how far is san jose from san francisco

February 25, 2026

San Jose is roughly 40–50 miles (about 65–80 km) from San Francisco, depending on the exact start and end points and route.

Quick Scoop

The straight‑line distance between the two cities is about 42 miles (67–68 km).

Typical driving routes (like US‑101 or I‑280 between city centers) are around 48 miles / 77 km , usually taking 45–60 minutes in light to moderate traffic.

From airport to airport (San Jose SJC to San Francisco SFO), the driving distance is about 34 miles (≈55 km) , with an estimated drive of about 40–45 minutes in good conditions.

Travel Time Pointers

In rush hour, that same drive can stretch closer to 1–1.5 hours because of Bay Area congestion.

Many commuters use Caltrain between the two, often budgeting around 1 hour door‑to‑door if they live and work near stations.

Distance Snapshot (City to City)

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Type	Distance
Straight line (city centers)	≈42 miles / 67–68 km
Typical driving route (city centers)	≈48 miles / 77 km
Airport to airport (SJC–SFO) drive	≈34 miles / 55 km

**TL;DR:** If you’re planning a regular trip, think of it as about a **45–60 minute, ~50‑mile drive** under normal conditions between San Jose and San Francisco.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.