How far is San Jose, CA from Capitola, CA?
The driving distance from San Jose, CA to Capitola, CA is about 35 miles (56.4 km), with a travel time of about 00h 48m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 25.4 miles (40.8 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 36m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT.
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.
This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.
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 00h 48m.
A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.
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 California, USA
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 Capitola.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Jose and Capitola.
-
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
2588 ft · 34 sec · Guadalupe Freeway
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8
Take the exit slight right toward I 280 South, I 280 North: San Francisco
987 ft · 24 sec
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9
Keep slight right to continue on I 280 North: San Francisco
2182 ft · 53 sec
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10
Merge slight left onto Sinclair Freeway
2.1 mi · 2 min · Sinclair Freeway
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11
Take the exit slight right toward CA 17 South, I 880 North: Santa Cruz, Oakland
901 ft · 15 sec
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12
Keep slight left to continue on CA 17 South: Santa Cruz
3242 ft · 1 min
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13
Merge slight left
25.9 mi · 34 min
-
14
Take the exit slight right toward Watsonville, Monterey
1724 ft · 22 sec
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15
Continue on Cabrillo Highway
2243 ft · 55 sec · Cabrillo Highway
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16
Merge slight right onto Cabrillo Highway
3.1 mi · 4 min · Cabrillo Highway
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17
Take the exit slight right toward Bay Avenue, Porter Street
576 ft · 17 sec
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18
Turn right onto Bay Avenue
1875 ft · 42 sec · Bay Avenue
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19
Turn right onto Capitola Avenue
1367 ft · 44 sec · Capitola Avenue
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20
Turn left onto Riverview Drive
21 m · 5 sec · Riverview Drive
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21
Keep slight left to continue on Riverview Drive
58 m · 15 sec · Riverview Drive
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22
Continue on Riverview Drive
24 m · 5 sec · Riverview Drive
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23
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Riverview Drive
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between San Jose and Capitola.
Turn-heavy local drive
The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.
CA 17 South
Merge slight left
25.9 mi · 00h 34m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Sunny leaving San Jose and Sunny near Capitola.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from San Jose to Capitola?
The road trip is about 35 miles (56.4 km) and usually takes 00h 48m 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?
Lexington Hills is a useful midpoint, sitting about 17.5 miles from San Jose and 17.5 miles from Capitola.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 25.4 miles (40.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 9.6 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:54 PM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $7.15 one way or $14.31 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 11 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around San Jose and Sunny near Capitola.
Stop Ideas Near Lexington Hills
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
First Capitola City Hall
City of Santa Clara
San José City Hall
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Lexington Hills.
Scotts Valley, California
San Jose Diridon station
Santa Clara station
Santa Cruz (Metro Center), California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between San Jose and Capitola. Straight-line distance: 25.36 mi (40.82 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 Capitola
City in California
| Population | 9,959 |
| Coordinates | 36.9752300, -121.9532900 |
| Altitude | 4 |
| Country | United States |
End: Capitola (-121.95329, 36.97523)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 56 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 01h 10m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 00h 52m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 42m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 35m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 30m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 26m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $7.15 | $14.31 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $7.52 | $15.04 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $7.74 | $15.48 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $9.38 | $18.77 |
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 · Jun 02, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.