How far is Summerland, CA from San Jose, CA?

The driving distance from Summerland, CA to San Jose, CA is about 285.8 miles (459.9 km), with a travel time of about 04h 47m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 239.2 miles (384.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 34m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PST.
Trip Tools

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.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
285.77 mi
04h 47m
Flight
239.15 mi
384.88 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Summerland.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
239.15 mi
Kilometers
384.88 km
Flight Time
00h 28m

Driving Distance

Road route
285.77 mi
Kilometers
459.91 km
Drive Time
04h 47m

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 04h 47m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in San Jose
Wed, Nov 11, 5:00 AM PST
Return by in Summerland
Wed, Nov 11, 9:47 AM PST
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Summerland
2026-11-11T00:12
Arrive San Jose
Wed, Nov 11, 5:00 AM PST
Route Timing
04h 47m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PST
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:47 AM to 12:47 PM PST

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
7:26 AM PST
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Summerland
9:00 PM PST
Early departure recommended

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.

Mid-route stop
Lake Nacimiento
CA

Census designated place

From Summerland
142 mi
02h 23m
To San Jose
143.7 mi
02h 23m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
Summerland Weather
CA
Live fallback forecast
80°F
Veterans Day
Using Toro Canyon as the closest live forecast in the Santa Barbara County weather hub.

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Nov 11 6:00 AM PST
Wind
5 mph N
Destination
76°F
Veterans Day

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Nov 11 6:00 AM PST
Wind
3 mph ENE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Summerland and San Jose.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Summerland and San Jose.

  1. 1

    Start on Banner Avenue

    558 ft · 32 sec · Banner Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Colville Street

    98 m · 16 sec · Colville Street

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Lillie Avenue

    528 ft · 18 sec · Lillie Avenue

  4. 4

    Continue on Ortega Hill Road

    1014 ft · 39 sec · Ortega Hill Road

  5. 5

    Take the ramp left toward US 101 North

    611 ft · 15 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto El Camino Real

    9.3 mi · 11 min · El Camino Real

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward CA 154: State Street, Cachuma Lake

    1127 ft · 29 sec

  8. 8

    Continue on Calle Real

    1672 ft · 40 sec · Calle Real

  9. 9

    Turn right onto Chumash Highway

    23.9 mi · 33 min · Chumash Highway

  10. 10

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Chumash Highway

    35 m · 2 sec · Chumash Highway

  11. 11

    Exit the roundabout onto Chumash Highway

    2.2 mi · 3 min · Chumash Highway

  12. 12

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Chumash Highway

    43 m · 2 sec · Chumash Highway

  13. 13

    Exit the roundabout onto Chumash Highway

    6.3 mi · 10 min · Chumash Highway

  14. 14

    Take the ramp right toward US 101 North

    1138 ft · 31 sec

  15. 15

    Merge slight left

    229.6 mi · 4 hr 25 min

  16. 16

    Keep slight right to continue on CA 85 North: Cupertino, Mountain View

    5.2 mi · 6 min

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward CA 87 North: Downtown San Jose

    1 km · 51 sec

  18. 18

    Continue on Guadalupe Parkway

    4.3 mi · 5 min · Guadalupe Parkway

  19. 19

    Continue on Guadalupe Freeway

    2235 ft · 29 sec · Guadalupe Freeway

  20. 20

    Take the exit slight right toward CA 82

    1010 ft · 19 sec

  21. 21

    Keep slight left to continue on CA 87 North: Santa Clara Street, Julian Street

    2389 ft · 52 sec

  22. 22

    Keep slight left to continue on CA 87 North

    1469 ft · 36 sec

  23. 23

    Keep slight right to continue on Julian Street

    982 ft · 26 sec

  24. 24

    Turn right onto West Saint James Street

    867 ft · 28 sec · West Saint James Street

  25. 25

    Turn left onto North Market Street

    127 m · 9 sec · North Market Street

  26. 26

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Market Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Summerland and San Jose.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
26 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
11
2 merges, 9 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
US 101 North
230 mi · 80%
Chumash Highway
32.5 mi · 11%
El Camino Real
9.32 mi · 3%
CA 85 North
5.18 mi · 2%
Guadalupe Parkway
4.34 mi · 2%
CA 87 North
1.36 mi
Longest Stretch

US 101 North

Merge slight left

230 mi · 04h 25m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
04h 47m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 34m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+46.6 mi
239.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Lake Nacimiento
02h 23m from Summerland
Leave By
7:26 AM PST
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Summerland 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 Summerland to San Jose?

The road trip is about 285.8 miles (459.9 km) and usually takes 04h 47m 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?

Lake Nacimiento is a useful midpoint, sitting about 142 miles from Summerland and 143.7 miles from San Jose.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 239.2 miles (384.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 46.6 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 PST. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:26 AM PST.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $57.90 one way or $115.80 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 89.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Summerland and Sunny near San Jose.

Stop Ideas Near Lake Nacimiento

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Lake Nacimiento and the surrounding midpoint area.
Stop photo coming soon
Scenic stop 14 mi away

City Hall Parking Lot

Paso Robles , CA
Paso Robles, CA 93446, United States
Parking lot
Stop photo coming soon
Practical stop 14.1 mi away

Paso Robles Water & Sewer

Paso Robles , CA
821 Pine St #A, Paso Robles, CA 93446, United States
Rating 4.7/5 3 reviews Sewage disposal service,Water utility company
Stop photo coming soon
Meeting point 14 mi away

Paso Robles City Clerk

Paso Robles , CA
1000 Spring St, Paso Robles, CA 93446, United States
Rating 5.0/5 6 reviews City government office
Stop photo coming soon
Nearby stop 13.5 mi away

San Luis Obispo County Fire Station #34

Bradley , CA
2300 Ridge Rider Rd, Bradley, CA 93426, United States
Fire station

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Lake Nacimiento.

RAIL

Paso Robles station

21 mi away
800 Pine Street
BUS

Atascadero, California

33 mi away
6910 El Camino Real
BUS

San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly), California

53 mi away
Grand Avenue & Deer Road
RAIL

San Luis Obispo

54 mi away
1011 Railroad Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Summerland and San Jose. Straight-line distance: 239.15 mi (384.88 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Summerland

Situated on coastal hills sloping toward the Pacific Ocean in Santa Barbara County, this community lies at an elevation of 121 feet.

Population0
Coordinates34.4213800, -119.5965200
Altitude37
CountryUnited States
San Jose

#2 San Jose

The tenth most populous city in the United States and the center of the San Jose metropolitan area.

Population1,013,616
Coordinates37.3393900, -121.8949600
Altitude26
CountryUnited States
Start: Banner Avenue (-119.596522, 34.421376)
End: North Market Street (-121.894962, 37.339389)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 460 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 31m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 08m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 42m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 45m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 04m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 33m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.08 gal
38.17 L · about $57.90
Round trip
$115.80
20.16 gal · 76.34 L
Estimated CO2
89.6 kg one way
Round trip: 179.2 kg / 395 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.74 $57.90 $115.80
Mid-grade $5.97 $60.16 $120.31
Premium $6.17 $62.18 $124.37
Diesel $8.15 $82.10 $164.20

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 · Nov 10, 2026

There is no time difference between Summerland and San Jose. The current time is 00:12:45.

Distance to Other Cities

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.