How far is San José, 08 from Palo Alto, CA?

The driving distance from San José, 08 to Palo Alto, CA is about 3173.1 miles (5106.6 km), with a travel time of about 58h 08m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 3032.6 miles (4880.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 116h 17m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CST.
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
3173.12 mi
58h 08m
Flight
3032.63 mi
4880.55 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from San José.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
3032.63 mi
Kilometers
4880.55 km
Flight Time
06h 06m

Driving Distance

Road route
3173.12 mi
Kilometers
5106.64 km
Drive Time
58h 08m

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 58h 08m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Palo Alto
Mon, Jul 20, 9:19 PM PDT
Return by in San José
Thu, Jul 23, 8:27 AM CST
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave San José
2026-07-18T12:10
Arrive Palo Alto
Mon, Jul 20, 10:19 PM CST
Route Timing
58h 08m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CST
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
3:09 PM to 4:39 PM PDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
3:42 PM CST
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in San José
8:00 PM CST
Overnight-style route

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
Henrietta
TX

City in Texas, USA

From San José
1585.4 mi
29h 04m
To Palo Alto
1587.7 mi
29h 04m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin

Forecast data is not available for this endpoint yet.

Destination
72°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Jul 18 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
9 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between San José and Palo Alto.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between San José and Palo Alto.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    25 m · 6 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right

    532 ft · 39 sec

  3. 3

    Continue on Howard England Way

    775 ft · 24 sec · Howard England Way

  4. 4

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Carey Circle

    21 m · 3 sec · Quay Road

  5. 5

    Exit the rotary onto Quay Road

    1225 ft · 56 sec · Quay Road

  6. 6

    Turn right onto Angela Street

    1365 ft · 1 min · Angela Street

  7. 7

    Turn right onto Whitehead Street

    1202 ft · 59 sec · Whitehead Street

  8. 8

    Turn left onto Truman Avenue

    1.5 km · 3 min · Truman Avenue

  9. 9

    Continue on North Roosevelt Boulevard

    2.6 mi · 6 min · North Roosevelt Boulevard

  10. 10

    Turn left onto Overseas Highway

    36.1 mi · 57 min · Overseas Highway

  11. 11

    Continue on New Seven Mile Bridge

    68.1 mi · 1 hr 46 min · New Seven Mile Bridge

  12. 12

    Continue on Dixie Highway

    19.4 mi · 27 min · Dixie Highway

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward Miami, Orlando, Florida's Turnpike North

    1785 ft · 38 sec

  14. 14

    Continue on Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike

    13.2 mi · 16 min · Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike

  15. 15

    Keep slight right to continue on Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike

    3.6 mi · 5 min · Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike

    2.5 mi · 3 min · Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike

  17. 17

    Keep slight right to continue on Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike

    27.1 mi · 30 min · Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike

  18. 18

    Keep slight right to continue on Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike

