How far is San Jose, CA from Lake Isabella, CA?
The driving distance from San Jose, CA to Lake Isabella, CA is about 282.5 miles (454.7 km), with a travel time of about 05h 36m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 224.2 miles (360.8 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 12m 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 05h 36m.
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.
Small city in Fresno County, California
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between San Jose and Lake Isabella.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Jose and Lake Isabella.
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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
138.9 mi · 2 hr 29 min · Westside Freeway
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20
Take the exit slight right toward Buttonwillow, McKittrick
2040 ft · 50 sec
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21
Turn straight onto Buttonwillow Drive
1.1 km · 1 min · Buttonwillow Drive
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22
Turn left onto 7th Standard Road
21.9 mi · 29 min · 7th Standard Road
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23
Take the ramp straight toward CA 99 South
1658 ft · 20 sec
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24
Merge slight left onto Golden State Freeway
3 mi · 3 min · Golden State Freeway
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25
Keep slight right to continue on Golden State Avenue
2.8 mi · 3 min · Golden State Avenue
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26
Take the exit slight right toward CA 178: Lake Isabella
1558 ft · 38 sec
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27
Keep slight left to continue on CA 178 East: Lake Isabella
904 ft · 22 sec
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28
Merge slight left onto CHP Officer David W. Manning Memorial Freeway
6.7 mi · 8 min · CHP Officer David W. Manning Memorial Freeway
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29
Continue on Route 178
31.9 mi · 46 min · Route 178
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30
Continue on Isabella Walker Pass Road
121 m · 5 sec · Isabella Walker Pass Road
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31
Take the exit slight right toward Bodfish
1317 ft · 33 sec
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32
Turn right onto Elizabeth Norris Road
1692 ft · 39 sec · Elizabeth Norris Road
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33
Turn left onto Lake Isabella Boulevard
3151 ft · 1 min · Lake Isabella Boulevard
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34
Turn right onto Erskine Creek Road
1337 ft · 42 sec · Erskine Creek Road
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35
Turn left onto Lake Ridge Way
120 m · 17 sec · Lake Ridge Way
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36
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Lake Ridge Way
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between San Jose and Lake Isabella.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
Westside Freeway
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
139 mi · 02h 29m
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.
Mostly Sunny leaving San Jose and Sunny near Lake Isabella.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from San Jose to Lake Isabella?
The road trip is about 282.5 miles (454.7 km) and usually takes 05h 36m 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?
Huron is a useful midpoint, sitting about 141.2 miles from San Jose and 141.3 miles from Lake Isabella.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 224.2 miles (360.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 58.3 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 8:00 AM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 5:48 AM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $57.52 one way or $115.03 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 88.6 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around San Jose and Sunny near Lake Isabella.
Stop Ideas Near Huron
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 Huron.
Lemoore (Naval Air Station), California
Kettleman City, California
Lemoore, California
Hanford station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between San Jose and Lake Isabella. Straight-line distance: 224.22 mi (360.85 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 Lake Isabella
Census-designated place in Kern County, California
| Population | 3,466 |
| Coordinates | 35.6180100, -118.4731400 |
| Altitude | 766 |
| Country | United States |
End: Lake Isabella (-118.47314, 35.61801)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 455 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 09h 24m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 07h 03m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 05h 39m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 04h 42m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 02m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 31m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $57.52 | $115.03 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $60.48 | $120.96 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $62.24 | $124.49 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $75.44 | $150.89 |
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 · May 25, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.