How far is San Jose, CA from Orinda, CA?

The driving distance from San Jose, CA to Orinda, CA is about 46.8 miles (75.3 km), with a travel time of about 01h 00m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 40.3 miles (64.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 00m 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
46.81 mi
01h 00m
Flight
40.29 mi
64.84 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
40.29 mi
Kilometers
64.84 km
Flight Time
00h 04m

Driving Distance

Road route
46.81 mi
Kilometers
75.33 km
Drive Time
01h 00m

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 01h 00m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Orinda
Thu, May 7, 8:34 AM PDT
Return by in San Jose
Thu, May 7, 9:34 AM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave San Jose
2026-05-07T07:34
Arrive Orinda
Thu, May 7, 8:34 AM PDT
Route Timing
01h 00m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:00 AM to 11:00 AM PDT

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

Leave by
4:30 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
Union City
CA

A city in Placer County, California.

From San Jose
23.4 mi
00h 30m
To Orinda
23.4 mi
00h 30m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
76°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, May 7 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
2 to 8 mph SW
Destination
70°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, May 7 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
3 to 9 mph WSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between San Jose and Orinda.

  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

    12.6 mi · 15 min · Nimitz Freeway

  6. 6

    Keep slight left

    6.1 mi · 7 min

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward Hesperian Boulevard

    936 ft · 23 sec

  8. 8

    Turn right onto Hesperian Boulevard

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Hesperian Boulevard

  9. 9

    Turn slight right

    88 m · 13 sec

  10. 10

    Continue on 150th Avenue

    2336 ft · 1 min · 150th Avenue

  11. 11

    Take the ramp left toward I 580 West: Oakland

    1254 ft · 31 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto MacArthur Freeway

    5.9 mi · 7 min · MacArthur Freeway

  13. 13

    Keep slight right to continue on Warren Freeway

    5.4 mi · 6 min · Warren Freeway

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward CA 24 East: Walnut Creek, Concord

    1604 ft · 34 sec

  15. 15

    Continue straight

    150 m · 10 sec

  16. 16

    Merge slight left onto Grove Shafter Freeway

    1955 ft · 30 sec · Grove Shafter Freeway

  17. 17

    Keep slight left to continue on Grove Shafter Freeway

    874 ft · 13 sec · Grove Shafter Freeway

  18. 18

    Continue on Caldecott Tunnel

    2.3 mi · 3 min · Caldecott Tunnel

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward Orinda, Moraga

    1673 ft · 38 sec

  20. 20

    Turn right onto Camino Pablo

    151 m · 15 sec · Camino Pablo

  21. 21

    Turn straight onto Moraga Way

    140 m · 15 sec · Moraga Way

  22. 22

    Turn left onto Overhill Road

    700 ft · 31 sec · Overhill Road

  23. 23

    Turn straight

    101 m · 51 sec

  24. 24

    Continue straight

    101 m · 24 sec

  25. 25

    Continue on Overhill Road

    700 ft · 32 sec · Overhill Road

  26. 26

    Turn right onto Moraga Way

    82 m · 6 sec · Moraga Way

  27. 27

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Moraga Way

Car Route Details

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

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
27 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
3 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
57.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Nimitz Freeway
18.8 mi · 40%
I 880 North
8.86 mi · 19%
MacArthur Freeway
5.87 mi · 13%
Warren Freeway
5.39 mi · 12%
Caldecott Tunnel
2.66 mi · 6%
Hesperian Boulevard
1.53 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

Nimitz Freeway

Keep slight right to continue on Nimitz Freeway

12.6 mi · 00h 15m

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
01h 00m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 00m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+6.5 mi
40.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Union City
00h 30m from San Jose
Leave By
4:30 PM PDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving San Jose and Sunny near Orinda.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from San Jose to Orinda?

The road trip is about 46.8 miles (75.3 km) and usually takes 01h 00m 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?

Union City is a useful midpoint, sitting about 23.4 miles from San Jose and 23.4 miles from Orinda.

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

The direct path is about 40.3 miles (64.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 6.5 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 4:30 PM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $9.52 one way or $19.04 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 14.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Union City

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Union City, 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 Union City.

RAIL

Fremont station

8 mi away
37260 Fremont Blvd.
RAIL

Hayward station

8 mi away
22555 Meekland Avenue
BUS

Fremont (San Joaquin Buses), California

15 mi away
999 Upper Mission Blvd
RAIL

Pleasanton, CA

19 mi away
4950 Pleasanton Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between San Jose and Orinda. Straight-line distance: 40.29 mi (64.84 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
Orinda

#2 Orinda

City in California, USA

Population19,557
Coordinates37.8771500, -122.1796900
Altitude151
CountryUnited States
Start: San Jose (-121.89496, 37.33939)
End: Orinda (-122.17969, 37.87715)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 75 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 33m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 10m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 56m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 46m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 40m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 35m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.65 gal
6.25 L · about $9.52
Round trip
$19.04
3.3 gal · 12.5 L
Estimated CO2
14.7 kg one way
Round trip: 29.3 kg / 65 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $9.52 $19.04
Mid-grade $6.07 $10.01 $20.02
Premium $6.24 $10.30 $20.60
Diesel $7.57 $12.49 $24.97

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 07, 2026

There is no time difference between San Jose and Orinda. The current time is 07:34:27.

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.