How far is Scotts Valley, CA from San Jose, CA?
The driving distance from Scotts Valley, CA to San Jose, CA is about 26.3 miles (42.4 km), with a travel time of about 00h 31m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 21 miles (33.8 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 03m 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 31m.
This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.
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.
Incorporated town in Santa Clara County, California
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Scotts Valley and San Jose.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Scotts Valley and San Jose.
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1
Start on Scotts Valley Drive
1.5 km · 2 min · Scotts Valley Drive
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2
Turn right onto Granite Creek Road
1292 ft · 34 sec · Granite Creek Road
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3
Take the ramp left
874 ft · 11 sec
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4
Merge slight left onto Santa Cruz Highway
20.5 mi · 28 min · Santa Cruz Highway
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5
Take the exit slight right toward I 280 South: Downtown San Jose
2969 ft · 51 sec
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6
Merge slight left onto Sinclair Freeway
2.3 mi · 3 min · Sinclair Freeway
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7
Take the exit slight right toward CA 87 North, CA 87 South: San Jose International Airport, Guadalupe Parkway
1244 ft · 30 sec
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8
Keep slight left to continue on CA 87 North: San Jose International Airport, Guadalupe Parkway
1.2 km · 2 min
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9
Keep slight left to continue on CA 87 North
1469 ft · 36 sec
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10
Keep slight right to continue on Julian Street
982 ft · 26 sec
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11
Turn right onto West Saint James Street
867 ft · 28 sec · West Saint James Street
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12
Turn left onto North Market Street
127 m · 9 sec · North Market Street
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13
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · North Market Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Scotts Valley and San Jose.
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.
Santa Cruz Highway
Merge slight left onto Santa Cruz Highway
20.5 mi · 00h 28m
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 Scotts Valley 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 Scotts Valley to San Jose?
The road trip is about 26.3 miles (42.4 km) and usually takes 00h 31m 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?
Los Gatos is a useful midpoint, sitting about 13.2 miles from Scotts Valley and 13.2 miles from San Jose.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 21 miles (33.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 5.3 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:26 PM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $5.37 one way or $10.73 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 8.3 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Scotts Valley and Sunny near San Jose.
Stop Ideas Near Los Gatos
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 Los Gatos.
San Jose Diridon station
Santa Clara station
Santa Clara – Great America station
Scotts Valley, California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Scotts Valley and San Jose. Straight-line distance: 20.98 mi (33.77 km).
#1 Scotts Valley
City in Santa Cruz County, California, United States
| Population | 11,995 |
| Coordinates | 37.0510600, -122.0146800 |
| Altitude | 171 |
| 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: 42 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 00h 52m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 00h 39m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 31m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 26m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 22m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 19m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $5.37 | $10.73 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $5.64 | $11.28 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $5.81 | $11.61 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $7.04 | $14.07 |
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 16, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.