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

The driving distance from San Jose, CA to Buttonwillow, CA is about 217 miles (349.2 km), with a travel time of about 04h 08m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 190.1 miles (306 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 16m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT.
Trip Tools

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.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
217 mi
04h 08m
Flight
190.13 mi
305.98 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from San Jose.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
190.13 mi
Kilometers
305.98 km
Flight Time
00h 22m

Driving Distance

Road route
217 mi
Kilometers
349.23 km
Drive Time
04h 08m

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 04h 08m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Buttonwillow
Thu, Apr 16, 5:11 PM PDT
Return by in San Jose
Thu, Apr 16, 9:19 PM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave San Jose
2026-04-16T13:02
Arrive Buttonwillow
Thu, Apr 16, 5:11 PM PDT
Route Timing
04h 08m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:08 AM to 12:08 PM PDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
8:44 AM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in San Jose
9:00 PM PDT
Early departure recommended

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
Mendota
CA

City in Illinois, United States

From San Jose
108.5 mi
02h 04m
To Buttonwillow
108.5 mi
02h 04m

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
74°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

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

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on North Market Street

    33 m · 6 sec · North Market Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Devine Street

    84 m · 18 sec · Devine Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto North San Pedro Street

    93 m · 18 sec · North San Pedro Street

  4. 4

    Turn right onto West Saint James Street

    602 ft · 16 sec · West Saint James Street

  5. 5

    Continue on West Julian Street

    109 m · 7 sec · West Julian Street

  6. 6

    Take the ramp slight right toward CA 87 South

    1213 ft · 32 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto Guadalupe Freeway

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Guadalupe Freeway

  8. 8

    Continue on Guadalupe Parkway

    4.1 mi · 5 min · Guadalupe Parkway

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward Santa Teresa Boulevard

    2182 ft · 31 sec

  10. 10

    Continue on Santa Teresa Boulevard

    673 ft · 23 sec · Santa Teresa Boulevard

  11. 11

    Turn left onto CA 85 South

    1533 ft · 41 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left

    4.7 mi · 5 min

  13. 13

    Continue on US 101 South

    1922 ft · 27 sec

  14. 14

    Continue straight

    20.3 mi · 23 min

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward CA 152 East: 10th Street, Pacheco Pass Road

    1539 ft · 40 sec

  16. 16

    Turn left onto East 10th Street

    108 m · 13 sec · East 10th Street

  17. 17

    Continue on Pacheco Pass Highway

    40.6 mi · 50 min · Pacheco Pass Highway

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward I 5: Los Angeles

    3148 ft · 1 min

  19. 19

    Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway

    138.9 mi · 2 hr 29 min · Westside Freeway

  20. 20

    Take the exit slight right toward Buttonwillow, McKittrick

    2040 ft · 50 sec

  21. 21

    Turn straight onto Buttonwillow Drive

    3.6 mi · 6 min · Buttonwillow Drive

  22. 22

    Turn left onto West 1st Street

    1370 ft · 1 min · West 1st Street

  23. 23

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East 1st Street

Car Route Details

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

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
23 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
3 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Westside Freeway
139 mi · 64%
Pacheco Pass Highway
40.6 mi · 19%
US 101 South
20.6 mi · 10%
CA 85 South
4.99 mi · 2%
Guadalupe Parkway
4.09 mi · 2%
Buttonwillow Drive
3.6 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Westside Freeway

Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway

139 mi · 02h 29m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
04h 08m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 16m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+26.9 mi
190.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Mendota
02h 04m from San Jose
Leave By
8:44 AM PDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving San Jose and Mostly Sunny near Buttonwillow.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 217 miles (349.2 km) and usually takes 04h 08m 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?

Mendota is a useful midpoint, sitting about 108.5 miles from San Jose and 108.5 miles from Buttonwillow.

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

The direct path is about 190.1 miles (306 km), while the road route adds roughly 26.9 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 8:00 AM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 8:44 AM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $44.19 one way or $88.38 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 68.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Mendota

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Mendota, 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 Mendota.

RAIL

Madera

41 mi away
Avenue 15 1/2 at 29th Road
RAIL

Fresno station

53 mi away
2650 Tulare St.
BUS

Lemoore (Naval Air Station), California

60 mi away
25th Ave and Highway 198
RAIL

Merced station

62 mi away
324 West 24th St

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between San Jose and Buttonwillow. Straight-line distance: 190.13 mi (305.98 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
Buttonwillow

#2 Buttonwillow

Place in Kern County California

Population1,508
Coordinates35.4005200, -119.4695600
Altitude82
CountryUnited States
Start: San Jose (-121.89496, 37.33939)
End: Buttonwillow (-119.46956, 35.40052)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 349 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 13m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 25m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 20m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 37m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 06m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 42m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.66 gal
28.99 L · about $44.19
Round trip
$88.38
15.32 gal · 57.98 L
Estimated CO2
68.1 kg one way
Round trip: 136.1 kg / 300 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $44.19 $88.38
Mid-grade $6.07 $46.47 $92.93
Premium $6.24 $47.82 $95.64
Diesel $7.57 $57.96 $115.93

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 16, 2026

There is no time difference between San Jose and Buttonwillow. The current time is 13:02:55.

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.