How far is South San Francisco, CA from San Jose, CA?
The driving distance from South San Francisco, CA to San Jose, CA is about 39.7 miles (63.9 km), with a travel time of about 00h 43m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 35.5 miles (57.2 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 26m 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 43m.
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.
Census designated place
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 South San Francisco and San Jose.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South San Francisco and San Jose.
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1
Start on Airport Boulevard
112 m · 16 sec · Airport Boulevard
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2
Turn left onto Miller Avenue
75 m · 12 sec · Miller Avenue
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3
Turn right onto Cypress Avenue
111 m · 17 sec · Cypress Avenue
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4
Turn right onto Lux Avenue
65 m · 12 sec · Lux Avenue
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5
Turn right onto Airport Boulevard
2662 ft · 59 sec · Airport Boulevard
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6
Continue on Produce Avenue
1386 ft · 27 sec · Produce Avenue
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7
Take the ramp straight toward US 101 South: San Jose
802 ft · 22 sec
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8
Merge slight left onto Bayshore Freeway
2286 ft · 30 sec · Bayshore Freeway
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9
Keep slight left to continue on Bayshore Freeway
25 mi · 29 min · Bayshore Freeway
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10
Keep slight left to continue on Bayshore Freeway
8.4 mi · 10 min · Bayshore Freeway
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11
Take the exit slight right toward CA 87 South: Guadalupe Parkway
2145 ft · 53 sec
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12
Continue on Guadalupe Freeway
2.5 mi · 3 min · Guadalupe Freeway
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13
Take the exit slight right toward Julian Street, Saint James Street
1661 ft · 42 sec
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14
Turn left onto West Julian Street
682 ft · 23 sec · West Julian Street
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15
Continue on West Saint James Street
867 ft · 28 sec · West Saint James Street
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16
Turn left onto North Market Street
127 m · 9 sec · North Market Street
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17
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · North Market Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between South San Francisco 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.
Bayshore Freeway
Keep slight left to continue on Bayshore Freeway
25 mi · 00h 29m
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.
Mostly Sunny leaving South San Francisco 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 South San Francisco to San Jose?
The road trip is about 39.7 miles (63.9 km) and usually takes 00h 43m 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?
North Fair Oaks is a useful midpoint, sitting about 19.3 miles from South San Francisco and 20.4 miles from San Jose.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 35.5 miles (57.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 4.2 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 7:04 PM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $8.08 one way or $16.15 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 12.4 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around South San Francisco and Sunny near San Jose.
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between South San Francisco and San Jose. Straight-line distance: 35.56 mi (57.23 km).
#1 South San Francisco
The most populous city in San Mateo County, California.
| Population | 66,558 |
| Coordinates | 37.6546600, -122.4077500 |
| Altitude | 4 |
| 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 (-121.894962, 37.339389)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 64 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 01h 19m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 00h 59m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 47m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 39m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 34m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 29m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $8.08 | $16.15 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $8.49 | $16.98 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $8.74 | $17.48 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $10.59 | $21.19 |
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 18, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.