How far is Paradise, CA from San Jose, CA?
The driving distance from Paradise, CA to San Jose, CA is about 204.2 miles (328.6 km), with a travel time of about 03h 26m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 167.9 miles (270.2 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 53m 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 26m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
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 most populous city in Yolo County, California.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Paradise and San Jose.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Paradise and San Jose.
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1
Start on Elliott Road
1.3 km · 2 min · Elliott Road
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2
Turn right onto Clark Road
8.3 mi · 12 min · Clark Road
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3
Exit the roundabout onto Clark Road
3.5 mi · 5 min · Clark Road
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4
Turn right
21 mi · 24 min
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5
Continue straight
11.1 mi · 13 min
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6
Continue straight
1.5 mi · 3 min
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7
Turn right onto 5th Street
1272 ft · 31 sec · 5th Street
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8
Turn left onto E Street
4.2 mi · 5 min · E Street
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9
Keep slight right
17.5 mi · 20 min
-
10
Merge slight left onto Bernie Richter Memorial Highway
4.9 mi · 6 min · Bernie Richter Memorial Highway
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11
Continue on Golden State Highway
7.7 mi · 9 min · Golden State Highway
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12
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
2.3 mi · 3 min · Westside Freeway
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13
Take the exit slight right toward I 80 East, I 80 West: Reno, San Francisco
975 ft · 24 sec
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14
Keep slight right to continue on I 80 West: San Francisco
2716 ft · 1 min
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15
Merge slight left onto North Sacramento Beltline Freeway
4.2 mi · 5 min · North Sacramento Beltline Freeway
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16
Continue on Yolo Causeway
3.9 mi · 4 min · Yolo Causeway
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17
Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
37.2 mi · 43 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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18
Take the exit slight right toward I 680: Benicia, San Jose
3211 ft · 1 min
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19
Continue on Luther E Gibson Freeway
12.4 mi · 14 min · Luther E Gibson Freeway
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20
Continue on Benicia-Martinez Bridge
8 mi · 9 min · Benicia-Martinez Bridge
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21
Keep slight right to continue on Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
4.8 mi · 6 min · Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
-
22
Continue on Donald D Doyle Highway
1.4 mi · 2 min · Donald D Doyle Highway
-
23
Keep slight right to continue on Donald D Doyle Highway
31 mi · 36 min · Donald D Doyle Highway
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24
Take the exit slight right toward CA 262
866 ft · 21 sec
-
25
Keep slight right to continue on CA 262: Northwestern Polytechnic University, Warm Springs District
1597 ft · 39 sec
-
26
Merge slight left onto Mission Boulevard
1.5 mi · 2 min · Mission Boulevard
-
27
Merge slight left onto Nimitz Freeway
8.3 mi · 10 min · Nimitz Freeway
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28
Take the exit slight right toward Downtown, North First Street
991 ft · 26 sec
-
29
Turn left onto North 1st Street
1.5 mi · 4 min · North 1st Street
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30
Turn right onto West Julian Street
151 m · 18 sec · West Julian Street
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31
Turn left onto North Market Street
60 m · 7 sec · North Market Street
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32
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · North Market Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Paradise 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.
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
37.2 mi · 00h 43m
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 Paradise 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 Paradise to San Jose?
The road trip is about 204.2 miles (328.6 km) and usually takes 03h 26m 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?
Davis is a useful midpoint, sitting about 99.8 miles from Paradise and 104.4 miles from San Jose.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 167.9 miles (270.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 36.3 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 10:06 AM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $41.54 one way or $83.07 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 64 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Paradise and Mostly Sunny near San Jose.
Stop Ideas Near Davis
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
City of Sacramento
City of Sacramento Department of Utilities
Davis Police Department
Hall Park Off Leash Dog Park
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Davis.
Davis station
Sacramento Valley Station
Sacramento (State Capitol), California
Elk Grove, California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Paradise and San Jose. Straight-line distance: 167.87 mi (270.16 km).
#1 Paradise
City in Butte County, California
| Population | 4,329 |
| Coordinates | 39.7596100, -121.6219200 |
| Altitude | 542 |
| 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: 329 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 06h 48m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 05h 06m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 04h 05m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 03h 24m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 02h 55m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 02h 32m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $41.54 | $83.07 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $43.68 | $87.35 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $44.95 | $89.90 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $54.48 | $108.96 |
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 14, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.