How far is San Jose, CA from Penn Valley, CA?
The driving distance from San Jose, CA to Penn Valley, CA is about 179.7 miles (289.2 km), with a travel time of about 03h 38m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 133.8 miles (215.4 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 17m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 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 03h 38m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
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.
Place in Solano county, California, USA
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between San Jose and Penn Valley.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Jose and Penn Valley.
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1
Start on North Market Street
60 m · 9 sec · North Market Street
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2
Continue on Coleman Avenue
1.4 mi · 3 min · Coleman Avenue
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3
Take the ramp right toward I 880 North: Oakland
1675 ft · 43 sec
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4
Merge slight left
8.5 mi · 10 min
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5
Keep slight right to continue on Nimitz Freeway
3139 ft · 41 sec · Nimitz Freeway
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6
Take the exit slight right toward Sacramento
1.6 mi · 2 min
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7
Take the exit straight toward I 680 North: Sacramento
1012 ft · 25 sec
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8
Keep slight left to continue on I 680 North: Sacramento
1618 ft · 41 sec
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9
Merge slight left
37.3 mi · 43 min
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10
Keep slight left to continue on Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
6 mi · 7 min · Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
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11
Keep slight left to continue on Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
74 m · 3 sec · Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
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12
Keep slight right to continue on Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
1.8 mi · 2 min · Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
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13
Keep slight right to continue on Benicia-Martinez Bridge
2053 ft · 27 sec · Benicia-Martinez Bridge
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14
Continue on Luther E Gibson Freeway
12 mi · 14 min · Luther E Gibson Freeway
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15
Keep slight right to continue on I 80 East, CA 12 East: Fairfield, Sacramento
2286 ft · 56 sec
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16
Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
1.7 mi · 2 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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17
Keep slight left to continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
27.3 mi · 31 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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18
Keep slight left to continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
8.4 mi · 10 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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19
Continue on Yolo Causeway
3.7 mi · 4 min · Yolo Causeway
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20
Keep slight right to continue on North Sacramento Beltline Freeway
12.5 mi · 14 min · North Sacramento Beltline Freeway
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21
Keep slight left to continue on North Sacramento Beltline Freeway
1.3 km · 55 sec · North Sacramento Beltline Freeway
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22
Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
7 mi · 8 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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23
Continue on Alan S. Hart Freeway
16.9 mi · 19 min · Alan S. Hart Freeway
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24
Take the exit slight right toward CA 49 North: Grass Valley, Placerville
943 ft · 31 sec
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25
Turn left onto Grass Valley Highway
5.8 mi · 9 min · Grass Valley Highway
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26
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Grass Valley Highway
36 m · 3 sec · Grass Valley Highway
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27
Exit the roundabout onto Grass Valley Highway
1.3 mi · 2 min · Grass Valley Highway
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28
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Grass Valley Highway
36 m · 3 sec · Grass Valley Highway
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29
Exit the roundabout onto Grass Valley Highway
1.1 mi · 1 min · Grass Valley Highway
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30
Continue on State Highway 49
14.2 mi · 19 min · State Highway 49
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31
Take the exit slight right
993 ft · 22 sec
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32
Turn left onto Eric Rood Memorial Expressway
5.7 mi · 7 min · Eric Rood Memorial Expressway
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33
Turn left onto Penn Valley Drive
3183 ft · 1 min · Penn Valley Drive
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34
Continue on Penn Valley Drive
1.3 km · 1 min · Penn Valley Drive
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35
Turn left onto Horton Street
1647 ft · 1 min · Horton Street
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36
Turn left onto Lasso Loop
817 ft · 39 sec · Lasso Loop
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37
Turn right onto Willow Lane
121 m · 17 sec · Willow Lane
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38
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Willow Lane
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between San Jose and Penn Valley.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
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.
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.
Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny leaving San Jose and Sunny near Penn Valley.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from San Jose to Penn Valley?
The road trip is about 179.7 miles (289.2 km) and usually takes 03h 38m 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?
Dixon is a useful midpoint, sitting about 89.9 miles from San Jose and 89.9 miles from Penn Valley.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 133.8 miles (215.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 45.9 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 9:42 AM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $36.58 one way or $73.15 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 56.3 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny around San Jose and Sunny near Penn Valley.
Stop Ideas Near Dixon
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Hall Park Off Leash Dog Park
Vacaville Sewer Department
Davis Police Department
Dixon City Hall
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Dixon.
Davis station
Suisun–Fairfield station
Elk Grove, California
Sacramento (State Capitol), California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between San Jose and Penn Valley. Straight-line distance: 133.84 mi (215.4 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 Penn Valley
Census-designated place in Nevada County, California
| Population | 1,621 |
| Coordinates | 39.1960000, -121.1910700 |
| Altitude | 427 |
| Country | United States |
End: Penn Valley (-121.19107, 39.196)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 289 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 05h 59m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 04h 29m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 03h 35m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 02h 59m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 02h 34m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 02h 14m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $36.58 | $73.15 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $38.46 | $76.92 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $39.58 | $79.16 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $47.97 | $95.95 |
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 25, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.