    1 mi · 1 min · Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike

  19. 19

    Merge slight left onto Florida's Turnpike

    260.5 mi · 4 hr 43 min · Florida's Turnpike

  20. 20

    Keep slight left to continue on Florida's Turnpike

    1281 ft · 16 sec · Florida's Turnpike

  21. 21

    Merge slight left

    106.9 mi · 1 hr 55 min

  22. 22

    Take the exit slight right toward I 10: Jacksonville, Tallahassee

    820 ft · 16 sec

  23. 23

    Keep slight left to continue on I 10 West: Tallahassee

    1569 ft · 30 sec

  24. 24

    Merge slight right

    334.4 mi · 5 hr 59 min

  25. 25

    Take the exit slight right toward US 90, US 98: Government Street

    2267 ft · 43 sec

  26. 26

    Keep slight left

    56 m · 6 sec

  27. 27

    Continue on US 98

    117 m · 12 sec · US 98

  28. 28

    Continue on Bankhead Tunnel

    3117 ft · 1 min · Bankhead Tunnel

  29. 29

    Continue on Government Street

    587 ft · 14 sec · Government Street

  30. 30

    Continue on Government Street

    1139 ft · 39 sec · Government Street

  31. 31

    Turn left onto South Water Street

    1.3 km · 2 min · South Water Street

  32. 32

    Continue on Telegraph Road

    147 m · 12 sec · Telegraph Road

  33. 33

    Turn straight

    4.5 mi · 5 min

  34. 34

    Keep slight right to continue on I 65: Montgomery

    2562 ft · 34 sec

  35. 35

    Merge slight left

    2.6 mi · 3 min

  36. 36

    Take the exit slight right toward SR 158: Industrial Parkway

    2809 ft · 1 min

  37. 37

    Keep slight left

    72 m · 8 sec

  38. 38

    Turn left onto Industrial Parkway

    17.1 mi · 21 min · Industrial Parkway

  39. 39

    Turn slight right

    699 ft · 9 sec

  40. 40

    Continue on Industrial Parkway

    2.3 mi · 3 min · Industrial Parkway

  41. 41

    Continue on Moffett Road

    41.8 mi · 49 min · Moffett Road

  42. 42

    Continue straight

    22.8 mi · 27 min

  43. 43

    Take the exit slight right toward I 59 North, US 98 West: Columbia, Laurel

    1.3 km · 2 min

  44. 44

    Merge slight left onto Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway

    8.2 mi · 9 min · Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway

  45. 45

    Take the exit slight right toward US 49 North, MS 42 West: Jackson

    1123 ft · 39 sec

  46. 46

    Continue straight

    1.2 mi · 2 min

  47. 47

    Continue straight

    5.4 mi · 7 min

  48. 48

    Continue straight

    5.3 mi · 6 min

  49. 49

    Continue straight

    1077 ft · 14 sec

  50. 50

    Continue straight

    4.2 mi · 5 min

  51. 51

    Continue straight

    65.7 mi · 1 hr 20 min

  52. 52

    Take the exit slight right

    862 ft · 21 sec

  53. 53

    Keep slight left to continue on Jackson

    1.1 km · 1 min

  54. 54

    Keep slight left

    1 mi · 1 min

  55. 55

    Merge slight right

    1.6 mi · 2 min

  56. 56

    Keep slight right to continue on I 20 West, US 49 North: Vicksburg, Yazoo City

    39.1 mi · 44 min

  57. 57

    Merge slight right

    3.8 mi · 5 min

  58. 58

    Keep slight right

    327.7 mi · 5 hr 49 min

  59. 59

    Keep slight right to continue on Dallas

    4.4 mi · 5 min

  60. 60

    Continue straight

    15.3 mi · 16 min

  61. 61

    Take the exit slight right toward I 635 North

    2115 ft · 52 sec

  62. 62

    Merge slight left onto Lyndon B Johnson Freeway

    11.9 mi · 13 min · Lyndon B Johnson Freeway

  63. 63

    Continue on Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway

    4.1 mi · 4 min · Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway

  64. 64

    Continue on Lyndon B Johnson Freeway

    4.6 mi · 5 min · Lyndon B Johnson Freeway

  65. 65

    Take the exit slight right toward I 35E North: Denton

    1696 ft · 42 sec

  66. 66

    Merge slight left onto North Stemmons Freeway

    28.2 mi · 30 min · North Stemmons Freeway

  67. 67

    Continue straight

    782 ft · 10 sec

  68. 68

    Take the exit slight right toward US 380: University Drive

    672 ft · 16 sec

  69. 69

    Turn straight onto North Interstate 35

    2258 ft · 47 sec · North Interstate 35

  70. 70

    Turn left onto West University Drive

    3.4 mi · 5 min · West University Drive

  71. 71

    Continue on US Highway 380 West

    21.5 mi · 25 min · US Highway 380 West

  72. 72

    Take the exit slight right

    1443 ft · 40 sec

  73. 73

    Merge slight left onto North US Highway 287

    72.5 mi · 1 hr 15 min · North US Highway 287

  74. 74

    Continue on Lloyd Ruby Overpass

    1.3 km · 59 sec · Lloyd Ruby Overpass

  75. 75

    Continue on Central Freeway

    2.4 mi · 3 min · Central Freeway

  76. 76

    Keep slight left to continue on Northwest Freeway

    5.3 mi · 6 min · Northwest Freeway

  77. 77

    Continue on US Highway 287 East

    40.5 mi · 42 min · US Highway 287 East

  78. 78

    Continue on Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Highway

    4.1 mi · 4 min · Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Highway

  79. 79

    Continue on US Highway 287 West

    25.7 mi · 26 min · US Highway 287 West

  80. 80

    Continue on East 11th Street

    28.7 mi · 33 min · East 11th Street

  81. 81

    Continue on Avenue F Northeast

    2.8 mi · 3 min · Avenue F Northeast

  82. 82

    Continue on US Highway 287

    13.8 mi · 15 min · US Highway 287

  83. 83

    Continue on Burnett Street

    1.1 km · 1 min · Burnett Street

  84. 84

    Continue on US Highway 287

    13.6 mi · 14 min · US Highway 287

  85. 85

    Turn straight onto Boykin Drive

    26.2 mi · 28 min · Boykin Drive

  86. 86

    Continue on East 2nd Street

    1.6 mi · 2 min · East 2nd Street

  87. 87

    Continue on US Highway 287

    28.4 mi · 29 min · US Highway 287

  88. 88

    Continue on East 1st Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · East 1st Street

