How far is Santa Maria, CA from San Jose, CA?
The driving distance from Santa Maria, CA to San Jose, CA is about 342.7 miles (551.5 km), with a travel time of about 05h 33m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 289.4 miles (465.8 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 07m 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 05h 33m.
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.
Census-designated place in Kings County, California
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Santa Maria and San Jose.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Santa Maria and San Jose.
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1
Start on Santa Maria Road
3083 ft · 2 min · Santa Maria Road
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2
Continue on Mulholland Drive
1.1 mi · 3 min · Mulholland Drive
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3
Turn right onto Alhama Drive
130 m · 16 sec · Alhama Drive
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4
Turn left onto Golondrina Street
809 ft · 36 sec · Golondrina Street
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5
Turn right onto Saltillo Street
2534 ft · 1 min · Saltillo Street
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6
At the end of the road, turn right onto Canoga Avenue
2207 ft · 1 min · Canoga Avenue
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7
Turn right onto Dumetz Road
2440 ft · 1 min · Dumetz Road
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8
At the end of the road, turn left onto Serrania Avenue
2770 ft · 1 min · Serrania Avenue
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9
Continue on De Soto Avenue
141 m · 14 sec · De Soto Avenue
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10
Take the ramp right toward US 101 South: Ventura Freeway, Los Angeles
1490 ft · 22 sec
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11
Merge slight left onto Ventura Freeway
6.6 mi · 8 min · Ventura Freeway
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12
Take the exit slight right toward I 405 North, I 405 South: Sacramento, Santa Monica
758 ft · 19 sec
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13
Keep slight left to continue on I 405 North: Sacramento
2233 ft · 54 sec
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14
Merge slight left onto San Diego Freeway
9.6 mi · 11 min · San Diego Freeway
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15
Merge slight right
1.6 mi · 2 min
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16
Keep slight right to continue on I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
1.5 mi · 2 min
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17
Keep slight left
36.1 mi · 42 min
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18
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
22.3 mi · 25 min · Golden State Freeway
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19
Keep slight right to continue on Westside Freeway
182.5 mi · 3 hr 16 min · Westside Freeway
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20
Take the exit slight right toward CA 152 West: Gilroy, Hollister, San Jose
1038 ft · 27 sec
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21
Continue straight
28.7 mi · 33 min
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22
Keep slight right
11.9 mi · 17 min
-
23
Take the exit slight right toward US 101 North: San Jose
2466 ft · 1 min
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24
Merge slight left onto South Valley Freeway
19.9 mi · 23 min · South Valley Freeway
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25
Keep slight right to continue on CA 85 North: Cupertino, Mountain View
5.2 mi · 6 min
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26
Take the exit slight right toward CA 87 North: Downtown San Jose
1 km · 51 sec
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27
Continue on Guadalupe Parkway
4.3 mi · 5 min · Guadalupe Parkway
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28
Continue on Guadalupe Freeway
2235 ft · 29 sec · Guadalupe Freeway
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29
Take the exit slight right toward CA 82
1010 ft · 19 sec
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30
Keep slight left to continue on CA 87 North: Santa Clara Street, Julian Street
2389 ft · 52 sec
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31
Keep slight left to continue on CA 87 North
1469 ft · 36 sec
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32
Keep slight right to continue on Julian Street
982 ft · 26 sec
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33
Turn right onto West Saint James Street
867 ft · 30 sec · West Saint James Street
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34
Turn left onto North Market Street
127 m · 9 sec · North Market Street
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35
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · North Market Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Santa Maria and San Jose.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Westside Freeway
Keep slight right to continue on Westside Freeway
183 mi · 03h 16m
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.
Mostly Sunny leaving Santa Maria and Sunny near San Jose.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Santa Maria to San Jose?
The road trip is about 342.7 miles (551.5 km) and usually takes 05h 33m 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?
Kettleman City is a useful midpoint, sitting about 169.2 miles from Santa Maria and 173.5 miles from San Jose.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 289.4 miles (465.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 53.3 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 5:52 AM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $69.75 one way or $139.49 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 107.4 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Santa Maria and Sunny near San Jose.
Stop Ideas Near Kettleman City
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 Kettleman City.
Kettleman City, California
Lemoore, California
Corcoran station
Lemoore (Naval Air Station), California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Santa Maria and San Jose. Straight-line distance: 289.45 mi (465.83 km).
#1 Santa Maria
The third most populous city in Santa Barbara County, California.
| Population | 105,851 |
| Coordinates | 34.1314000, -118.5745300 |
| Altitude | 426 |
| Country | United States |
#2 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 |
End: North Market Street (-121.89496, 37.33939)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 551 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 11h 25m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 08h 34m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 51m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 42m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 53m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 16m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $69.75 | $139.49 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $73.34 | $146.68 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $75.48 | $150.96 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $91.49 | $182.97 |
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 · Apr 19, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.