How far is San Jose, CA from Altadena, CA?
The driving distance from San Jose, CA to Altadena, CA is about 340.9 miles (548.7 km), with a travel time of about 06h 27m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 303 miles (487.7 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 54m 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 06h 27m.
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.
Census-designated place in Kings 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 San Jose and Altadena.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Jose and Altadena.
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1
Start on North Market Street
33 m · 6 sec · North Market Street
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2
Turn right onto Devine Street
84 m · 18 sec · Devine Street
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3
Turn left onto North San Pedro Street
93 m · 18 sec · North San Pedro Street
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4
Turn right onto West Saint James Street
602 ft · 16 sec · West Saint James Street
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5
Continue on West Julian Street
109 m · 7 sec · West Julian Street
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6
Take the ramp slight right toward CA 87 South
1213 ft · 32 sec
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7
Merge slight left onto Guadalupe Freeway
1.4 mi · 2 min · Guadalupe Freeway
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8
Continue on Guadalupe Parkway
4.1 mi · 5 min · Guadalupe Parkway
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9
Take the exit slight right toward Santa Teresa Boulevard
2182 ft · 31 sec
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10
Continue on Santa Teresa Boulevard
673 ft · 23 sec · Santa Teresa Boulevard
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11
Turn left onto CA 85 South
1533 ft · 41 sec
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12
Merge slight left
4.7 mi · 5 min
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13
Continue on US 101 South
1922 ft · 27 sec
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14
Continue straight
20.3 mi · 23 min
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15
Take the exit slight right toward CA 152 East: 10th Street, Pacheco Pass Road
1539 ft · 40 sec
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16
Turn left onto East 10th Street
108 m · 13 sec · East 10th Street
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17
Continue on Pacheco Pass Highway
40.6 mi · 50 min · Pacheco Pass Highway
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18
Take the exit slight right toward I 5: Los Angeles
3148 ft · 1 min
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19
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
181.1 mi · 3 hr 14 min · Westside Freeway
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20
Keep slight right
58.4 mi · 1 hr 7 min
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21
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
2 mi · 2 min · Golden State Freeway
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22
Take the exit slight right toward I 210 East: Pasadena
1347 ft · 18 sec
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23
Continue on Foothill Freeway
22.3 mi · 26 min · Foothill Freeway
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24
Take the exit slight right toward Arroyo Boulevard, Windsor Avenue
1203 ft · 31 sec
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25
Turn left onto Arroyo Boulevard
130 m · 18 sec · Arroyo Boulevard
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26
Continue on Windsor Avenue
159 m · 14 sec · Windsor Avenue
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27
Turn right onto West Woodbury Road
1.3 mi · 3 min · West Woodbury Road
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28
Turn left onto North Marengo Avenue
1.1 km · 2 min · North Marengo Avenue
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29
Turn right onto East Altadena Drive
3197 ft · 1 min · East Altadena Drive
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30
Turn right onto North Lake Avenue
47 m · 4 sec · North Lake Avenue
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31
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · North Lake Avenue
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between San Jose and Altadena.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Westside Freeway
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
181 mi · 03h 14m
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.
Sunny leaving San Jose and Sunny near Altadena.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from San Jose to Altadena?
The road trip is about 340.9 miles (548.7 km) and usually takes 06h 27m 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?
Kettleman City is a useful midpoint, sitting about 170.5 miles from San Jose and 170.4 miles from Altadena.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 303 miles (487.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 37.9 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 $69.40 one way or $138.80 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 106.9 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around San Jose and Sunny near Altadena.
Stop Ideas Near Kettleman City
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 Kettleman City.
Kettleman City, California
Lemoore, California
Corcoran station
Lemoore (Naval Air Station), California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between San Jose and Altadena. Straight-line distance: 303.07 mi (487.74 km).
#1 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 |
#2 Altadena
Census-designated place in Los Angeles County, California, United States
| Population | 42,777 |
| Coordinates | 34.1897300, -118.1311800 |
| Altitude | 414 |
| Country | United States |
End: Altadena (-118.13118, 34.18973)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 549 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 11h 21m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 08h 31m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 49m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 40m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 52m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 15m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $69.40 | $138.80 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $72.97 | $145.95 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $75.10 | $150.21 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $91.03 | $182.06 |
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 15, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.