How far is San Jose, CA from Needles, CA?
The driving distance from San Jose, CA to Needles, CA is about 513.4 miles (826.2 km), with a travel time of about 09h 36m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 441.3 miles (710.2 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 19h 13m 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 09h 36m.
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 Kern County, California, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Chance Light Rain
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between San Jose and Needles.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Jose and Needles.
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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
149.3 mi · 2 hr 40 min · Westside Freeway
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20
Take the exit slight right toward Stockdale Highway
1185 ft · 36 sec
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21
Turn left onto Stockdale Highway
4.8 mi · 7 min · Stockdale Highway
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22
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Stockdale Highway
39 m · 2 sec · Stockdale Highway
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23
Exit the roundabout onto Stockdale Highway
4.3 mi · 6 min · Stockdale Highway
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24
Continue on Westside Parkway
6.7 mi · 8 min · Westside Parkway
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25
Continue on Centennial Corridor
2.8 mi · 3 min · Centennial Corridor
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26
Continue on Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway
54.8 mi · 1 hr 3 min · Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway
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27
Continue on Barstow–Bakersfield Highway
8.1 mi · 9 min · Barstow–Bakersfield Highway
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28
Continue on Mojave-Barstow Highway
26.9 mi · 30 min · Mojave-Barstow Highway
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29
Continue on Barstow-Bakersfield Highway
34.8 mi · 40 min · Barstow-Bakersfield Highway
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30
Keep slight left to continue on I 15 North: Las Vegas
1.2 mi · 1 min
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31
Merge slight left onto Barstow and Mojave Freeway
3.3 mi · 4 min · Barstow and Mojave Freeway
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32
Keep slight right to continue on Needles Freeway
141.3 mi · 2 hr 31 min · Needles Freeway
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33
Take the exit slight right toward West Broadway Street, River Road
1459 ft · 26 sec
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34
Turn left onto Needles Highway
1.2 km · 2 min · Needles Highway
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35
Turn right onto West Broadway Street
43 m · 2 sec · West Broadway Street
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36
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · West Broadway Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between San Jose and Needles.
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
149 mi · 02h 40m
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 Mostly Sunny near Needles.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from San Jose to Needles?
The road trip is about 513.4 miles (826.2 km) and usually takes 09h 36m 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?
Arvin is a useful midpoint, sitting about 256.4 miles from San Jose and 256.9 miles from Needles.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 441.3 miles (710.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 72.1 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 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 $104.53 one way or $209.07 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 161 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Chance Light Rain around San Jose and Mostly Sunny near Needles.
Stop Ideas Near Arvin
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 Arvin.
Bakersfield
Tehachapi, California
Mojave, California
Wasco station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between San Jose and Needles. Straight-line distance: 441.28 mi (710.17 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 Needles
City in San Bernardino County, California, United States
| Population | 4,942 |
| Coordinates | 34.8480600, -114.6141300 |
| Altitude | 151 |
| Country | United States |
End: Needles (-114.61413, 34.84806)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 826 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 17h 06m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 12h 50m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 10h 16m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 08h 33m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 07h 20m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 06h 24m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $104.53 | $209.07 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $109.92 | $219.83 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $113.12 | $226.25 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $137.11 | $274.23 |
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
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.