How far is Los Molinos, CA from San Jose, CA?
The driving distance from Los Molinos, CA to San Jose, CA is about 213.7 miles (343.9 km), with a travel time of about 03h 27m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 185.6 miles (298.7 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 55m 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 27m.
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.
Ghost town in Yolo County, California
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 Los Molinos and San Jose.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Los Molinos and San Jose.
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1
Start on Sycamore Avenue
38 m · 11 sec · Sycamore Avenue
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2
Turn left onto Railroad Avenue
2463 ft · 1 min · Railroad Avenue
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3
Turn left onto Aramayo Way
1.1 mi · 2 min · Aramayo Way
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4
Continue on C Street
1600 ft · 60 sec · C Street
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5
Turn left onto 5th Street
1.2 km · 2 min · 5th Street
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6
Continue on Gyle Road
4.6 mi · 7 min · Gyle Road
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7
Take the ramp left
1439 ft · 35 sec
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8
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
82.8 mi · 1 hr 29 min · Westside Freeway
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9
Keep slight right to continue on I 505 South: Winters, San Francisco
33.2 mi · 36 min
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10
Keep slight left to continue on I 80 West: San Francisco
2201 ft · 54 sec
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11
Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
14.7 mi · 17 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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12
Take the exit slight right toward I 680: Benicia, San Jose
3211 ft · 1 min
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13
Continue on Luther E Gibson Freeway
12.4 mi · 14 min · Luther E Gibson Freeway
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14
Continue on Benicia-Martinez Bridge
8 mi · 9 min · Benicia-Martinez Bridge
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15
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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16
Continue on Donald D Doyle Highway
1.4 mi · 2 min · Donald D Doyle Highway
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17
Keep slight right to continue on Donald D Doyle Highway
31 mi · 36 min · Donald D Doyle Highway
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18
Take the exit slight right toward CA 262
866 ft · 21 sec
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19
Keep slight right to continue on CA 262: Northwestern Polytechnic University, Warm Springs District
1597 ft · 39 sec
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20
Merge slight left onto Mission Boulevard
1.5 mi · 2 min · Mission Boulevard
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21
Merge slight left onto Nimitz Freeway
8.3 mi · 10 min · Nimitz Freeway
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22
Take the exit slight right toward Downtown, North First Street
991 ft · 26 sec
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23
Turn left onto North 1st Street
1.5 mi · 4 min · North 1st Street
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24
Turn right onto West Julian Street
151 m · 18 sec · West Julian Street
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25
Turn left onto North Market Street
60 m · 7 sec · North Market Street
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26
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · North Market Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Los Molinos 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
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
82.8 mi · 01h 29m
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 Los Molinos 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 Los Molinos to San Jose?
The road trip is about 213.7 miles (343.9 km) and usually takes 03h 27m 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?
Cottonwood is a useful midpoint, sitting about 104.6 miles from Los Molinos and 109.1 miles from San Jose.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 185.6 miles (298.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 28.1 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 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:04 AM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $47.21 one way or $94.42 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 67 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Los Molinos and Sunny near San Jose.
Stop Ideas Near Cottonwood
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Starbucks
Cache Creek Casino Resort
Pilot Travel Center
City of Davis Gymnastics
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Cottonwood.
Davis station
Sacramento (State Capitol), California
Sacramento Valley Station
Suisun–Fairfield station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Los Molinos and San Jose. Straight-line distance: 185.63 mi (298.74 km).
#1 Los Molinos
Located in the northern Sacramento Valley at an elevation of 223 feet, this census-designated place is positioned where Mill Creek meets the Sacramento River in Tehama County.
| Population | 0 |
| Coordinates | 40.0212700, -122.1002700 |
| Altitude | 68 |
| 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: 344 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 07h 07m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 05h 20m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 04h 16m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 03h 33m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 03h 03m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 02h 39m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $6.26 | $47.21 | $94.42 |
| Mid-grade | $6.50 | $49.00 | $98.00 |
| Premium | $6.69 | $50.44 | $100.87 |
| Diesel | $8.41 | $63.43 | $126.87 |
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