How far is Palo Alto, CA from San José, 08?
The driving distance from Palo Alto, CA to San José, 08 is about 3172.8 miles (5106.2 km), with a travel time of about 58h 07m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 3032.6 miles (4880.5 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 116h 14m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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 58h 07m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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 Texas, USA
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 Palo Alto and San José.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Palo Alto and San José.
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1
Start on Middlefield Road
30 m · 11 sec · Middlefield Road
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2
Turn sharp right onto Embarcadero Road
1 mi · 3 min · Embarcadero Road
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3
Take the ramp straight toward US 101 South: San Jose
2301 ft · 58 sec
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4
Merge slight left onto Bayshore Freeway
3.4 mi · 4 min · Bayshore Freeway
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5
Keep slight left to continue on Bayshore Freeway
42.4 mi · 49 min · Bayshore Freeway
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6
Take the exit slight right toward CA 152 East: 10th Street, Pacheco Pass Road
1539 ft · 40 sec
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7
Turn left onto East 10th Street
108 m · 13 sec · East 10th Street
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8
Continue on Pacheco Pass Highway
40.6 mi · 50 min · Pacheco Pass Highway
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9
Take the exit slight right toward I 5: Los Angeles
3148 ft · 1 min
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10
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
149.3 mi · 2 hr 40 min · Westside Freeway
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11
Take the exit slight right toward Stockdale Highway
1185 ft · 36 sec
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12
Turn left onto Stockdale Highway
4.8 mi · 7 min · Stockdale Highway
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13
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Stockdale Highway
39 m · 2 sec · Stockdale Highway
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14
Exit the roundabout onto Stockdale Highway
4.3 mi · 6 min · Stockdale Highway
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15
Continue on Westside Parkway
6.7 mi · 8 min · Westside Parkway
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16
Continue on Centennial Corridor
2.8 mi · 3 min · Centennial Corridor
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17
Continue on Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway
54.8 mi · 1 hr 3 min · Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway
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18
Continue on Barstow–Bakersfield Highway
8.1 mi · 9 min · Barstow–Bakersfield Highway
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19
Continue on Mojave-Barstow Highway
26.9 mi · 30 min · Mojave-Barstow Highway
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20
Continue on Barstow-Bakersfield Highway
34.8 mi · 40 min · Barstow-Bakersfield Highway
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21
Keep slight left to continue on I 15 North: Las Vegas
1.2 mi · 1 min
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22
Merge slight left onto Barstow and Mojave Freeway
3.3 mi · 4 min · Barstow and Mojave Freeway
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23
Keep slight right to continue on Needles Freeway
143.8 mi · 2 hr 34 min · Needles Freeway
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24
Take the exit slight right toward US 95 South: East Broadway, Blythe
1786 ft · 22 sec
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25
Continue straight
1420 ft · 17 sec
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26
Merge slight left onto Needles Freeway
10.6 mi · 11 min · Needles Freeway
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27
Continue on Purple Heart Trail
1619 ft · 18 sec · Purple Heart Trail
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28
Take the exit slight right toward Bullhead City, Laughlin, Havasu National Wildlife Refuge
2733 ft · 31 sec
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29
Merge slight left onto Purple Heart Trail
809.6 mi · 13 hr 41 min · Purple Heart Trail
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30
Take the exit slight right toward US 287 South: Fort Worth
77.2 mi · 1 hr 22 min
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31
Turn slight right onto US Highway 287
13.6 mi · 14 min · US Highway 287
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32
Continue on Burnett Street
1.1 km · 59 sec · Burnett Street
