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

The driving distance from Hercules, CA to San Jose, CA is about 70 miles (112.7 km), with a travel time of about 01h 09m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 51.5 miles (82.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 18m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
70.06 mi
01h 09m
Flight
51.54 mi
82.94 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Hercules.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
51.54 mi
Kilometers
82.94 km
Flight Time
00h 06m

Driving Distance

Road route
70.06 mi
Kilometers
112.75 km
Drive Time
01h 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 01h 09m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in San Jose
Wed, Apr 22, 8:21 PM PDT
Return by in Hercules
Wed, Apr 22, 9:31 PM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Hercules
2026-04-22T19:12
Arrive San Jose
Wed, Apr 22, 8:21 PM PDT
Route Timing
01h 09m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:09 AM to 11:09 AM PDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
4:12 PM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Hercules
9:30 PM PDT
Morning start is best

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
San Leandro
CA

A city in Alameda County, California.

From Hercules
29.9 mi
00h 34m
To San Jose
40.2 mi
00h 34m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
63°F
Wednesday

Chance Light Rain

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
7 to 10 mph WSW
Destination
64°F
Wednesday

Chance Light Rain

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
5 to 8 mph WSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Railroad Avenue

    1069 ft · 34 sec · Railroad Avenue

  2. 2

    Continue on Bayfront Boulevard

    1445 ft · 40 sec · Bayfront Boulevard

  3. 3

    Continue on John Muir Parkway

    1.2 km · 1 min · John Muir Parkway

  4. 4

    Take the exit slight right toward I 80: Oakland, Sacramento

    63 m · 5 sec

  5. 5

    Keep slight right to continue on I 80 West: Oakland

    2996 ft · 1 min

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Eastshore Freeway

    14.1 mi · 16 min · Eastshore Freeway

  7. 7

    Keep slight left to continue on Interstate Highway 80

    1321 ft · 21 sec · Interstate Highway 80

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on Nimitz Freeway

    14.3 mi · 18 min · Nimitz Freeway

  9. 9

    Keep slight left

    5.6 mi · 6 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight left

    2.4 mi · 3 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight left

    19.4 mi · 22 min

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward Downtown, North First Street

    991 ft · 26 sec

  13. 13

    Turn left onto North 1st Street

    1.5 mi · 4 min · North 1st Street

  14. 14

    Turn right onto West Julian Street

    151 m · 18 sec · West Julian Street

  15. 15

    Turn left onto North Market Street

    60 m · 7 sec · North Market Street

  16. 16

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Market Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
16 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
22.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Nimitz Freeway
41.8 mi · 60%
Eastshore Freeway
14.1 mi · 20%
North 1st Street
1.53 mi · 2%
John Muir Parkway
0.71 mi · 1%
I 80 West
0.57 mi · 1%
Bayfront Boulevard
0.27 mi
Longest Stretch

Nimitz Freeway

Keep slight left

19.4 mi · 00h 22m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
01h 09m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 18m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+18.5 mi
51.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
San Leandro
00h 34m from Hercules
Leave By
4:12 PM PDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Chance Light Rain leaving Hercules and Chance Light Rain near San Jose.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 70 miles (112.7 km) and usually takes 01h 09m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

San Leandro is a useful midpoint, sitting about 29.9 miles from Hercules and 40.2 miles from San Jose.

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

The direct path is about 51.5 miles (82.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 18.5 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:12 PM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $14.25 one way or $28.50 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 22 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Light Rain around Hercules and Chance Light Rain near San Jose.

Stop Ideas Near San Leandro

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around San Leandro, 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 San Leandro.

RAIL

Oakland Coliseum station

5 mi away
700 73rd Avenue
RAIL

Hayward station

8 mi away
22555 Meekland Avenue
RAIL

Oakland – Jack London Square station

13 mi away
245 Second Street
RAIL

Emeryville station

17 mi away
5885 Horton Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Hercules and San Jose. Straight-line distance: 51.54 mi (82.94 km).

Hercules

#1 Hercules

City in western Contra Costa County, California

Population26,221
Coordinates38.0171400, -122.2885800
Altitude24
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: Railroad Avenue (-122.288648, 38.01726)
End: North Market Street (-121.89496, 37.33939)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 113 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 20m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 45m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 24m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 10m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 00m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 52m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.47 gal
9.36 L · about $14.25
Round trip
$28.50
4.94 gal · 18.72 L
Estimated CO2
22 kg one way
Round trip: 43.9 kg / 97 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $14.25 $28.50
Mid-grade $6.07 $14.98 $29.97
Premium $6.24 $15.42 $30.84
Diesel $7.57 $18.69 $37.38

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Hercules and San Jose. The current time is 19:12:53.

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.