How far is San Jose, CA from Fortuna, CA?
The driving distance from San Jose, CA to Fortuna, CA is about 298.7 miles (480.7 km), with a travel time of about 06h 04m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 255.8 miles (411.7 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 09m 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 06h 04m.
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 Mendocino County, California
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Chance Light Rain
Patchy Fog
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between San Jose and Fortuna.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Jose and Fortuna.
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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
12.6 mi · 15 min · Nimitz Freeway
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6
Keep slight left
17.8 mi · 21 min
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7
Keep slight left to continue on Nimitz Freeway
2.3 mi · 3 min · Nimitz Freeway
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8
Continue on Nimitz Freeway
1.9 mi · 3 min · Nimitz Freeway
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9
Continue on Eastshore Freeway
3.3 mi · 4 min · Eastshore Freeway
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10
Keep slight right to continue on John T. Knox Freeway
12.9 mi · 17 min · John T. Knox Freeway
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11
Keep slight left to continue on US 101 North: San Rafeal
1.1 km · 54 sec
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12
Merge slight left onto Redwood Highway
116.3 mi · 2 hr 18 min · Redwood Highway
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13
Continue on Willits Bypass
4.5 mi · 5 min · Willits Bypass
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14
Take the exit slight right
1.1 km · 48 sec
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15
Merge slight left onto Willits Bypass
1236 ft · 16 sec · Willits Bypass
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16
Continue on Redwood Highway
114.1 mi · 2 hr 21 min · Redwood Highway
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17
Take the exit slight right toward 12th Street
975 ft · 24 sec
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18
Continue on 12th Street
1.1 km · 2 min · 12th Street
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19
Turn left onto Main Street
859 ft · 34 sec · Main Street
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20
Turn right onto 9th Street
45 m · 9 sec · 9th Street
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21
Turn right
24 m · 6 sec
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22
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between San Jose and Fortuna.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
Redwood Highway
Merge slight left onto Redwood Highway
116 mi · 02h 18m
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.
Chance Light Rain leaving San Jose and Patchy Fog near Fortuna.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from San Jose to Fortuna?
The road trip is about 298.7 miles (480.7 km) and usually takes 06h 04m 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?
Talmage is a useful midpoint, sitting about 149.4 miles from San Jose and 149.3 miles from Fortuna.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 255.8 miles (411.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 42.9 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 $60.81 one way or $121.61 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 93.7 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Chance Light Rain around San Jose and Patchy Fog near Fortuna.
Stop Ideas Near Talmage
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
City of Ten Thousand Buddhas
Ukiah Parks & Recreation Department
Elks Lodge
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Talmage.
Ukiah, California
Willits, California
Cloverdale, California
Healdsburg (Singletree Inn), California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between San Jose and Fortuna. Straight-line distance: 255.84 mi (411.74 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 Fortuna
City in the United States of America
| Population | 12,107 |
| Coordinates | 40.5981900, -124.1572800 |
| Altitude | 20 |
| Country | United States |
End: Fortuna (-124.15728, 40.59819)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 481 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 09h 57m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 07h 28m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 05h 58m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 04h 58m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 16m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 43m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $60.81 | $121.61 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $63.94 | $127.87 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $65.80 | $131.60 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $79.76 | $159.51 |
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.