How far is San Jose, CA from Lower Lake, CA?

The driving distance from San Jose, CA to Lower Lake, CA is about 140.4 miles (225.9 km), with a travel time of about 02h 57m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 115.3 miles (185.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 55m 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
140.38 mi
02h 57m
Flight
115.3 mi
185.56 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
115.3 mi
Kilometers
185.56 km
Flight Time
00h 13m

Driving Distance

Road route
140.38 mi
Kilometers
225.92 km
Drive Time
02h 57m

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 02h 57m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Lower Lake
Sun, Apr 19, 12:27 AM PDT
Return by in San Jose
Sun, Apr 19, 3:24 AM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave San Jose
2026-04-18T21:29
Arrive Lower Lake
Sun, Apr 19, 12:27 AM PDT
Route Timing
02h 57m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:58 AM to 12:58 PM PDT

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

Leave by
12:34 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
American Canyon
CA

City in Napa Valley, California

From San Jose
70.2 mi
01h 28m
To Lower Lake
70.2 mi
01h 28m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
76°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
1 to 7 mph W
Destination
70°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
1 to 7 mph ESE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between San Jose and Lower Lake.

  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 left to continue on I 780: Benicia

    6.7 mi · 8 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward I 80 East: Sacramento

    1379 ft · 34 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on I 80 East: Sacramento

    137 m · 11 sec

  16. 16

    Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    2.7 mi · 3 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward CA 37: Napa, Novato, Auto Mall, Columbus Parkway

    752 ft · 18 sec

  18. 18

    Keep slight left to continue on CA 37: Napa

    2517 ft · 1 min

  19. 19

    Continue on CA 37

    1.5 mi · 2 min

  20. 20

    Take the exit slight right toward CA 29: Napa, Sonoma Boulevard

    1912 ft · 51 sec

  21. 21

    Turn right onto Sonoma Boulevard

    1.6 mi · 2 min · Sonoma Boulevard

  22. 22

    Continue on Broadway Street

    4 mi · 5 min · Broadway Street

  23. 23

    Continue on Napa–Vallejo Highway

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Napa–Vallejo Highway

  24. 24

    Continue on Saint Helena Highway

    21.7 mi · 26 min · Saint Helena Highway

  25. 25

    Continue on Main Street

    2.4 mi · 3 min · Main Street

  26. 26

    Continue on Saint Helena Highway

    6.8 mi · 8 min · Saint Helena Highway

  27. 27

    Turn right onto Lincoln Avenue

    1 mi · 2 min · Lincoln Avenue

  28. 28

    Continue on Lake County Highway

    20.5 mi · 31 min · Lake County Highway

  29. 29

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route

    73 m · 4 sec

  30. 30

    Exit the roundabout

    10.4 mi · 16 min

  31. 31

    Turn right onto Main Street

    569 ft · 11 sec · Main Street

  32. 32

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Main Street

Car Route Details

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

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
32 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
11
3 merges, 8 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
22.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 680 North
37.8 mi · 27%
Lake County Highway
31 mi · 22%
Saint Helena Highway
28.6 mi · 20%
I 880 North
8.86 mi · 6%
Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
7.88 mi · 6%
I 780
6.66 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

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.

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
02h 57m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 56m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+25.1 mi
115.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
American Canyon
01h 28m from San Jose
Leave By
12:34 PM PDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving San Jose and Mostly Sunny near Lower Lake.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from San Jose to Lower Lake?

The road trip is about 140.4 miles (225.9 km) and usually takes 02h 57m 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?

American Canyon is a useful midpoint, sitting about 70.2 miles from San Jose and 70.2 miles from Lower Lake.

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

The direct path is about 115.3 miles (185.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 25.1 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 12:34 PM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $28.56 one way or $57.11 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 44 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around San Jose and Mostly Sunny near Lower Lake.

Stop Ideas Near American Canyon

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around American Canyon, 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 American Canyon.

BUS

Marine World (Seasonal), Vallejo, California

5 mi away
Highway 37 and Fairgrounds Drive
BUS

Vallejo, California

5 mi away
4355 Sonoma Blvd.
RAIL

Martinez station

20 mi away
601 Marina Vista Ave.
RAIL

Suisun–Fairfield station

21 mi away
177 Main Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between San Jose and Lower Lake. Straight-line distance: 115.3 mi (185.56 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
Lower Lake

#2 Lower Lake

Census-designated place in Lake County, California

Population1,294
Coordinates38.9104500, -122.6102600
Altitude418
CountryUnited States
Start: San Jose (-121.89496, 37.33939)
End: Lower Lake (-122.61026, 38.91045)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 226 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 40m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 30m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 48m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 20m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 00m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 45m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
4.95 gal
18.75 L · about $28.56
Round trip
$57.11
9.9 gal · 37.5 L
Estimated CO2
44 kg one way
Round trip: 88 kg / 194 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $28.56 $57.11
Mid-grade $6.07 $30.03 $60.05
Premium $6.24 $30.90 $61.81
Diesel $7.57 $37.46 $74.91

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 19, 2026

There is no time difference between San Jose and Lower Lake. The current time is 21:29:23.

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.