How far is San Jose, CA from Chester, CA?
The driving distance from San Jose, CA to Chester, CA is about 256.7 miles (413.1 km), with a travel time of about 05h 25m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 208.1 miles (334.9 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 51m 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 25m.
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.
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 Chester.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Jose and Chester.
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1
Start on North Market Street
60 m · 9 sec · North Market Street
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2
Continue on Coleman Avenue
1.4 mi · 3 min · Coleman Avenue
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3
Take the ramp right toward I 880 North: Oakland
1675 ft · 43 sec
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4
Merge slight left
8.5 mi · 10 min
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5
Keep slight right to continue on Nimitz Freeway
3139 ft · 41 sec · Nimitz Freeway
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6
Take the exit slight right toward Sacramento
1.6 mi · 2 min
-
7
Take the exit straight toward I 680 North: Sacramento
1012 ft · 25 sec
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8
Keep slight left to continue on I 680 North: Sacramento
1618 ft · 41 sec
-
9
Merge slight left
37.3 mi · 43 min
-
10
Keep slight left to continue on Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
6 mi · 7 min · Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
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11
Keep slight left to continue on Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
74 m · 3 sec · Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
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12
Keep slight right to continue on Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
1.8 mi · 2 min · Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
-
13
Keep slight right to continue on Benicia-Martinez Bridge
2053 ft · 27 sec · Benicia-Martinez Bridge
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14
Continue on Luther E Gibson Freeway
12 mi · 14 min · Luther E Gibson Freeway
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15
Keep slight right to continue on I 80 East, CA 12 East: Fairfield, Sacramento
2286 ft · 56 sec
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16
Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
1.7 mi · 2 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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17
Keep slight left to continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
27.3 mi · 31 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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18
Keep slight right to continue on Vic Fazio Highway
11.1 mi · 13 min · Vic Fazio Highway
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19
Take the exit slight right toward I 5 South: Main Street
2452 ft · 1 min
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20
Turn right onto East Main Street
1.1 mi · 2 min · East Main Street
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21
Turn left onto County Road 102
69 m · 10 sec · County Road 102
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22
Continue on County Road 102
7.9 mi · 11 min · County Road 102
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23
Continue straight
17.4 mi · 23 min
-
24
Take the ramp right toward CA 99 North: Yuba City
990 ft · 27 sec
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25
Merge slight left
53.5 mi · 1 hr 9 min
-
26
Take the exit slight right toward CA 32: Orland, Chester
857 ft · 15 sec
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27
Turn right onto Deer Creek Highway
52.3 mi · 1 hr 10 min · Deer Creek Highway
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28
At the end of the road, turn right onto State Highway 36 East
12.6 mi · 18 min · State Highway 36 East
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29
Turn right onto Aspen Street
8 m · 1 sec · Aspen Street
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30
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Aspen Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between San Jose and Chester.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
CA 99 North
Merge slight left
53.5 mi · 01h 09m
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.
Sunny leaving San Jose and Sunny near Chester.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from San Jose to Chester?
The road trip is about 256.7 miles (413.1 km) and usually takes 05h 25m 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?
South Yuba City is a useful midpoint, sitting about 128.2 miles from San Jose and 128.6 miles from Chester.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 208.1 miles (334.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 48.6 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 8:00 AM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 6:08 AM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $56.72 one way or $113.45 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 80.5 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around San Jose and Sunny near Chester.
Stop Ideas Near South Yuba City
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Denny's
Pilot Travel Center
Woodland Purchasing
Dunnigan Fire Protection District - Station 12
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to South Yuba City.
Marysville, California
Oroville, California
Rocklin
Grass Valley, California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between San Jose and Chester. Straight-line distance: 208.07 mi (334.86 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 Chester
Situated in northeastern California at an elevation of 4,534 feet, this Plumas County town lies on the northwestern shore of Lake Almanor.
| Population | 0 |
| Coordinates | 40.3062700, -121.2319100 |
| Altitude | 1382 |
| Country | United States |
End: Chester (-121.23191, 40.30627)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 413 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 08h 33m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 06h 25m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 05h 08m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 04h 16m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 03h 40m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 12m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $6.26 | $56.72 | $113.45 |
| Mid-grade | $6.50 | $58.88 | $117.76 |
| Premium | $6.69 | $60.60 | $121.20 |
| Diesel | $8.41 | $76.22 | $152.44 |
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 · Oct 15, 2026