How far is San Jose, CA from Alameda, CA?

The driving distance from San Jose, CA to Alameda, CA is about 39.9 miles (64.2 km), with a travel time of about 00h 51m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 35.9 miles (57.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 42m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
39.9 mi
00h 51m
Flight
35.93 mi
57.82 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from San Jose.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
35.93 mi
Kilometers
57.82 km
Flight Time
00h 04m

Driving Distance

Road route
39.9 mi
Kilometers
64.21 km
Drive Time
00h 51m

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 51m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Alameda
Thu, Apr 16, 10:01 PM PDT
Return by in San Jose
Thu, Apr 16, 10:53 PM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave San Jose
2026-04-16T21:10
Arrive Alameda
Thu, Apr 16, 10:01 PM PDT
Route Timing
00h 51m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:51 AM to 10:51 AM PDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
4:48 PM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in San Jose
9:30 PM PDT
Morning start is best

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.

Mid-route stop
Union City
CA

A city in Placer County, California.

From San Jose
19.9 mi
00h 25m
To Alameda
19.9 mi
00h 25m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
68°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
3 to 12 mph NNW
Destination
68°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
2 to 10 mph NNW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between San Jose and Alameda.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between San Jose and Alameda.

  1. 1

    Start on North Market Street

    60 m · 9 sec · North Market Street

  2. 2

    Continue on Coleman Avenue

    1.4 mi · 3 min · Coleman Avenue

  3. 3

    Take the ramp right toward I 880 North: Oakland

    1675 ft · 43 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left

    8.5 mi · 10 min

  5. 5

    Keep slight right to continue on Nimitz Freeway

    12.6 mi · 15 min · Nimitz Freeway

  6. 6

    Keep slight left

    14.7 mi · 16 min

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward 29th Avenue, Fruitvale Avenue

    802 ft · 23 sec

  8. 8

    At the end of the road, turn left onto 29th Avenue

    828 ft · 22 sec · 29th Avenue

  9. 9

    Turn right onto Ford Street

    109 m · 14 sec · Ford Street

  10. 10

    Turn sharp left onto 23rd Avenue

    574 ft · 12 sec · 23rd Avenue

  11. 11

    Continue on Park Street Bridge

    1.1 km · 2 min · Park Street Bridge

  12. 12

    Turn right onto Central Avenue

    2317 ft · 2 min · Central Avenue

  13. 13

    Turn left onto Willow Street

    110 m · 14 sec · Willow Street

  14. 14

    Turn right onto Alameda Avenue

    1 km · 2 min · Alameda Avenue

  15. 15

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Alameda Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between San Jose and Alameda.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
15 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
37.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Nimitz Freeway
27.3 mi · 68%
I 880 North
8.86 mi · 22%
Coleman Avenue
1.42 mi · 4%
Park Street Bridge
0.66 mi · 2%
Alameda Avenue
0.65 mi · 2%
Central Avenue
0.44 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Nimitz Freeway

Keep slight left

14.7 mi · 00h 16m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
00h 51m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 42m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+4 mi
35.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Union City
00h 25m from San Jose
Leave By
4:48 PM PDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving San Jose and Sunny near Alameda.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from San Jose to Alameda?

The road trip is about 39.9 miles (64.2 km) and usually takes 00h 51m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Union City is a useful midpoint, sitting about 19.9 miles from San Jose and 19.9 miles from Alameda.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 35.9 miles (57.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 4 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:48 PM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $8.13 one way or $16.27 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 12.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around San Jose and Sunny near Alameda.

Stop Ideas Near Union City

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Union City, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Union City.

RAIL

Fremont station

8 mi away
37260 Fremont Blvd.
RAIL

Hayward station

8 mi away
22555 Meekland Avenue
BUS

Fremont (San Joaquin Buses), California

15 mi away
999 Upper Mission Blvd
RAIL

Pleasanton, CA

19 mi away
4950 Pleasanton Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between San Jose and Alameda. Straight-line distance: 35.93 mi (57.82 km).

San Jose

#1 San Jose

The tenth most populous city in the United States and the center of the San Jose metropolitan area.

Population1,013,616
Coordinates37.3393900, -121.8949600
Altitude26
CountryUnited States
Alameda

#2 Alameda

A city in Alameda County, California.

Population78,841
Coordinates37.7709900, -122.2608700
Altitude10
CountryUnited States
Start: San Jose (-121.89496, 37.33939)
End: Alameda (-122.26087, 37.77099)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 64 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 19m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 59m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 47m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 39m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 34m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 29m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.41 gal
5.33 L · about $8.13
Round trip
$16.27
2.82 gal · 10.66 L
Estimated CO2
12.5 kg one way
Round trip: 25.1 kg / 55 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $8.13 $16.27
Mid-grade $6.07 $8.55 $17.11
Premium $6.24 $8.80 $17.61
Diesel $7.57 $10.67 $21.34

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 · Apr 17, 2026

There is no time difference between San Jose and Alameda. The current time is 21:10:29.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.