How far is McKinleyville, CA from San Jose, CA?
The driving distance from McKinleyville, CA to San Jose, CA is about 329.3 miles (530 km), with a travel time of about 05h 47m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 275.8 miles (443.9 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 35m 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 05h 47m.
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.
City in Mendocino County, California
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between McKinleyville and San Jose.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between McKinleyville and San Jose.
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1
Start on the route
54 m · 17 sec
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2
Turn left
19 m · 10 sec
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3
Turn left
80 m · 25 sec
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4
Turn left onto Central Avenue
1.6 mi · 4 min · Central Avenue
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5
Keep slight right to continue on Central Avenue
1669 ft · 33 sec · Central Avenue
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6
Take the ramp straight
1375 ft · 34 sec
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7
Merge slight left onto Redwood Highway
10.1 mi · 13 min · Redwood Highway
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8
Continue on 4th Street
1.5 mi · 4 min · 4th Street
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9
Turn left onto Broadway Street
3 mi · 6 min · Broadway Street
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10
Continue on Redwood Highway
128.9 mi · 2 hr 38 min · Redwood Highway
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11
Continue on Willits Bypass
5.4 mi · 6 min · Willits Bypass
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12
Continue on Redwood Highway
116.2 mi · 2 hr 18 min · Redwood Highway
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13
Keep slight right to continue on John T. Knox Freeway
13.6 mi · 17 min · John T. Knox Freeway
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14
Merge slight left onto Eastshore Freeway
3.8 mi · 5 min · Eastshore Freeway
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15
Keep slight left to continue on Interstate Highway 80
1321 ft · 21 sec · Interstate Highway 80
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16
Keep slight right to continue on Nimitz Freeway
14.3 mi · 18 min · Nimitz Freeway
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17
Keep slight left
5.6 mi · 6 min
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18
Keep slight left
2.4 mi · 3 min
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19
Keep slight left
19.4 mi · 22 min
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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 McKinleyville and San Jose.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Redwood Highway
Continue on Redwood Highway
129 mi · 02h 38m
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 McKinleyville 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 McKinleyville to San Jose?
The road trip is about 329.3 miles (530 km) and usually takes 05h 47m 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?
Ukiah is a useful midpoint, sitting about 164.4 miles from McKinleyville and 165 miles from San Jose.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 275.8 miles (443.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 53.5 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 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 5:24 AM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $67.04 one way or $134.07 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 103.3 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around McKinleyville and Sunny near San Jose.
Stop Ideas Near Ukiah
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
City of Ten Thousand Buddhas
Ukiah Parks & Recreation Department
Willits Water Department
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Ukiah.
Ukiah, California
Willits, California
Cloverdale, California
Laytonville, California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between McKinleyville and San Jose. Straight-line distance: 275.81 mi (443.87 km).
#1 McKinleyville
Census-designated place in Humboldt County, California
| Population | 15,177 |
| Coordinates | 40.9465200, -124.1006200 |
| Altitude | 44 |
| 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: 530 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 10h 58m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 08h 14m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 35m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 29m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 42m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 06m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $67.04 | $134.07 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $70.49 | $140.97 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $72.54 | $145.09 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $87.93 | $175.86 |
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 31, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.