How far is San Jose, CA from Lancaster, CA?
The driving distance from San Jose, CA to Lancaster, CA is about 320.8 miles (516.3 km), with a travel time of about 06h 10m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 278.2 miles (447.7 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 20m 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 10m.
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.
City in Kings County, California, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Chance Light Rain
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between San Jose and Lancaster.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Jose and Lancaster.
-
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
-
9
Take the exit slight right toward Santa Teresa Boulevard
2182 ft · 31 sec
-
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
-
12
Merge slight left
4.7 mi · 5 min
-
13
Continue on US 101 South
1922 ft · 27 sec
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14
Continue straight
20.3 mi · 23 min
-
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
-
19
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
181.1 mi · 3 hr 14 min · Westside Freeway
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20
Keep slight right
22 mi · 25 min
-
21
Take the exit slight right toward CA 138 East: Lancaster, Palmdale
1.6 km · 1 min
-
22
Continue on Lancaster Freeway
1491 ft · 20 sec · Lancaster Freeway
-
23
Continue straight
150 m · 6 sec
-
24
Merge slight right onto Lancaster Freeway
1.1 km · 58 sec · Lancaster Freeway
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25
Continue on Lancaster Road
12.7 mi · 17 min · Lancaster Road
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26
Continue on West Avenue D
23.5 mi · 32 min · West Avenue D
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27
At the end of the road, turn right onto Sierra Highway
5.5 mi · 8 min · Sierra Highway
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28
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Sierra Highway
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between San Jose and Lancaster.
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
181 mi · 03h 14m
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 Sunny near Lancaster.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from San Jose to Lancaster?
The road trip is about 320.8 miles (516.3 km) and usually takes 06h 10m 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?
Avenal is a useful midpoint, sitting about 160.4 miles from San Jose and 160.4 miles from Lancaster.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 278.2 miles (447.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 42.6 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 $65.31 one way or $130.61 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 100.6 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Chance Light Rain around San Jose and Sunny near Lancaster.
Stop Ideas Near Avenal
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 Avenal.
Kettleman City, California
Lemoore, California
Lemoore (Naval Air Station), California
Corcoran station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between San Jose and Lancaster. Straight-line distance: 278.19 mi (447.71 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 Lancaster
The most populous city in Los Angeles County, California.
| Population | 155,822 |
| Coordinates | 34.6980400, -118.1367400 |
| Altitude | 719 |
| Country | United States |
End: Lancaster (-118.13674, 34.69804)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 516 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 10h 41m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 08h 01m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 24m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 20m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 34m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 00m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $65.31 | $130.61 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $68.67 | $137.33 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $70.67 | $141.34 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $85.66 | $171.32 |
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.