How far is Willow Creek, CA from San Jose, CA?
The driving distance from Willow Creek, CA to San Jose, CA is about 349.3 miles (562.1 km), with a travel time of about 06h 04m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 265.6 miles (427.4 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 09m 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 04m.
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.
City in California, USA
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Willow Creek and San Jose.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Willow Creek and San Jose.
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1
Start on Bigfoot Scenic Byway
21 m · 9 sec · Bigfoot Scenic Byway
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2
Turn left onto Trinity Highway / CA Hwy 299
98.6 mi · 1 hr 57 min · Trinity Highway / CA Hwy 299
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3
Turn right onto Court Street
888 ft · 25 sec · Court Street
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4
Turn left onto Tehama Street
1.6 mi · 3 min · Tehama Street
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5
Take the exit slight right toward I 5 South: Sacramento
3233 ft · 55 sec
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6
Merge slight left onto Cascade Wonderland Highway
31.8 mi · 34 min · Cascade Wonderland Highway
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7
Continue on Westside Freeway
93 mi · 1 hr 40 min · Westside Freeway
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8
Keep slight right to continue on I 505 South: Winters, San Francisco
33.2 mi · 36 min
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9
Keep slight left to continue on I 80 West: San Francisco
2201 ft · 54 sec
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10
Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
14.7 mi · 17 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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11
Take the exit slight right toward I 680: Benicia, San Jose
3211 ft · 1 min
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12
Continue on Luther E Gibson Freeway
12.4 mi · 14 min · Luther E Gibson Freeway
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13
Continue on Benicia-Martinez Bridge
8 mi · 9 min · Benicia-Martinez Bridge
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14
Keep slight right to continue on Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
4.8 mi · 6 min · Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
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15
Continue on Donald D Doyle Highway
1.4 mi · 2 min · Donald D Doyle Highway
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16
Keep slight right to continue on Donald D Doyle Highway
31 mi · 36 min · Donald D Doyle Highway
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17
Take the exit slight right toward CA 262
866 ft · 21 sec
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18
Keep slight right to continue on CA 262: Northwestern Polytechnic University, Warm Springs District
1597 ft · 39 sec
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19
Merge slight left onto Mission Boulevard
1.5 mi · 2 min · Mission Boulevard
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20
Merge slight left onto Nimitz Freeway
8.3 mi · 10 min · Nimitz Freeway
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21
Take the exit slight right toward Downtown, North First Street
991 ft · 26 sec
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22
Turn left onto North 1st Street
1.5 mi · 4 min · North 1st Street
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23
Turn right onto West Julian Street
151 m · 18 sec · West Julian Street
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24
Turn left onto North Market Street
60 m · 7 sec · North Market Street
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25
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · North Market Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Willow Creek and San Jose.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Trinity Highway / CA Hwy 299
Turn left onto Trinity Highway / CA Hwy 299
98.6 mi · 01h 57m
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.
Sunny leaving Willow Creek 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 Willow Creek to San Jose?
The road trip is about 349.3 miles (562.1 km) and usually takes 06h 04m 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?
Willows is a useful midpoint, sitting about 172.3 miles from Willow Creek and 177 miles from San Jose.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 265.6 miles (427.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 83.7 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 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 $71.07 one way or $142.15 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 109.5 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Willow Creek and Sunny near San Jose.
Stop Ideas Near Willows
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 Willows.
Chico station
Corning, California
Oroville, California
Marysville, California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Willow Creek and San Jose. Straight-line distance: 265.57 mi (427.39 km).
#1 Willow Creek
Census-designated place in Humboldt County, California
| Population | 1,710 |
| Coordinates | 40.9395800, -123.6314400 |
| Altitude | 186 |
| 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: 562 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 11h 38m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 08h 43m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 59m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 49m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 59m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 21m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $71.07 | $142.15 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $74.73 | $149.47 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $76.91 | $153.83 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $93.23 | $186.45 |
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 31, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.