How far is Santa Clara, CA from Union City, CA?
The driving distance from Santa Clara, CA to Union City, CA is about 22.8 miles (36.7 km), with a travel time of about 00h 33m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 18.1 miles (29.2 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 06m 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 33m.
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 Santa Clara and Union City.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Santa Clara and Union City.
-
1
Start on Lincoln Street
638 ft · 20 sec · Lincoln Street
-
2
Turn left onto El Camino Real
2617 ft · 1 min · El Camino Real
-
3
Turn slight right
46 m · 7 sec
-
4
Turn slight right onto Lafayette Street
594 ft · 19 sec · Lafayette Street
-
5
Turn left onto Harrison Street
153 m · 25 sec · Harrison Street
-
6
Turn left onto Alviso Street
57 m · 4 sec · Alviso Street
-
7
Continue on De La Cruz Boulevard
1.9 mi · 3 min · De La Cruz Boulevard
-
8
Continue on West Trimble Road
1.2 km · 1 min · West Trimble Road
-
9
Continue on East Trimble Road
1.1 km · 1 min · East Trimble Road
-
10
Turn right onto Montague Expressway
1.4 km · 1 min · Montague Expressway
-
11
Take the exit slight right toward I 880 North
1206 ft · 29 sec
-
12
Keep slight left
1576 ft · 41 sec
-
13
Merge slight left onto Nimitz Freeway
4.4 mi · 5 min · Nimitz Freeway
-
14
Keep slight right to continue on Nimitz Freeway
10 mi · 12 min · Nimitz Freeway
-
15
Take the exit slight right toward Alvarado Boulevard, Fremont Boulevard North
958 ft · 24 sec
-
16
Turn left onto Fremont Boulevard
69 m · 9 sec · Fremont Boulevard
-
17
Continue on Alvarado Boulevard
2.1 mi · 4 min · Alvarado Boulevard
-
18
Turn right onto Union City Boulevard
1747 ft · 39 sec · Union City Boulevard
-
19
Turn left onto Cambridge Way
75 m · 10 sec · Cambridge Way
-
20
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Cambridge Way
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Santa Clara and Union City.
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.
Nimitz Freeway
Keep slight right to continue on Nimitz Freeway
9.99 mi · 00h 12m
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 Santa Clara and Sunny near Union City.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Santa Clara to Union City?
The road trip is about 22.8 miles (36.7 km) and usually takes 00h 33m 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?
Milpitas is a useful midpoint, sitting about 11.4 miles from Santa Clara and 11.4 miles from Union City.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 18.1 miles (29.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 4.7 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:24 PM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $5.07 one way or $10.14 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 7.2 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Santa Clara and Sunny near Union City.
Stop Ideas Near Milpitas
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 Milpitas.
Santa Clara – Great America station
Santa Clara station
San Jose Diridon station
Fremont (San Joaquin Buses), California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Santa Clara and Union City. Straight-line distance: 18.11 mi (29.15 km).
#1 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 |
#2 Union City
A city in Placer County, California.
| Population | 74,107 |
| Coordinates | 37.5963232, -122.0816297 |
| Altitude | 3 |
| Country | United States |
End: Union City (-122.08163, 37.596323)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 37 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 00h 45m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 00h 34m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 27m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 22m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 19m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 17m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $6.26 | $5.07 | $10.14 |
| Mid-grade | $6.50 | $5.26 | $10.53 |
| Premium | $6.69 | $5.42 | $10.84 |
| Diesel | $8.41 | $6.81 | $13.63 |
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 · Oct 15, 2026