  89. 89

    Continue on US Highway 287

    19.6 mi · 20 min · US Highway 287

  90. 90

    Keep slight left to continue on I 40 West, US 287 North

    71.9 mi · 1 hr 16 min

  91. 91

    Continue straight

    894 mi · 15 hr 13 min

  92. 92

    Merge slight left onto Barstow and Mojave Freeway

    3.4 mi · 4 min · Barstow and Mojave Freeway

  93. 93

    Take the exit slight right toward CA 58 West: Bakersfield

    3260 ft · 1 min

  94. 94

    Continue on Barstow-Bakersfield Highway

    34.8 mi · 40 min · Barstow-Bakersfield Highway

  95. 95

    Continue on Mojave-Barstow Highway

    26.9 mi · 30 min · Mojave-Barstow Highway

  96. 96

    Continue on Barstow–Bakersfield Highway

    8.2 mi · 9 min · Barstow–Bakersfield Highway

  97. 97

    Continue on Bakersfield–Tehachapi Highway

    1.2 km · 51 sec · Bakersfield–Tehachapi Highway

  98. 98

    Continue on Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway

    54.6 mi · 1 hr 3 min · Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway

  99. 99

    Continue on Centennial Corridor

    2.3 mi · 3 min · Centennial Corridor

  100. 100

    Continue on Westside Parkway

    6.6 mi · 8 min · Westside Parkway

  101. 101

    Continue on Stockdale Highway

    4.3 mi · 6 min · Stockdale Highway

  102. 102

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Stockdale Highway

    46 m · 2 sec · Stockdale Highway

  103. 103

    Exit the roundabout onto Stockdale Highway

    4.5 mi · 6 min · Stockdale Highway

  104. 104

    Take the exit straight toward I 5 North

    2621 ft · 1 min

  105. 105

    Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway

    149.6 mi · 2 hr 40 min · Westside Freeway

  106. 106

    Take the exit slight right toward CA 152 West: Gilroy, Hollister, San Jose

    1038 ft · 27 sec

  107. 107

    Continue straight

    28.7 mi · 33 min

  108. 108

    Keep slight right

    11.9 mi · 17 min

  109. 109

    Take the exit slight right toward US 101 North: San Jose

    2466 ft · 1 min

  110. 110

    Merge slight left onto South Valley Freeway

    19.9 mi · 23 min · South Valley Freeway

  111. 111

    Keep slight left

    21.9 mi · 25 min

  112. 112

    Keep slight left

    3.7 mi · 4 min

  113. 113

    Take the exit slight right toward Embarcadero Road, Oregon Expressway, Stanford University

    1343 ft · 38 sec

  114. 114

    Keep slight left to continue on Stanford University, Embarcadero Road

    994 ft · 24 sec

  115. 115

    Keep slight left to continue on US 101 North: Stanford University, Embarcadero Road West, San Francisco

    877 ft · 21 sec

  116. 116

    Keep slight right to continue on Stanford University, Embarcadero Road West

    832 ft · 21 sec

  117. 117

    Continue on Embarcadero Road

    1.2 mi · 4 min · Embarcadero Road

  118. 118

    Turn sharp left onto Middlefield Road

    30 m · 3 sec · Middlefield Road

  119. 119

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Middlefield Road

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between San José and Palo Alto.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
119 steps
25 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
33
13 merges, 20 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
3.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 40 West
966 mi · 30%
I 20 West
371 mi · 12%
Florida's Turnpike
368 mi · 12%
I 10 West
335 mi · 11%
Westside Freeway
150 mi · 5%
US 49 North
82.3 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

I 40 West

Continue straight

894 mi · 15h 13m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
58h 08m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
116h 18m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+140.5 mi
3032.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Henrietta
29h 04m from San José
Leave By
3:42 PM CST
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny near Palo Alto.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from San José to Palo Alto?

The road trip is about 3173.1 miles (5106.6 km) and usually takes 58h 08m 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?

Henrietta is a useful midpoint, sitting about 1585.4 miles from San José and 1587.7 miles from Palo Alto.

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

The direct path is about 3032.6 miles (4880.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 140.5 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 CST. 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 $554.36 one way or $1,108.73 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 995.1 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between San José and Palo Alto, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.

What should you check before leaving?

Before arriving, the latest forecast around Palo Alto is Mostly Sunny.

Stop Ideas Near Henrietta

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

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

RAIL

Gainesville

100 mi away
605 East California Street
RAIL

Ardmore station

106 mi away
251 East Main St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between San José and Palo Alto. Straight-line distance: 3032.63 mi (4880.55 km).

San José

#1 San José

Located in the Central Valley, it is the largest city in Costa Rica and serves as the country's political and economic center.

Population335,007
Coordinates9.9333300, -84.0833300
Altitude-
CountryCosta Rica
Palo Alto

#2 Palo Alto

The most populous city in Santa Clara County, California.

Population67,008
Coordinates37.4418800, -122.1430200
Altitude9
CountryUnited States
Start: San José (-84.08333, 9.93333)
End: Palo Alto (-122.14302, 37.44188)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 5107 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)105h 43m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)79h 19m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)63h 27m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)52h 53m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)45h 19m
80 mph (129 km/h)39h 35m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
111.97 gal
423.85 L · about $554.36
Round trip
$1,108.73
223.94 gal · 847.7 L
Estimated CO2
995.1 kg one way
Round trip: 1990.2 kg / 4388 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.95 $554.36 $1,108.73
Mid-grade $5.34 $597.70 $1,195.39
Premium $5.57 $623.23 $1,246.45
Diesel $6.37 $712.80 $1,425.60

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 San José · Jul 18, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between San José, 08 and Palo Alto, CA. The current time in San José is 12:10:25, although it is 11:10:25 in Palo Alto.

Distance to Other Cities

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.