How far is San Jose, CA from California City, CA?
The driving distance from San Jose, CA to California City, CA is about 309.6 miles (498.2 km), with a travel time of about 05h 56m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 266.1 miles (428.3 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 52m 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 05h 56m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
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 Kings County, California, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Chance Light Rain
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between San Jose and California City.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Jose and California City.
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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
149.3 mi · 2 hr 40 min · Westside Freeway
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20
Take the exit slight right toward Stockdale Highway
1185 ft · 36 sec
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21
Turn left onto Stockdale Highway
4.8 mi · 7 min · Stockdale Highway
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22
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Stockdale Highway
39 m · 2 sec · Stockdale Highway
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23
Exit the roundabout onto Stockdale Highway
4.3 mi · 6 min · Stockdale Highway
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24
Continue on Westside Parkway
6.7 mi · 8 min · Westside Parkway
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25
Continue on Centennial Corridor
2.8 mi · 3 min · Centennial Corridor
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26
Continue on Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway
54.8 mi · 1 hr 3 min · Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway
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27
Continue on Barstow–Bakersfield Highway
2.2 mi · 3 min · Barstow–Bakersfield Highway
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28
Take the exit slight right toward CA 14: Bishop, Mojave
2375 ft · 56 sec
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29
Merge slight right onto Aerospace Highway
1.9 mi · 2 min · Aerospace Highway
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30
Take the exit slight right toward California City Boulevard
1757 ft · 23 sec
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31
Keep slight right
125 m · 6 sec
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32
Turn straight onto California City Boulevard
7.7 mi · 11 min · California City Boulevard
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33
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · California City Boulevard
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between San Jose and California City.
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
149 mi · 02h 40m
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.
Chance Light Rain leaving San Jose and Mostly Sunny near California City.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from San Jose to California City?
The road trip is about 309.6 miles (498.2 km) and usually takes 05h 56m 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?
Avenal is a useful midpoint, sitting about 154.7 miles from San Jose and 154.8 miles from California City.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 266.1 miles (428.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 43.5 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 5:08 AM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $63.00 one way or $125.99 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 97 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Chance Light Rain around San Jose and Mostly Sunny near California City.
Stop Ideas Near Avenal
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 Avenal.
Kettleman City, California
Lemoore, California
Lemoore (Naval Air Station), California
Corcoran station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between San Jose and California City. Straight-line distance: 266.15 mi (428.32 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 California City
City in Kern County, California
| Population | 14,198 |
| Coordinates | 35.1258000, -117.9859000 |
| Altitude | 733 |
| Country | United States |
End: California City (-117.9859, 35.1258)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 498 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 10h 18m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 07h 44m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 11m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 09m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 25m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 51m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $63.00 | $125.99 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $66.24 | $132.48 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $68.17 | $136.35 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $82.63 | $165.26 |
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 19, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.