How far is West Carson, CA from San Jose, CA?
The driving distance from West Carson, CA to San Jose, CA is about 356.3 miles (573.4 km), with a travel time of about 06h 02m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 316.3 miles (509 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 05m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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 06h 02m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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 Kings County, California
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Chance Light Rain
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between West Carson and San Jose.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Carson and San Jose.
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1
Start on the route
660 ft · 51 sec
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2
At the end of the road, turn right onto South Vermont Avenue
29 m · 7 sec · South Vermont Avenue
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3
Continue on South Vermont Avenue
1133 ft · 34 sec · South Vermont Avenue
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4
Turn right onto West 223rd Street
1244 ft · 29 sec · West 223rd Street
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5
Turn left onto South Figueroa Street
1373 ft · 36 sec · South Figueroa Street
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6
Take the ramp left toward I 110 North: Los Angeles
1310 ft · 34 sec
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7
Merge slight left onto Harbor Freeway
1.3 mi · 2 min · Harbor Freeway
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8
Take the exit slight right toward I 405: San Diego Freeway, Santa Monica, Long Beach
94 m · 8 sec
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9
Continue on I 405 North, I 405 South: Santa Monica, Long Beach
560 ft · 14 sec
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10
Keep slight left to continue on I 405: Santa Monica, San Diego Freeway
2665 ft · 1 min
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11
Merge slight left onto San Diego Freeway
35.9 mi · 41 min · San Diego Freeway
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12
Merge slight right
1.6 mi · 2 min
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13
Keep slight right to continue on I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
1.5 mi · 2 min
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14
Keep slight left
36.1 mi · 42 min
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15
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
22.3 mi · 25 min · Golden State Freeway
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16
Keep slight right to continue on Westside Freeway
182.5 mi · 3 hr 16 min · Westside Freeway
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17
Take the exit slight right toward CA 152 West: Gilroy, Hollister, San Jose
1038 ft · 27 sec
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18
Continue straight
28.7 mi · 33 min
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19
Keep slight right
11.9 mi · 17 min
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20
Take the exit slight right toward US 101 North: San Jose
2466 ft · 1 min
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21
Merge slight left onto South Valley Freeway
19.9 mi · 23 min · South Valley Freeway
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22
Keep slight right to continue on CA 85 North: Cupertino, Mountain View
5.2 mi · 6 min
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23
Take the exit slight right toward CA 87 North: Downtown San Jose
1 km · 51 sec
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24
Continue on Guadalupe Parkway
4.3 mi · 5 min · Guadalupe Parkway
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25
Continue on Guadalupe Freeway
2235 ft · 29 sec · Guadalupe Freeway
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26
Take the exit slight right toward CA 82
1010 ft · 19 sec
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27
Keep slight left to continue on CA 87 North: Santa Clara Street, Julian Street
2389 ft · 52 sec
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28
Keep slight left to continue on CA 87 North
1469 ft · 36 sec
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29
Keep slight right to continue on Julian Street
982 ft · 26 sec
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30
Turn right onto West Saint James Street
867 ft · 28 sec · West Saint James Street
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31
Turn left onto North Market Street
127 m · 9 sec · North Market Street
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32
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · North Market Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between West Carson and San Jose.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Westside Freeway
Keep slight right to continue on Westside Freeway
183 mi · 03h 16m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
Better with a longer stop
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
Mostly Sunny leaving West Carson and Chance Light Rain near San Jose.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from West Carson to San Jose?
The road trip is about 356.3 miles (573.4 km) and usually takes 06h 02m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Kettleman City is a useful midpoint, sitting about 178.2 miles from West Carson and 178.1 miles from San Jose.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 316.3 miles (509 km), while the road route adds roughly 40 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 7:30 AM PDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $72.52 one way or $145.03 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 111.7 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around West Carson and Chance Light Rain near San Jose.
Stop Ideas Near Kettleman City
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 Kettleman City.
Kettleman City, California
Lemoore, California
Corcoran station
Lemoore (Naval Air Station), California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between West Carson and San Jose. Straight-line distance: 316.25 mi (508.96 km).
#1 West Carson
Census designated place
| Population | 21,699 |
| Coordinates | 33.8216800, -118.2925700 |
| Altitude | 13 |
| 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: 573 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 11h 52m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 08h 54m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 07h 07m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 56m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 05h 05m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 26m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $72.52 | $145.03 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $76.25 | $152.50 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $78.47 | $156.95 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $95.12 | $190.23 |
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 19, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.