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33
Continue on US Highway 287
13.8 mi · 15 min · US Highway 287
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34
Continue on Avenue F Northwest
2.8 mi · 3 min · Avenue F Northwest
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35
Continue on US Highway 287
54.4 mi · 59 min · US Highway 287
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36
Continue on Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Highway
4.1 mi · 4 min · Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Highway
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37
Continue on US Highway 287 East
40.5 mi · 43 min · US Highway 287 East
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38
Continue on Northwest Freeway
4.6 mi · 5 min · Northwest Freeway
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39
Keep slight right to continue on Northwest Freeway
2984 ft · 42 sec · Northwest Freeway
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40
Merge slight left onto Central Freeway
2.5 mi · 3 min · Central Freeway
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41
Continue on Lloyd Ruby Overpass
1.4 km · 1 min · Lloyd Ruby Overpass
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42
Continue on Central East Freeway
1.4 km · 1 min · Central East Freeway
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43
Keep slight right to continue on Central East Freeway
1.8 mi · 2 min · Central East Freeway
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44
Keep slight right to continue on Central East Freeway
69.8 mi · 1 hr 13 min · Central East Freeway
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45
Take the exit slight right
764 ft · 21 sec
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46
Keep slight left
45 m · 4 sec
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47
Turn left onto West US Highway 380
21.8 mi · 25 min · West US Highway 380
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48
Continue on West University Drive
3.3 mi · 4 min · West University Drive
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49
Take the exit slight right
88 m · 8 sec
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50
Turn straight onto North Interstate 35
599 ft · 12 sec · North Interstate 35
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51
Take the ramp slight left toward I 35 South
753 ft · 18 sec
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52
Merge slight left
1.6 km · 1 min
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53
Continue on I 35E South: Dallas
9.8 mi · 10 min
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54
Keep slight right to continue on South Stemmons Freeway
17.1 mi · 19 min · South Stemmons Freeway
-
55
Take the exit slight right toward I 635 East, I 635 Express Toll East: Harry Hines Boulevard
604 ft · 10 sec
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56
Keep slight left to continue on I 635 East, I 635 Express Toll East
1427 ft · 29 sec
-
57
Keep slight left to continue on I 635 East
1.2 km · 2 min
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58
Merge slight right onto Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
4.4 mi · 5 min · Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
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59
Continue on Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway
4.7 mi · 5 min · Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway
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60
Continue on Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
11.2 mi · 12 min · Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
-
61
Take the exit slight right toward US 80 East: Terrell
1 km · 1 min
-
62
Keep slight left to continue on US 80 East: Terrell
1373 ft · 33 sec
-
63
Merge slight left
15.2 mi · 16 min
-
64
Continue straight
4.5 mi · 5 min
-
65
Merge slight left
327.5 mi · 5 hr 49 min
-
66
Merge slight right
3.8 mi · 5 min
-
67
Keep slight right
39.7 mi · 44 min
-
68
Merge slight right
1.1 mi · 1 min
-
69
Keep slight right to continue on Meridian, Hattiesburg
106 m · 5 sec
-
70
Take the exit slight right toward Hattiesburg
2977 ft · 42 sec
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71
Keep slight right to continue on Richland, Hattiesburg
1.2 km · 2 min
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72
Merge slight left onto Highway 49 South
80.3 mi · 1 hr 37 min · Highway 49 South
-
73
Continue straight
2294 ft · 36 sec
-
74
Continue straight
1.1 mi · 2 min
-
75
Take the exit slight right toward I 59 South: New Orleans, Gulf Coast
1914 ft · 36 sec
-
76
Merge slight left onto Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway
7.7 mi · 8 min · Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway
-
77
Take the exit slight right toward US 98 East: Lucedale, Mobile
18.3 mi · 22 min
-
78
Continue straight
47.5 mi · 55 min
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79
Continue on Industrial Parkway
