How far is Sunnyvale, CA from San Jose, CA?
Fastest route
Sunnyvale and San Jose are both located in Santa Clara County, California. The distance between the two cities is 12 miles (19 kilometers) by car, following the US-101 N route. The fastest route from Sunnyvale to San Jose is 22 minutes far apart, if you drive non-stop. The halfway point is Cupertino, CA.
Here are the steps to get from Sunnyvale to San Jose by car:
- Head east on El Camino Real toward N Wolfe Rd.
- Turn right onto N Wolfe Rd.
- Turn left to merge onto US-101 N.
- Keep right at the fork and follow signs for US-101 N toward San Jose.
- Continue to follow US-101 N.
- Take exit 386A for Alum Rock Ave/Santa Clara St/CA-130.
- Turn right onto E Santa Clara St.
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 18m.
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.
The third most populous city in Santa Clara 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 Sunnyvale and San Jose.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sunnyvale and San Jose.
-
1
Start on West El Camino Real
726 ft · 18 sec · West El Camino Real
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2
Turn slight left
86 m · 20 sec
-
3
Turn sharp left onto West El Camino Real
1174 ft · 33 sec · West El Camino Real
-
4
Turn right onto South Mathilda Avenue
1.9 mi · 4 min · South Mathilda Avenue
-
5
Take the ramp slight right toward US 101 South: San Jose
1789 ft · 46 sec
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6
Merge slight left onto Bayshore Freeway
5.4 mi · 6 min · Bayshore Freeway
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7
Take the exit slight right toward CA 87 South: Guadalupe Parkway
2145 ft · 53 sec
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8
Continue on Guadalupe Freeway
2.5 mi · 3 min · Guadalupe Freeway
-
9
Take the exit slight right toward Julian Street, Saint James Street
1661 ft · 42 sec
-
10
Turn left onto West Julian Street
682 ft · 23 sec · West Julian Street
-
11
Continue on West Saint James Street
867 ft · 30 sec · West Saint James Street
-
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 Sunnyvale 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.
Bayshore Freeway
Merge slight left onto Bayshore Freeway
5.42 mi · 00h 06m
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 Sunnyvale 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 Sunnyvale to San Jose?
The road trip is about 11.7 miles (18.8 km) and usually takes 00h 18m 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?
Santa Clara is a useful midpoint, sitting about 5.8 miles from Sunnyvale and 5.8 miles from San Jose.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 8 miles (12.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 3.7 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 7:52 PM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $2.37 one way or $4.73 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 3.6 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Sunnyvale and Sunny near San Jose.
Stop Ideas Near Santa Clara
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 Santa Clara.
Santa Clara station
Santa Clara – Great America station
San Jose Diridon station
Fremont (San Joaquin Buses), California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Sunnyvale and San Jose. Straight-line distance: 8.03 mi (12.92 km).
#1 Sunnyvale
The sixth most populous city in Santa Clara County, California.
| Population | 151,746 |
| Coordinates | 37.3688300, -122.0363500 |
| Altitude | 39 |
| 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: 19 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 00h 23m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 00h 17m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 14m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 11m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 10m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 08m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $2.37 | $4.73 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $2.49 | $4.97 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $2.56 | $5.12 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $3.10 | $6.20 |
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 · May 22, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.