How far is San Jose, CA from Santa Clara, CA?
The driving distance from San Jose, CA to Santa Clara, CA is about 4.1 miles (6.6 km), with a travel time of about 00h 08m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 3.5 miles (5.6 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 17m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM PDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This is an easy same-day return drive.
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 00h 08m.
This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.
This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
A city in Santa Clara County, California.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between San Jose and Santa Clara.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Jose and Santa Clara.
-
1
Start on North Market Street
60 m · 9 sec · North Market Street
-
2
Continue on Coleman Avenue
2.8 mi · 6 min · Coleman Avenue
-
3
Turn slight left onto CA 82: Santa Clara
1503 ft · 55 sec
-
4
Turn straight onto De La Cruz Boulevard
114 m · 6 sec · De La Cruz Boulevard
-
5
Turn slight right onto Civic Center, El Camino Real
721 ft · 28 sec
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6
Turn left onto El Camino Real
3163 ft · 1 min · El Camino Real
-
7
Turn right onto Lincoln Street
643 ft · 18 sec · Lincoln Street
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8
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Lincoln Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between San Jose and Santa Clara.
Turn-heavy local drive
The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.
Coleman Avenue
Continue on Coleman Avenue
2.84 mi · 00h 06m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
A short regional drive
This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.
Sunny leaving San Jose and Sunny near Santa Clara.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from San Jose to Santa Clara?
The road trip is about 4.1 miles (6.6 km) and usually takes 00h 08m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Campbell is a useful midpoint, sitting about 2.1 miles from San Jose and 2.1 miles from Santa Clara.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 3.5 miles (5.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 0.6 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 8:12 PM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $0.87 one way or $1.73 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 1.3 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around San Jose and Sunny near Santa Clara.
Stop Ideas Near Campbell
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 Campbell.
Santa Clara station
San Jose Diridon station
Santa Clara – Great America station
Fremont (San Joaquin Buses), California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between San Jose and Santa Clara. Straight-line distance: 3.46 mi (5.57 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 Santa Clara
The third most populous city in Santa Clara County, California.
| Population | 131,055 |
| Coordinates | 37.3541100, -121.9552400 |
| Altitude | 23 |
| Country | United States |
End: Santa Clara (-121.95524, 37.35411)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 7 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 00h 08m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 00h 06m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 04m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 04m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 03m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 03m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $0.87 | $1.73 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $0.91 | $1.82 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $0.94 | $1.87 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $1.14 | $2.27 |
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 22, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.