How far is Union City, CA from Santa Clara, CA?
The driving distance from Union City, CA to Santa Clara, CA is about 22.6 miles (36.3 km), with a travel time of about 00h 32m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 18.1 miles (29.2 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 04m 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 32m.
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.
A 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 Union City and Santa Clara.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Union City and Santa Clara.
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1
Start on Cambridge Way
59 m · 11 sec · Cambridge Way
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2
Continue on Smith Street
2915 ft · 2 min · Smith Street
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3
Continue on Alvarado-Niles Road
1820 ft · 40 sec · Alvarado-Niles Road
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4
Take the ramp slight right toward I 880 South: San Jose
2268 ft · 57 sec
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5
Merge slight left onto Nimitz Freeway
16 mi · 19 min · Nimitz Freeway
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6
Take the exit slight right toward Montague Expressway
760 ft · 19 sec
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7
Keep slight right to continue on Montague Expressway West
1370 ft · 33 sec
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8
Merge slight left onto Montague Expressway
1 km · 1 min · Montague Expressway
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9
Turn left onto East Trimble Road
1.1 km · 1 min · East Trimble Road
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10
Continue on West Trimble Road
1.3 km · 1 min · West Trimble Road
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11
Continue on De La Cruz Boulevard
1.5 mi · 3 min · De La Cruz Boulevard
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12
Keep slight right to continue on De La Cruz Boulevard
1241 ft · 21 sec · De La Cruz Boulevard
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13
Turn slight right onto Civic Center, El Camino Real
721 ft · 28 sec
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14
Turn left onto El Camino Real
3163 ft · 1 min · El Camino Real
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15
Turn right onto Lincoln Street
643 ft · 18 sec · Lincoln Street
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16
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Lincoln Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Union City and Santa Clara.
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.
Nimitz Freeway
Merge slight left onto Nimitz Freeway
16 mi · 00h 19m
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 Union City and Sunny near Santa Clara.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Union City to Santa Clara?
The road trip is about 22.6 miles (36.3 km) and usually takes 00h 32m 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?
Milpitas is a useful midpoint, sitting about 11.2 miles from Union City and 11.3 miles from Santa Clara.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 18.1 miles (29.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 4.5 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 $5.01 one way or $10.02 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 7.1 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Union City and Sunny near Santa Clara.
Stop Ideas Near Milpitas
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 Milpitas.
Santa Clara – Great America station
Santa Clara station
San Jose Diridon station
Fremont (San Joaquin Buses), California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Union City and Santa Clara. Straight-line distance: 18.11 mi (29.15 km).
#1 Union City
A city in Placer County, California.
| Population | 74,107 |
| Coordinates | 37.5963232, -122.0816297 |
| Altitude | 3 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Santa Clara
The third most populous city in Santa Clara County, California.
| Population | 131,055 |
| Coordinates | 37.3541100, -121.9552400 |
| Altitude | 23 |
| Country | United States |
End: Santa Clara (-121.95524, 37.35411)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 36 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 00h 45m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 00h 33m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 27m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 22m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 19m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 16m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $6.26 | $5.01 | $10.02 |
| Mid-grade | $6.50 | $5.20 | $10.40 |
| Premium | $6.69 | $5.35 | $10.70 |
| Diesel | $8.41 | $6.73 | $13.46 |
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 · Oct 15, 2026