How far is San Jose, CA from Clearlake, CA?
The driving distance from San Jose, CA to Clearlake, CA is about 144.2 miles (232.1 km), with a travel time of about 03h 03m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 118.7 miles (191 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 07m 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 03h 03m.
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 Napa Valley, California
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 Clearlake.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Jose and Clearlake.
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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
-
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
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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
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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
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13
Keep slight left to continue on I 780: Benicia
6.7 mi · 8 min
-
14
Take the exit slight right toward I 80 East: Sacramento
1379 ft · 34 sec
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15
Keep slight left to continue on I 80 East: Sacramento
137 m · 11 sec
-
16
Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
2.7 mi · 3 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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17
Take the exit slight right toward CA 37: Napa, Novato, Auto Mall, Columbus Parkway
752 ft · 18 sec
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18
Keep slight left to continue on CA 37: Napa
2517 ft · 1 min
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19
Continue on CA 37
1.5 mi · 2 min
-
20
Take the exit slight right toward CA 29: Napa, Sonoma Boulevard
1912 ft · 51 sec
-
21
Turn right onto Sonoma Boulevard
1.6 mi · 2 min · Sonoma Boulevard
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22
Continue on Broadway Street
4 mi · 5 min · Broadway Street
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23
Continue on Napa–Vallejo Highway
1.3 mi · 2 min · Napa–Vallejo Highway
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24
Continue on Saint Helena Highway
21.7 mi · 26 min · Saint Helena Highway
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25
Continue on Main Street
2.4 mi · 3 min · Main Street
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26
Continue on Saint Helena Highway
6.8 mi · 8 min · Saint Helena Highway
-
27
Turn right onto Lincoln Avenue
1 mi · 2 min · Lincoln Avenue
-
28
Continue on Lake County Highway
20.5 mi · 31 min · Lake County Highway
-
29
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
73 m · 4 sec
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30
Exit the roundabout
10.4 mi · 15 min
-
31
Continue straight
3.6 mi · 5 min
-
32
Turn left onto Polk Avenue
101 m · 18 sec · Polk Avenue
-
33
Turn left onto Lincoln Avenue
651 ft · 29 sec · Lincoln Avenue
-
34
Continue on Duncan Avenue
850 ft · 37 sec · Duncan Avenue
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35
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Duncan Avenue
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between San Jose and Clearlake.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
I 680 North
Merge slight left
37.3 mi · 00h 43m
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 Clearlake.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from San Jose to Clearlake?
The road trip is about 144.2 miles (232.1 km) and usually takes 03h 03m 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?
American Canyon is a useful midpoint, sitting about 72.1 miles from San Jose and 72.1 miles from Clearlake.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 118.7 miles (191 km), while the road route adds roughly 25.5 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 10:52 AM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $29.36 one way or $58.73 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 45.2 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around San Jose and Sunny near Clearlake.
Stop Ideas Near American Canyon
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 American Canyon.
Marine World (Seasonal), Vallejo, California
Vallejo, California
Martinez station
Suisun–Fairfield station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between San Jose and Clearlake. Straight-line distance: 118.7 mi (191.03 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 Clearlake
City in California
| Population | 15,179 |
| Coordinates | 38.9582300, -122.6263700 |
| Altitude | 432 |
| Country | United States |
End: Clearlake (-122.62637, 38.95823)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 232 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 04h 48m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 03h 36m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 02h 53m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 02h 24m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 02h 03m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 01h 47m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $29.36 | $58.73 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $30.88 | $61.75 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $31.78 | $63.55 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $38.52 | $77.03 |
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 23, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.