How far is San Jose, CA from Los Molinos, CA?

The driving distance from San Jose, CA to Los Molinos, CA is about 209.7 miles (337.4 km), with a travel time of about 03h 59m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 185.6 miles (298.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 59m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT.
Trip Tools

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.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
209.68 mi
03h 59m
Flight
185.63 mi
298.74 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from San Jose.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
185.63 mi
Kilometers
298.74 km
Flight Time
00h 22m

Driving Distance

Road route
209.68 mi
Kilometers
337.44 km
Drive Time
03h 59m

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 59m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Los Molinos
Thu, Oct 15, 9:30 PM PDT
Return by in San Jose
Fri, Oct 16, 1:30 AM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave San Jose
2026-10-15T17:30
Arrive Los Molinos
Thu, Oct 15, 9:30 PM PDT
Route Timing
03h 59m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:00 AM to 12:00 PM PDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
9:00 AM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in San Jose
9:00 PM PDT
Early departure recommended

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
Cottonwood
CA

Ghost town in Yolo County, California

From San Jose
104.9 mi
01h 59m
To Los Molinos
104.8 mi
01h 59m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
86°F
Today

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 7:00 AM PDT
Wind
1 to 6 mph NNE
Destination
91°F
Today

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 11:00 AM PDT
Wind
13 mph NNW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between San Jose and Los Molinos.

  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

    3139 ft · 41 sec · Nimitz Freeway

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward Sacramento

    1.6 mi · 2 min

  7. 7

    Take the exit straight toward I 680 North: Sacramento

    1012 ft · 25 sec

  8. 8

    Keep slight left to continue on I 680 North: Sacramento

    1618 ft · 41 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left

    37.3 mi · 43 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway

    6 mi · 7 min · Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway

    74 m · 3 sec · Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway

    1.8 mi · 2 min · Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway

  13. 13

    Keep slight right to continue on Benicia-Martinez Bridge

    2053 ft · 27 sec · Benicia-Martinez Bridge

  14. 14

    Continue on Luther E Gibson Freeway

    12 mi · 14 min · Luther E Gibson Freeway

  15. 15

    Keep slight right to continue on I 80 East, CA 12 East: Fairfield, Sacramento

    2286 ft · 56 sec

  16. 16

    Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    1.7 mi · 2 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  17. 17

    Keep slight left to continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    13.1 mi · 15 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward I 505 North: Winters, Redding

    803 ft · 20 sec

  19. 19

    Keep slight left to continue on I 505 North: Winters, Redding

    1 km · 1 min

  20. 20

    Continue straight

    115.9 mi · 2 hr 4 min

  21. 21

    Take the exit slight right toward Tehama, Los Molinos, Gyle Road

    1434 ft · 26 sec

  22. 22

    Turn right onto Gyle Road

    4.4 mi · 6 min · Gyle Road

  23. 23

    Turn straight onto 5th Street

    1.2 km · 2 min · 5th Street

  24. 24

    Turn right onto C Street

    1600 ft · 55 sec · C Street

  25. 25

    Continue on Aramayo Way

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Aramayo Way

  26. 26

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Railroad Avenue

    2463 ft · 1 min · Railroad Avenue

  27. 27

    Turn right onto Sycamore Avenue

    38 m · 6 sec · Sycamore Avenue

  28. 28

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Sycamore Avenue

Car Route Details

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

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
28 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
3 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
13.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 505 North
117 mi · 56%
I 680 North
37.8 mi · 18%
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
14.8 mi · 7%
Luther E Gibson Freeway
12 mi · 6%
I 880 North
8.86 mi · 4%
Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
7.88 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

I 505 North

Continue straight

116 mi · 02h 04m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
03h 59m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 00m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+24.1 mi
185.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Cottonwood
01h 59m from San Jose
Leave By
9:00 AM PDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving San Jose and Sunny near Los Molinos.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from San Jose to Los Molinos?

The road trip is about 209.7 miles (337.4 km) and usually takes 03h 59m 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?

Cottonwood is a useful midpoint, sitting about 104.9 miles from San Jose and 104.8 miles from Los Molinos.

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

The direct path is about 185.6 miles (298.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 24.1 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 9:00 AM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $46.33 one way or $92.66 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 65.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around San Jose and Sunny near Los Molinos.

Stop Ideas Near Cottonwood

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

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Cottonwood and the surrounding midpoint area.
Cache Creek Casino Resort
Stay option 12.1 mi away

Cache Creek Casino Resort

Brooks , CA
14455 CA-16, Brooks, CA 95606, United States
Rating 4.1/5 8,916 reviews Tourist attraction,Hotel,Resort hotel,Casino
City of Davis Gymnastics
Meeting point 12.9 mi away

City of Davis Gymnastics

Davis , CA
23 Russell Blvd, Davis, CA 95616, United States
Rating 4.0/5 4 reviews City government office,Gymnastics center
Esparto Ace Hardware
Nearby stop 5 mi away

Esparto Ace Hardware

Esparto , CA
16851 Yolo Ave, Esparto, CA 95627, United States
Rating 4.6/5 70 reviews Hardware store,Home improvement store,Paint store,Tool store

Transit and Meeting Points

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

RAIL

Davis station

24 mi away
840 Second Street
BUS

Sacramento (State Capitol), California

42 mi away
1389 10th Street
RAIL

Sacramento Valley Station

42 mi away
401 I Street
RAIL

Suisun–Fairfield station

47 mi away
177 Main Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between San Jose and Los Molinos. Straight-line distance: 185.63 mi (298.74 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
Photo coming soon

#2 Los Molinos

Located in the northern Sacramento Valley at an elevation of 223 feet, this census-designated place is positioned where Mill Creek meets the Sacramento River in Tehama County.

Population0
Coordinates40.0212700, -122.1002700
Altitude68
CountryUnited States
Start: San Jose (-121.89496, 37.33939)
End: Los Molinos (-122.10027, 40.02127)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 337 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 59m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 14m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 11m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 29m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 59m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 36m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.4 gal
28.01 L · about $46.33
Round trip
$92.66
14.8 gal · 56.02 L
Estimated CO2
65.8 kg one way
Round trip: 131.5 kg / 290 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $6.26 $46.33 $92.66
Mid-grade $6.50 $48.09 $96.19
Premium $6.69 $49.50 $99.00
Diesel $8.41 $62.26 $124.51

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 · Oct 15, 2026

There is no time difference between San Jose and Los Molinos. The current time is 17:30:11.

Distance to Other Cities

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