How far is San Jose, CA from Hercules, CA?

The driving distance from San Jose, CA to Hercules, CA is about 60.7 miles (97.7 km), with a travel time of about 01h 14m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 51.5 miles (82.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 29m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
60.72 mi
01h 14m
Flight
51.54 mi
82.94 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from San Jose.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
51.54 mi
Kilometers
82.94 km
Flight Time
00h 06m

Driving Distance

Road route
60.72 mi
Kilometers
97.72 km
Drive Time
01h 14m

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 01h 14m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Hercules
Wed, Apr 22, 10:21 PM PDT
Return by in San Jose
Wed, Apr 22, 11:36 PM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave San Jose
2026-04-22T21:07
Arrive Hercules
Wed, Apr 22, 10:21 PM PDT
Route Timing
01h 14m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:15 AM to 11:15 AM PDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
4:00 PM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in San Jose
9:30 PM PDT
Morning start is best

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.

Mid-route stop
Ashland
CA

City in Boyd County, Kentucky, United States

From San Jose
30.4 mi
00h 37m
To Hercules
30.3 mi
00h 37m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
64°F
Wednesday

Chance Light Rain

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
5 to 8 mph WSW
Destination
63°F
Wednesday

Chance Light Rain

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
7 to 10 mph WSW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between San Jose and Hercules.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between San Jose and Hercules.

  1. 1

    Start on North Market Street

    60 m · 9 sec · North Market Street

  2. 2

    Continue on Coleman Avenue

    1.4 mi · 3 min · Coleman Avenue

  3. 3

    Take the ramp right toward I 880 North: Oakland

    1675 ft · 43 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left

    8.5 mi · 10 min

  5. 5

    Keep slight right to continue on Nimitz Freeway

    12.6 mi · 15 min · Nimitz Freeway

  6. 6

    Keep slight left

    17.8 mi · 21 min

  7. 7

    Keep slight left to continue on Nimitz Freeway

    2.3 mi · 3 min · Nimitz Freeway

  8. 8

    Continue on Nimitz Freeway

    1.9 mi · 3 min · Nimitz Freeway

  9. 9

    Continue on Eastshore Freeway

    3.3 mi · 4 min · Eastshore Freeway

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on Eastshore Freeway

    7.4 mi · 9 min · Eastshore Freeway

  11. 11

    Continue on Eastshore Freeway

    3.2 mi · 4 min · Eastshore Freeway

  12. 12

    Continue on Linus F. Claeys Freeway

    598 ft · 8 sec · Linus F. Claeys Freeway

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward CA 4 East: Stockton, Hercules

    734 ft · 18 sec

  14. 14

    Keep slight right to continue on Hercules, Willow Avenue

    1106 ft · 27 sec

  15. 15

    Turn right onto Willow Avenue

    1640 ft · 47 sec · Willow Avenue

  16. 16

    Turn right onto Sycamore Avenue

    1.6 km · 3 min · Sycamore Avenue

  17. 17

    Turn left onto Railroad Avenue

    139 m · 13 sec · Railroad Avenue

  18. 18

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Railroad Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between San Jose and Hercules.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
18 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
29.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Nimitz Freeway
34.6 mi · 57%
Eastshore Freeway
14 mi · 23%
I 880 North
8.86 mi · 15%
Coleman Avenue
1.42 mi · 2%
Sycamore Avenue
0.96 mi · 2%
CA 4 East
0.35 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Nimitz Freeway

Keep slight left

17.8 mi · 00h 21m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
01h 14m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 30m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+9.2 mi
51.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Ashland
00h 37m from San Jose
Leave By
4:00 PM PDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Chance Light Rain leaving San Jose and Chance Light Rain near Hercules.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from San Jose to Hercules?

The road trip is about 60.7 miles (97.7 km) and usually takes 01h 14m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Ashland is a useful midpoint, sitting about 30.4 miles from San Jose and 30.3 miles from Hercules.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 51.5 miles (82.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 9.2 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:00 PM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $12.35 one way or $24.69 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 19 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Light Rain around San Jose and Chance Light Rain near Hercules.

Stop Ideas Near Ashland

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Ashland, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Ashland.

RAIL

Hayward station

3 mi away
22555 Meekland Avenue
RAIL

Oakland Coliseum station

10 mi away
700 73rd Avenue
RAIL

Oakland – Jack London Square station

18 mi away
245 Second Street
RAIL

Fremont station

18 mi away
37260 Fremont Blvd.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between San Jose and Hercules. Straight-line distance: 51.54 mi (82.94 km).

San Jose

#1 San Jose

The tenth most populous city in the United States and the center of the San Jose metropolitan area.

Population1,013,616
Coordinates37.3393900, -121.8949600
Altitude26
CountryUnited States
Hercules

#2 Hercules

City in western Contra Costa County, California

Population26,221
Coordinates38.0171400, -122.2885800
Altitude24
CountryUnited States
Start: San Jose (-121.89496, 37.33939)
End: Hercules (-122.28858, 38.01714)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 98 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 01m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 31m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 12m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 00m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 52m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 45m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.14 gal
8.11 L · about $12.35
Round trip
$24.69
4.28 gal · 16.22 L
Estimated CO2
19 kg one way
Round trip: 38 kg / 84 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $12.35 $24.69
Mid-grade $6.07 $12.98 $25.96
Premium $6.24 $13.36 $26.72
Diesel $7.57 $16.19 $32.39

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

There is no time difference between San Jose and Hercules. The current time is 21:07:03.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.