How far is San Jose, CA from Willow Creek, CA?
The driving distance from San Jose, CA to Willow Creek, CA is about 345.7 miles (556.3 km), with a travel time of about 06h 34m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 265.6 miles (427.4 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 13h 09m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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 06h 34m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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.
City in California, USA
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 Willow Creek.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Jose and Willow Creek.
-
1
Start on North Market Street
60 m · 9 sec · North Market Street
-
2
Continue on Coleman Avenue
1.4 mi · 3 min · Coleman Avenue
-
3
Take the ramp right toward I 880 North: Oakland
1675 ft · 43 sec
-
4
Merge slight left
8.5 mi · 10 min
-
5
Keep slight right to continue on Nimitz Freeway
3139 ft · 41 sec · Nimitz Freeway
-
6
Take the exit slight right toward Sacramento
1.6 mi · 2 min
-
7
Take the exit straight toward I 680 North: Sacramento
1012 ft · 25 sec
-
8
Keep slight left to continue on I 680 North: Sacramento
1618 ft · 41 sec
-
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
-
11
Keep slight left to continue on Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
74 m · 3 sec · Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
-
12
Keep slight right to continue on Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
1.8 mi · 2 min · Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
-
13
Keep slight right to continue on Benicia-Martinez Bridge
2053 ft · 27 sec · Benicia-Martinez Bridge
-
14
Continue on Luther E Gibson Freeway
12 mi · 14 min · Luther E Gibson Freeway
-
15
Keep slight right to continue on I 80 East, CA 12 East: Fairfield, Sacramento
2286 ft · 56 sec
-
16
Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
1.7 mi · 2 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
-
17
Keep slight left to continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
13.1 mi · 15 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
-
18
Take the exit slight right toward I 505 North: Winters, Redding
803 ft · 20 sec
-
19
Keep slight left to continue on I 505 North: Winters, Redding
1 km · 1 min
-
20
Continue straight
157.7 mi · 2 hr 49 min
-
21
Take the exit slight right toward CA 44: Eureka, Susanville
915 ft · 16 sec
-
22
Keep slight left to continue on CA 44 West: Eureka, Whiskeytown National Recreation Area
1.5 km · 1 min
-
23
Merge slight left
1.2 mi · 2 min
-
24
Turn right onto Pine Street
149 m · 18 sec · Pine Street
-
25
Turn left onto Eureka Way
25 mi · 30 min · Eureka Way
-
26
Continue straight
74 mi · 1 hr 28 min
-
27
Turn right onto Bigfoot Scenic Byway
21 m · 1 sec · Bigfoot Scenic Byway
-
28
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Bigfoot Scenic Byway
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between San Jose and Willow Creek.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
I 505 North
Continue straight
158 mi · 02h 49m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
Better with a longer stop
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
Sunny leaving San Jose and Sunny near Willow Creek.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from San Jose to Willow Creek?
The road trip is about 345.7 miles (556.3 km) and usually takes 06h 34m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Willows is a useful midpoint, sitting about 172.9 miles from San Jose and 172.7 miles from Willow Creek.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 265.6 miles (427.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 80.1 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 7:30 AM PDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $70.38 one way or $140.76 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 108.4 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around San Jose and Sunny near Willow Creek.
Stop Ideas Near Willows
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 Willows.
Chico station
Corning, California
Oroville, California
Marysville, California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between San Jose and Willow Creek. Straight-line distance: 265.57 mi (427.39 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 Willow Creek
Census-designated place in Humboldt County, California
| Population | 1,710 |
| Coordinates | 40.9395800, -123.6314400 |
| Altitude | 186 |
| Country | United States |
End: Willow Creek (-123.63144, 40.93958)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 556 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 11h 31m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 08h 38m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 54m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 45m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 56m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 18m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $70.38 | $140.76 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $74.01 | $148.01 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $76.16 | $152.33 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $92.32 | $184.63 |
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 31, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.