How far is Los Altos, CA from San Jose, CA?
The driving distance from Los Altos, CA to San Jose, CA is about 17.5 miles (28.1 km), with a travel time of about 00h 22m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 12.4 miles (20 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 44m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM PDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This is an easy same-day return drive.
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 00h 22m.
This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.
This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
The sixth most populous city in Santa Clara County, California.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Los Altos and San Jose.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Los Altos and San Jose.
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1
Start on North San Antonio Road
1.1 mi · 2 min · North San Antonio Road
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2
Continue on San Antonio Road
1.2 mi · 3 min · San Antonio Road
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3
Turn right onto West Middlefield Road
658 ft · 16 sec · West Middlefield Road
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4
Keep slight left to continue on Old Middlefield Way
1.3 km · 2 min · Old Middlefield Way
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5
Take the ramp straight toward US 101 South
1331 ft · 34 sec
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6
Merge slight left onto Bayshore Freeway
2163 ft · 28 sec · Bayshore Freeway
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7
Keep slight left to continue on Bayshore Freeway
8.4 mi · 10 min · Bayshore Freeway
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8
Take the exit slight right toward CA 87 South: Guadalupe Parkway
2145 ft · 53 sec
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9
Continue on Guadalupe Freeway
2.5 mi · 3 min · Guadalupe Freeway
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10
Take the exit slight right toward Julian Street, Saint James Street
1661 ft · 42 sec
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11
Turn left onto West Julian Street
682 ft · 23 sec · West Julian Street
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12
Continue on West Saint James Street
867 ft · 28 sec · West Saint James Street
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13
Turn left onto North Market Street
127 m · 9 sec · North Market Street
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14
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · North Market Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Los Altos and San Jose.
Turn-heavy local drive
The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.
Bayshore Freeway
Keep slight left to continue on Bayshore Freeway
8.35 mi · 00h 10m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
A short regional drive
This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.
Mostly Sunny leaving Los Altos and Mostly Sunny near San Jose.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Los Altos to San Jose?
The road trip is about 17.5 miles (28.1 km) and usually takes 00h 22m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Sunnyvale is a useful midpoint, sitting about 8 miles from Los Altos and 9.6 miles from San Jose.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 12.4 miles (20 km), while the road route adds roughly 5.1 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:46 PM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $3.58 one way or $7.15 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 5.5 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Los Altos and Mostly Sunny near San Jose.
Stop Ideas Near Sunnyvale
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Sunnyvale.
Santa Clara – Great America station
Santa Clara station
San Jose Diridon station
Fremont station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Los Altos and San Jose. Straight-line distance: 12.45 mi (20.03 km).
#1 Los Altos
City in Santa Clara County, California, United States
| Population | 30,281 |
| Coordinates | 37.3852200, -122.1141300 |
| Altitude | 48 |
| 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: 28 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 00h 34m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 00h 26m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 20m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 17m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 14m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 13m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $3.58 | $7.15 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $3.76 | $7.52 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $3.87 | $7.74 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $4.69 | $9.38 |
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 · May 07, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.