How far is San Jose, CA from Grass Valley, CA?
The driving distance from San Jose, CA to Grass Valley, CA is about 173 miles (278.4 km), with a travel time of about 03h 28m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 137.5 miles (221.3 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 57m 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 28m.
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.
The most populous city in Solano 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 Grass Valley.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Jose and Grass Valley.
-
1
Start on North Market Street
60 m · 9 sec · North Market Street
-
2
Continue on Coleman Avenue
1.4 mi · 3 min · Coleman Avenue
-
3
Take the ramp right toward I 880 North: Oakland
1675 ft · 43 sec
-
4
Merge slight left
8.5 mi · 10 min
-
5
Keep slight right to continue on Nimitz Freeway
3139 ft · 41 sec · Nimitz Freeway
-
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
-
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
-
11
Keep slight left to continue on Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
74 m · 3 sec · Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
-
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
-
14
Continue on Luther E Gibson Freeway
12 mi · 14 min · Luther E Gibson Freeway
-
15
Keep slight right to continue on I 80 East, CA 12 East: Fairfield, Sacramento
2286 ft · 56 sec
-
16
Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
1.7 mi · 2 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
-
17
Keep slight left to continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
27.3 mi · 31 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
-
18
Keep slight left to continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
8.4 mi · 10 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
-
19
Continue on Yolo Causeway
3.7 mi · 4 min · Yolo Causeway
-
20
Keep slight right to continue on North Sacramento Beltline Freeway
12.5 mi · 14 min · North Sacramento Beltline Freeway
-
21
Keep slight left to continue on North Sacramento Beltline Freeway
1.3 km · 55 sec · North Sacramento Beltline Freeway
-
22
Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
7 mi · 8 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
-
23
Continue on Alan S. Hart Freeway
16.9 mi · 19 min · Alan S. Hart Freeway
-
24
Take the exit slight right toward CA 49 North: Grass Valley, Placerville
943 ft · 31 sec
-
25
Turn left onto Grass Valley Highway
5.8 mi · 9 min · Grass Valley Highway
-
26
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Grass Valley Highway
36 m · 3 sec · Grass Valley Highway
-
27
Exit the roundabout onto Grass Valley Highway
1.3 mi · 2 min · Grass Valley Highway
-
28
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Grass Valley Highway
36 m · 3 sec · Grass Valley Highway
-
29
Exit the roundabout onto Grass Valley Highway
1.1 mi · 1 min · Grass Valley Highway
-
30
Continue on State Highway 49
14.8 mi · 20 min · State Highway 49
-
31
Take the exit slight right toward CA 174
993 ft · 14 sec
-
32
Keep slight left to continue on CA 174
51 m · 5 sec
-
33
Turn left onto South Auburn Street
1297 ft · 33 sec · South Auburn Street
-
34
Turn right onto East Main Street
104 m · 10 sec · East Main Street
-
35
Turn right onto Stewart Street
36 m · 5 sec · Stewart Street
-
36
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Stewart Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between San Jose and Grass Valley.
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 Grass Valley.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from San Jose to Grass Valley?
The road trip is about 173 miles (278.4 km) and usually takes 03h 28m 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?
Vacaville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 86.5 miles from San Jose and 86.5 miles from Grass Valley.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 137.5 miles (221.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 35.5 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 10:02 AM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $35.25 one way or $70.50 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 54.3 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around San Jose and Sunny near Grass Valley.
Stop Ideas Near Vacaville
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Hall Park Off Leash Dog Park
Vacaville Sewer Department
Lillard Hall
Dixon City Hall
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Vacaville.
Suisun–Fairfield station
Davis station
Marine World (Seasonal), Vallejo, California
Rio Vista, CA
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between San Jose and Grass Valley. Straight-line distance: 137.52 mi (221.32 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 Grass Valley
City in Nevada County, California, United States
| Population | 12,763 |
| Coordinates | 39.2190600, -121.0610600 |
| Altitude | 735 |
| Country | United States |
End: Grass Valley (-121.06106, 39.21906)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 278 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 05h 45m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 04h 19m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 03h 27m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 02h 52m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 02h 28m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 02h 09m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $35.25 | $70.50 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $37.06 | $74.13 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $38.14 | $76.29 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $46.23 | $92.47 |
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.