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

The driving distance from San Jose, CA to Placerville, CA is about 158.8 miles (255.5 km), with a travel time of about 03h 06m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 113.1 miles (182 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 12m 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
158.76 mi
03h 06m
Flight
113.08 mi
181.98 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
113.08 mi
Kilometers
181.98 km
Flight Time
00h 13m

Driving Distance

Road route
158.76 mi
Kilometers
255.5 km
Drive Time
03h 06m

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 06m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Placerville
Thu, Apr 23, 12:12 AM PDT
Return by in San Jose
Thu, Apr 23, 3:18 AM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave San Jose
2026-04-22T21:06
Arrive Placerville
Thu, Apr 23, 12:12 AM PDT
Route Timing
03h 06m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:06 AM to 11:06 AM PDT

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

Leave by
10:48 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
Fairfield
CA

Town in Connecticut, United States of America

From San Jose
79.3 mi
01h 33m
To Placerville
79.4 mi
01h 33m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
64°F
Wednesday

Chance Light Rain

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
5 to 8 mph WSW
Destination
58°F
Wednesday

Chance Light Rain

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
6 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    27.3 mi · 31 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  18. 18

    Keep slight left to continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    8.4 mi · 10 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  19. 19

    Continue on Yolo Causeway

    3.7 mi · 4 min · Yolo Causeway

  20. 20

    Keep slight left to continue on Capital City Freeway

    5.3 mi · 6 min · Capital City Freeway

  21. 21

    Keep slight left to continue on El Dorado Freeway

    41.4 mi · 48 min · El Dorado Freeway

  22. 22

    Turn right onto Bedford Avenue

    79 m · 15 sec · Bedford Avenue

  23. 23

    Turn left onto Main Street

    56 m · 6 sec · Main Street

  24. 24

    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 Placerville.

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
24 steps
2 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
3 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
15.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
El Dorado Freeway
41.4 mi · 26%
I 680 North
37.8 mi · 24%
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
37.3 mi · 24%
Luther E Gibson Freeway
12 mi · 8%
I 880 North
8.86 mi · 6%
Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
7.88 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

El Dorado Freeway

Keep slight left to continue on El Dorado Freeway

41.4 mi · 00h 48m

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 06m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 12m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+45.7 mi
113.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Fairfield
01h 33m from San Jose
Leave By
10:48 AM PDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Light Rain leaving San Jose and Chance Light Rain near Placerville.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 158.8 miles (255.5 km) and usually takes 03h 06m 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?

Fairfield is a useful midpoint, sitting about 79.3 miles from San Jose and 79.4 miles from Placerville.

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

The direct path is about 113.1 miles (182 km), while the road route adds roughly 45.7 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 10:48 AM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $32.31 one way or $64.61 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 49.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Light Rain around San Jose and Chance Light Rain near Placerville.

Stop Ideas Near Fairfield

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

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

RAIL

Suisun–Fairfield station

1 mi away
177 Main Street
BUS

Marine World (Seasonal), Vallejo, California

21 mi away
Highway 37 and Fairgrounds Drive
BUS

Vallejo, California

23 mi away
4355 Sonoma Blvd.
RAIL

Martinez station

27 mi away
601 Marina Vista Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between San Jose and Placerville. Straight-line distance: 113.08 mi (181.98 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
Placerville

#2 Placerville

City in California

Population11,077
Coordinates38.7296300, -120.7985500
Altitude569
CountryUnited States
Start: San Jose (-121.89496, 37.33939)
End: Placerville (-120.79855, 38.72963)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 256 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 17m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 58m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 10m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 38m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 16m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 58m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.6 gal
21.21 L · about $32.31
Round trip
$64.61
11.2 gal · 42.42 L
Estimated CO2
49.8 kg one way
Round trip: 99.5 kg / 219 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $32.31 $64.61
Mid-grade $6.07 $33.97 $67.94
Premium $6.24 $34.96 $69.92
Diesel $7.57 $42.38 $84.75

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between San Jose and Placerville. The current time is 21:06:14.

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.