How far is San Jose, CA from Fort Irwin, CA?
The driving distance from San Jose, CA to Fort Irwin, CA is about 408.9 miles (658.1 km), with a travel time of about 07h 52m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 323.6 miles (520.8 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 15h 45m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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 07h 52m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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 Kern County, 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 Fort Irwin.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Jose and Fort Irwin.
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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
8.1 mi · 9 min · Barstow–Bakersfield Highway
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28
Continue on Mojave-Barstow Highway
26.9 mi · 30 min · Mojave-Barstow Highway
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29
Continue on Barstow-Bakersfield Highway
34.8 mi · 40 min · Barstow-Bakersfield Highway
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30
Keep slight left to continue on I 15 North: Las Vegas
1.2 mi · 1 min
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31
Merge slight left onto Barstow and Mojave Freeway
3.3 mi · 4 min · Barstow and Mojave Freeway
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32
Keep slight left to continue on Barstow and Mojave Freeway
5.3 mi · 6 min · Barstow and Mojave Freeway
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33
Take the exit slight right toward Fort Irwin Road
1217 ft · 35 sec
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34
Turn left onto Fort Irwin Road
22.2 mi · 27 min · Fort Irwin Road
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35
Keep slight right to continue on Truck Bypass
1.4 mi · 3 min · Truck Bypass
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36
Turn left
38 m · 8 sec
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37
Turn right onto Fort Irwin Road
6.4 mi · 9 min · Fort Irwin Road
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38
Continue on South Loop Road
1.5 mi · 3 min · South Loop Road
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39
Turn left onto 3rd Street
3179 ft · 2 min · 3rd Street
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40
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · 3rd Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between San Jose and Fort Irwin.
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.
Better with a longer stop
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
Sunny leaving San Jose and Sunny near Fort Irwin.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from San Jose to Fort Irwin?
The road trip is about 408.9 miles (658.1 km) and usually takes 07h 52m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Lost Hills is a useful midpoint, sitting about 204.2 miles from San Jose and 204.7 miles from Fort Irwin.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 323.6 miles (520.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 85.3 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 7:30 AM PDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $90.35 one way or $180.69 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 128.2 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around San Jose and Sunny near Fort Irwin.
Stop Ideas Near Lost Hills
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 Lost Hills.
Wasco station
Kettleman City, California
Corcoran station
Bakersfield
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between San Jose and Fort Irwin. Straight-line distance: 323.6 mi (520.78 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 Fort Irwin
Situated in the high Mojave Desert of San Bernardino County at an elevation of 2487 feet, this installation occupies vast, rugged terrain.
| Population | 0 |
| Coordinates | 35.2627500, -116.6847500 |
| Altitude | 758 |
| Country | United States |
End: Fort Irwin (-116.68475, 35.26275)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 658 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 13h 37m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 10h 13m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 08h 10m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 06h 48m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 05h 50m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 05h 06m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $6.26 | $90.35 | $180.69 |
| Mid-grade | $6.50 | $93.78 | $187.56 |
| Premium | $6.69 | $96.52 | $193.04 |
| Diesel | $8.41 | $121.40 | $242.80 |
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