Westside Freeway

    182.5 mi · 3 hr 16 min · Westside Freeway

  19. 19

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

    1038 ft · 27 sec

  20. 20

    Continue straight

    28.7 mi · 33 min

  21. 21

    Keep slight right

    11.9 mi · 17 min

  22. 22

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

    2466 ft · 1 min

  23. 23

    Merge slight left onto South Valley Freeway

    19.9 mi · 23 min · South Valley Freeway

  24. 24

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

    5.2 mi · 6 min

  25. 25

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

    1 km · 51 sec

  26. 26

    Continue on Guadalupe Parkway

    4.3 mi · 5 min · Guadalupe Parkway

  27. 27

    Continue on Guadalupe Freeway

    2235 ft · 29 sec · Guadalupe Freeway

  28. 28

    Take the exit slight right toward CA 82

    1010 ft · 19 sec

  29. 29

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

    2389 ft · 52 sec

  30. 30

    Keep slight left to continue on CA 87 North

    1469 ft · 36 sec

  31. 31

    Keep slight right to continue on Julian Street

    982 ft · 26 sec

  32. 32

    Turn right onto West Saint James Street

    867 ft · 28 sec · West Saint James Street

  33. 33

    Turn left onto North Market Street

    127 m · 9 sec · North Market Street

  34. 34

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Market Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Fountain Valley 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
34 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
11
4 merges, 7 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9 / 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%
San Gabriel River Freeway
10.2 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

Better with a longer stop

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

Drive Time
06h 09m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
12h 20m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+43 mi
334.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Lost Hills
03h 04m from Fountain Valley
Leave By
11:40 PM PDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Fountain Valley 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 Fountain Valley to San Jose?

The road trip is about 377.7 miles (607.8 km) and usually takes 06h 09m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Lost Hills is a useful midpoint, sitting about 187 miles from Fountain Valley and 190.6 miles from San Jose.

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

The direct path is about 334.7 miles (538.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 43 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 7:30 AM PDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

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 Fountain Valley 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 Fountain Valley and San Jose. Straight-line distance: 334.64 mi (538.55 km).

Fountain Valley

#1 Fountain Valley

A city in Orange County, California.

Population55,405
Coordinates33.7091800, -117.9536700
Altitude10
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: (-117.95365, 33.70918)
End: North Market Street (-121.894962, 37.339389)

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
50.45 L · about $76.90
Round trip
$153.80
26.66 gal · 100.9 L
Estimated CO2
118.5 kg one way
Round trip: 236.9 kg / 522 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/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 Fountain Valley and San Jose. The current time is 20:36:48.

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.