How far is San Jose, CA from Tahoma, CA?
The driving distance from San Jose, CA to Tahoma, CA is about 236.9 miles (381.3 km), with a travel time of about 04h 47m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 153.2 miles (246.5 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 35m 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 47m.
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 sixth most populous city in California and the center of the Sacramento metropolitan area.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between San Jose and Tahoma.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Jose and Tahoma.
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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
-
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
78 mi · 1 hr 30 min · Alan S. Hart Freeway
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24
Take the exit slight right toward Donner Lake
2253 ft · 30 sec
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25
Merge slight left onto Alan S. Hart Freeway
4.2 mi · 5 min · Alan S. Hart Freeway
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26
Take the exit slight right toward CA 89 South: South Lake Tahoe
901 ft · 20 sec
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27
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward the route
1 m · 1 sec
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28
Exit the roundabout
13.3 mi · 19 min
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29
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward the route
6 m · 1 sec
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30
Exit the roundabout
1371 ft · 38 sec
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31
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward the route
9 m · 1 sec
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32
Exit the roundabout
8.2 mi · 16 min
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33
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between San Jose and Tahoma.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
Alan S. Hart Freeway
Continue on Alan S. Hart Freeway
78 mi · 01h 30m
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 Clear near Tahoma.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from San Jose to Tahoma?
The road trip is about 236.9 miles (381.3 km) and usually takes 04h 47m 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?
Sacramento is a useful midpoint, sitting about 118.4 miles from San Jose and 118.5 miles from Tahoma.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 153.2 miles (246.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 83.7 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 7:24 AM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $52.34 one way or $104.68 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 74.3 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around San Jose and Clear near Tahoma.
Stop Ideas Near Sacramento
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
City of Sacramento
Citrus Heights Community Center
City of Refuge Sacramento
Citrus Heights City Hall
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Sacramento.
Sacramento (State Capitol), California
Sacramento Valley Station
Elk Grove, California
Davis station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between San Jose and Tahoma. Straight-line distance: 153.15 mi (246.47 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 Tahoma
Situated on the western shore of Lake Tahoe in Placer County at an elevation of approximately 6,270 feet, this community serves as a gateway to outdoor recreation in the Sierra Nevada.
| Population | 0 |
| Coordinates | 39.0674100, -120.1282400 |
| Altitude | 1911 |
| Country | United States |
End: Tahoma (-120.12824, 39.06741)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 381 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 07h 53m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 05h 55m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 04h 44m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 03h 56m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 03h 23m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 02h 57m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $6.26 | $52.34 | $104.68 |
| Mid-grade | $6.50 | $54.33 | $108.66 |
| Premium | $6.69 | $55.92 | $111.84 |
| Diesel | $8.41 | $70.33 | $140.67 |
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 · Oct 15, 2026