How far is Shasta Lake, CA from San Jose, CA?
The driving distance from Shasta Lake, CA to San Jose, CA is about 256.6 miles (412.9 km), with a travel time of about 03h 57m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 232.3 miles (373.8 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 55m 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 03h 57m.
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 Colusa 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 Shasta Lake and San Jose.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Shasta Lake and San Jose.
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1
Start on the route
28 m · 12 sec
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2
Turn left
18 m · 10 sec
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3
Turn left onto Montana Avenue
70 m · 14 sec · Montana Avenue
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4
Turn right onto Shasta Dam Boulevard
1.1 mi · 2 min · Shasta Dam Boulevard
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5
Take the ramp straight
26 m · 2 sec
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6
Keep slight right
1311 ft · 32 sec
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7
Merge slight left onto Cascade Wonderland Highway
3.2 mi · 4 min · Cascade Wonderland Highway
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8
Keep slight left to continue on Cascade Wonderland Highway
35.5 mi · 39 min · Cascade Wonderland Highway
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9
Continue on Westside Freeway
93 mi · 1 hr 40 min · Westside Freeway
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10
Keep slight right to continue on I 505 South: Winters, San Francisco
33.2 mi · 36 min
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11
Keep slight left to continue on I 80 West: San Francisco
2201 ft · 54 sec
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12
Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
14.7 mi · 17 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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13
Take the exit slight right toward I 680: Benicia, San Jose
3211 ft · 1 min
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14
Continue on Luther E Gibson Freeway
12.4 mi · 14 min · Luther E Gibson Freeway
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15
Continue on Benicia-Martinez Bridge
8 mi · 9 min · Benicia-Martinez Bridge
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16
Keep slight right to continue on Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
4.8 mi · 6 min · Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
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17
Continue on Donald D Doyle Highway
1.4 mi · 2 min · Donald D Doyle Highway
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18
Keep slight right to continue on Donald D Doyle Highway
31 mi · 36 min · Donald D Doyle Highway
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19
Take the exit slight right toward CA 262
866 ft · 21 sec
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20
Keep slight right to continue on CA 262: Northwestern Polytechnic University, Warm Springs District
1597 ft · 39 sec
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21
Merge slight left onto Mission Boulevard
1.5 mi · 2 min · Mission Boulevard
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22
Merge slight left onto Nimitz Freeway
8.3 mi · 10 min · Nimitz Freeway
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23
Take the exit slight right toward Downtown, North First Street
991 ft · 26 sec
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24
Turn left onto North 1st Street
1.5 mi · 4 min · North 1st Street
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25
Turn right onto West Julian Street
151 m · 18 sec · West Julian Street
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26
Turn left onto North Market Street
60 m · 7 sec · North Market Street
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27
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · North Market Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Shasta Lake and San Jose.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
Westside Freeway
Continue on Westside Freeway
93 mi · 01h 40m
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.
Sunny leaving Shasta Lake 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 Shasta Lake to San Jose?
The road trip is about 256.6 miles (412.9 km) and usually takes 03h 57m 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?
Arbuckle is a useful midpoint, sitting about 126 miles from Shasta Lake and 130.6 miles from San Jose.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 232.3 miles (373.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 24.3 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 9:04 AM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $52.21 one way or $104.42 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 80.4 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Shasta Lake and Sunny near San Jose.
Stop Ideas Near Arbuckle
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Denny's
Pilot Travel Center
Alsco-Geyer Ace Hardware
Jack in the Box
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Arbuckle.
Marysville, California
Davis station
Sacramento Valley Station
Sacramento (State Capitol), California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Shasta Lake and San Jose. Straight-line distance: 232.25 mi (373.77 km).
#1 Shasta Lake
City located in Shasta County, California
| Population | 10,379 |
| Coordinates | 40.6804300, -122.3708400 |
| Altitude | 246 |
| 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: 413 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 08h 32m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 06h 24m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 05h 07m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 04h 16m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 03h 39m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 12m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $52.21 | $104.42 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $54.90 | $109.79 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $56.50 | $113.00 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $68.48 | $136.96 |
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.