19.3 mi · 23 min · Industrial Parkway
-
80
Take the exit slight right toward I 65 South: Mobile
2204 ft · 54 sec
-
81
Merge slight left
2.7 mi · 3 min
-
82
Take the exit slight right toward I 165: Mobile
3185 ft · 42 sec
-
83
Continue straight
4.6 mi · 5 min
-
84
Continue on North Water Street
1.3 km · 2 min · North Water Street
-
85
Turn right onto Government Street
1030 ft · 27 sec · Government Street
-
86
Continue on Government Street
708 ft · 25 sec · Government Street
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87
Continue on Bankhead Tunnel
3271 ft · 1 min · Bankhead Tunnel
-
88
Take the ramp straight
60 m · 5 sec
-
89
Continue straight
2081 ft · 51 sec
-
90
Merge slight left onto Jubilee Parkway
334.2 mi · 5 hr 59 min · Jubilee Parkway
-
91
Take the exit slight right toward I-75 South: Tampa
1959 ft · 37 sec
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92
Merge slight left
107.2 mi · 1 hr 55 min
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93
Take the exit slight left toward Florida's Turnpike South, Orlando
261 mi · 4 hr 43 min · Florida's Turnpike
-
94
Take the exit slight right toward Florida's Turnpike Toll South, Homestead
1197 ft · 20 sec · Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
-
95
Keep slight left to continue on Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
46.9 mi · 54 min · Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
-
96
Keep slight left
2930 ft · 1 min
-
97
Merge slight left onto Dixie Highway
19.2 mi · 27 min · Dixie Highway
-
98
Continue on Overseas Highway
104.2 mi · 2 hr 43 min · Overseas Highway
-
99
Turn right onto North Roosevelt Boulevard
2.6 mi · 6 min · North Roosevelt Boulevard
-
100
Continue on Truman Avenue
1.2 mi · 4 min · Truman Avenue
-
101
At the end of the road, turn right onto Fort Street
1222 ft · 53 sec · Fort Street
-
102
Turn slight left onto Angela Street
27 m · 9 sec · Angela Street
-
103
Turn left onto Butler Boulevard
79 m · 13 sec · Butler Boulevard
-
104
Continue on Quay Road
973 ft · 42 sec · Quay Road
-
105
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Carey Circle
19 m · 3 sec
-
106
Exit the rotary
37 m · 5 sec
-
107
Continue on Howard England Way
656 ft · 19 sec · Howard England Way
-
108
Turn slight right
134 m · 35 sec
-
109
Turn sharp right
545 ft · 41 sec
-
110
Turn left
144 m · 35 sec
-
111
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Palo Alto and San José.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Purple Heart Trail
Merge slight left onto Purple Heart Trail
810 mi · 13h 41m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Mostly Sunny near Palo Alto.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Palo Alto to San José?
The road trip is about 3172.8 miles (5106.2 km) and usually takes 58h 07m 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?
Henrietta is a useful midpoint, sitting about 1585.3 miles from Palo Alto and 1587.5 miles from San José.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 3032.6 miles (4880.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 140.2 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 $645.90 one way or $1,291.79 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 995 kg one way.
Do you cross a time zone on this route?
Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Palo Alto and San José, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.
What should you check before leaving?
Before leaving, the latest forecast around Palo Alto is Mostly Sunny.
Stop Ideas Near Henrietta
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 Henrietta.
Gainesville
Ardmore station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Palo Alto and San José. Straight-line distance: 3032.63 mi (4880.55 km).
#1 Palo Alto
The most populous city in Santa Clara County, California.
| Population | 67,008 |
| Coordinates | 37.4418800, -122.1430200 |
| Altitude | 9 |
| Country | United States |
#2 San José
Located in the Central Valley, it is the largest city in Costa Rica and serves as the country's political and economic center.
| Population | 335,007 |
| Coordinates | 9.9333300, -84.0833300 |
| Altitude | - |
| Country | Costa Rica |
End: San José (-84.08333, 9.93333)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 5106 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 105h 43m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 79h 19m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 63h 27m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 52h 52m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 45h 19m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 39h 34m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $645.90 | $1,291.79 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $679.15 | $1,358.30 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $698.97 | $1,397.93 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $847.20 | $1,694.40 |
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 · Jul 18, 2026