How far is San Jose, CA from South Lake Tahoe, CA?
The driving distance from San Jose, CA to South Lake Tahoe, CA is about 218.7 miles (352 km), with a travel time of about 04h 29m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 151.4 miles (243.6 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 59m 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 04h 29m.
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.
The most populous city in Yolo 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 South Lake Tahoe.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Jose and South Lake Tahoe.
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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 left to continue on Capital City Freeway
5.3 mi · 6 min · Capital City Freeway
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21
Keep slight left to continue on El Dorado Freeway
60.4 mi · 1 hr 12 min · El Dorado Freeway
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22
Continue straight
32.7 mi · 45 min
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23
Continue straight
1795 ft · 34 sec
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24
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
37 m · 5 sec
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25
Exit the roundabout
1.4 km · 2 min
-
26
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
21 m · 1 sec
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27
Exit the roundabout
3.9 mi · 6 min
-
28
Take the exit slight right
2.4 mi · 5 min
-
29
Turn left onto Los Angeles Avenue
1185 ft · 38 sec · Los Angeles Avenue
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30
Turn left onto Oakland Avenue
1994 ft · 56 sec · Oakland Avenue
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31
Turn right onto El Dorado Avenue
688 ft · 19 sec · El Dorado Avenue
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32
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · El Dorado Avenue
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between San Jose and South Lake Tahoe.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
El Dorado Freeway
Keep slight left to continue on El Dorado Freeway
60.4 mi · 01h 12m
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.
Sunny leaving San Jose and Sunny near South Lake Tahoe.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from San Jose to South Lake Tahoe?
The road trip is about 218.7 miles (352 km) and usually takes 04h 29m 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?
West Sacramento is a useful midpoint, sitting about 109.3 miles from San Jose and 109.4 miles from South Lake Tahoe.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 151.4 miles (243.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 67.3 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 8:00 AM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $44.54 one way or $89.07 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 68.6 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around San Jose and Sunny near South Lake Tahoe.
Stop Ideas Near West Sacramento
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
North Point Park
Sacramento City Hall
City of Refuge Sacramento
City of Sacramento
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to West Sacramento.
Sacramento (State Capitol), California
Sacramento Valley Station
Davis station
Elk Grove, California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between San Jose and South Lake Tahoe. Straight-line distance: 151.35 mi (243.57 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 South Lake Tahoe
City in California
| Population | 22,847 |
| Coordinates | 38.9332400, -119.9843500 |
| Altitude | 1901 |
| Country | United States |
End: South Lake Tahoe (-119.98435, 38.93324)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 352 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 07h 17m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 05h 28m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 04h 22m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 03h 38m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 03h 07m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 02h 43m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $44.54 | $89.07 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $46.83 | $93.66 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $48.20 | $96.39 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $58.42 | $116.83 |
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 · Jun 01, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.