How far is San Jose, CA from Blue Lake, CA?
The driving distance from San Jose, CA to Blue Lake, CA is about 331.8 miles (534 km), with a travel time of about 06h 49m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 269.2 miles (433.2 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 13h 38m 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 49m.
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 Mendocino County, California
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Patchy Fog then Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between San Jose and Blue Lake.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Jose and Blue Lake.
-
1
Start on North Market Street
60 m · 9 sec · North Market Street
-
2
Continue on Coleman Avenue
1.4 mi · 3 min · Coleman Avenue
-
3
Take the ramp right toward I 880 North: Oakland
1675 ft · 43 sec
-
4
Merge slight left
8.5 mi · 10 min
-
5
Keep slight right to continue on Nimitz Freeway
12.6 mi · 15 min · Nimitz Freeway
-
6
Keep slight left
17.8 mi · 21 min
-
7
Keep slight left to continue on Nimitz Freeway
2.3 mi · 3 min · Nimitz Freeway
-
8
Continue on Nimitz Freeway
1.9 mi · 3 min · Nimitz Freeway
-
9
Continue on Eastshore Freeway
3.3 mi · 4 min · Eastshore Freeway
-
10
Keep slight right to continue on John T. Knox Freeway
12.9 mi · 17 min · John T. Knox Freeway
-
11
Keep slight left to continue on US 101 North: San Rafeal
1.1 km · 54 sec
-
12
Merge slight left onto Redwood Highway
116.3 mi · 2 hr 18 min · Redwood Highway
-
13
Continue on Willits Bypass
4.5 mi · 5 min · Willits Bypass
-
14
Take the exit slight right
1.1 km · 48 sec
-
15
Merge slight left onto Willits Bypass
1236 ft · 16 sec · Willits Bypass
-
16
Continue on Redwood Highway
128.9 mi · 2 hr 38 min · Redwood Highway
-
17
Continue on Broadway Street
2.9 mi · 6 min · Broadway Street
-
18
Turn right onto West 5th Street
1.4 mi · 4 min · West 5th Street
-
19
Continue on Redwood Highway
8.7 mi · 12 min · Redwood Highway
-
20
Take the exit slight right toward CA 299 East: Blue Lake, Willow Creek
1744 ft · 43 sec
-
21
Continue straight
5.1 mi · 6 min
-
22
Take the exit slight right
49 m · 4 sec
-
23
Continue straight
682 ft · 17 sec
-
24
Keep slight right
124 m · 11 sec
-
25
Continue on Blue Lake Boulevard
125 m · 11 sec · Blue Lake Boulevard
-
26
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Blue Lake Boulevard
25 m · 2 sec · Blue Lake Boulevard
-
27
Exit the roundabout onto Blue Lake Boulevard
1.1 km · 2 min · Blue Lake Boulevard
-
28
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Blue Lake Boulevard
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between San Jose and Blue Lake.
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.
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 Patchy Fog then Sunny near Blue Lake.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from San Jose to Blue Lake?
The road trip is about 331.8 miles (534 km) and usually takes 06h 49m 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?
Ukiah is a useful midpoint, sitting about 165.9 miles from San Jose and 165.8 miles from Blue Lake.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 269.2 miles (433.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 62.6 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 $67.55 one way or $135.11 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 104.1 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around San Jose and Patchy Fog then Sunny near Blue Lake.
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 San Jose and Blue Lake. Straight-line distance: 269.21 mi (433.25 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 Blue Lake
City in California
| Population | 1,244 |
| Coordinates | 40.8829100, -123.9839500 |
| Altitude | 40 |
| Country | United States |
End: Blue Lake (-123.98395, 40.88291)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 534 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 11h 03m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 08h 17m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 38m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 31m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 44m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 08m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $67.55 | $135.11 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $71.03 | $142.07 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $73.11 | $146.21 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $88.61 | $177.22 |
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.