How to travel from Sacramento to San Jose, United States of America

The distance between Sacramento and San Jose is around 116 miles (186km) and the quickest way to get there is to drive which takes around 2hrs.

4 routes found

We've found 4 different ways to get from Sacramento to San Jose by train, bus, car and plane. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

👋 Also check out San JoseSacramento if you're planning a return trip.

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plane
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train
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Plane and Train

Fly from Sacramento (SMF) to San Francisco (SFO) then take the train to San Jose Diridon Caltrain.

  • Duration2h 35m
  • Flight time57min
  • Typical cost
    $175
Operated by

Multiple operators

💰 Cheapest
2
bus
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bus
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Bus

Take the bus to Stockton and then to San Jose.

  • Duration3hrs
  • Departsevery 4 hours
3
train
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Train

Take the train to San Jose.

  • Duration3h 5m
  • Departsevery 3 hours
  • Typical cost
    $40
🚀 Fastest
4
car
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Drive

Drive to San Jose.

  • Duration2hrs
  • Distance116 miles (186km)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Sacramento and San Jose

There are several options for getting from Sacramento to San Jose by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around and will take around 3hrs. If you need to get there more quickly, you can drive and arrive in approximately 2hrs, though it is a bit more costly at approximately $12.

The distance between Sacramento and San Jose is around 116 miles (186km). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 89 miles (143km)

It takes around 3h 5m to get from Sacramento and San Jose by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 2hrs to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Sacramento to San Jose is to drive which takes around 2hrs and will set you back approx $12.

The cheapest way to travel between Sacramento and San Jose, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Sacramento and San Jose. It typically takes around 3h 5m and departs every 3 hours.

Yes there is a direct train service that runs between Sacramento and San Jose with no changeovers required. The train runs every 3 hours and takes 3h 5m.

Amtrak run train services between Sacramento and San Jose. Trains depart every 3 hours and will take around 3h 5m, however, this may vary depending on the particular service and whether it runs express or stops all stations.

Bus travel

Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Sacramento and San Jose. It typically takes around 3hrs and departs every 4 hours.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Sacramento to San Jose. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Stockton. These services run every 4 hours and will take a minimum of 3hrs.

Amtrak run regular bus services between Sacramento and San Jose. Buses run every 4 hours and take around 3hrs on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Sacramento to San Jose. We recommend that you fly from Sacramento (SMF) to San Francisco (SFO) then take the train to San Jose Diridon Caltrain. instead which will take 2h 35m.

The closest major airport to San Jose is San Jose International Airport (SJC) (SJC) which is approximately 5km (3 miles) from San Jose. Oakland International Airport (OAK) (OAK) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO) (SFO) are also nearby and might be a better alternative airport depending on where you are flying from.

Drive yourself

Yes it is possible to drive from Sacramento and San Jose. The distance is around 116 miles (186km) by road and it will take around 2hrs in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Sacramento to San Jose is to take the train which takes, on average, 3h 5m and will usually cost around $40.

How do I get from Sacramento to San Jose

Compare travel optionsbetween Sacramento and San Jose

Transport options from Sacramento to San Jose
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Plane and Train
2h 35m
$175
every 30 mins213km (133 miles)
Bus
3hrs
every 4 hours215km (134 miles)
Train
3h 5m
$40
every 3 hours215km (134 miles)
Drive
2hrs
$12
on demand186km (116 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Sacramento and San Jose

Train operators

Airlines

Airports near San Jose

The following major airports near San Jose offer regular flights to various popular destinations within United States of America and internationally.

SJC
San Jose International Airport (SJC)
International Airport
Distance
3 miles (5km) from San Jose
OAK
Oakland International Airport (OAK)
International Airport
Distance
31 miles (50km) from San Jose
SFO
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
International Airport
Distance
33 miles (54km) from San Jose