How far is Disneyland to San Jose?

[Jennifer S]

DH doesn't want to go to DW again (we were just there in Sept) but he does want to go to California to see his Aunt who lives in San Jose, CA. I thought maybe we could go 2 days to DL while we were there.

Is two days enough for Disneyland? How far from San Jose?

Thanks!!!

 

[jel0511]

I don't live in California, but San Jose is right next to San Francisco, and Anaheim is right next to LA. You're looking at around a 400 - 500 mile drive one way.

 

[Disney01]

It's about a 7 hour drive, taking Hwy. 5. Two days is okay, three is better.

 

[Dan Murphy]

About 365 miles........

http://maps.google.com/

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=from: anaheim ca to: san jose ca

 

[caitycaity]

it's very driveable in 1 day.

 

[minniecarousel]

It's at least a 5 hour drive from San Jose to Disneyland. If I had only two days, I'd leave by 5 AM - be in DLand before noon, stay at a local motel for the night (book ahead) and stay as late as I could the second day. You'll have rush hour traffic leaving the LA area - but that can't be avoided. If you stay a second night, you'll be better off leaving the area around noon, avoiding some traffic and geting you back to SJ in the early evening.

So - 3 days would be much better than 2!!

 

[Jennifer S]

Thanks for the info. I was hoping it was a little closer. I think it might be too far for our little ones (4 & 8) esp. since it's a 6 hour flight to CA first. I guess I'll do more research. Maybe we could drive 2 days and stop and see other things along the way.

Thanks Dan for the links.

 

[Jennifer S]

I'd have plenty of driving time I was wondering how long to see the parks? I have never been there and didn't know how big it is. How much time do I need at Disneyland?

 

[raidermatt]

San Jose is south of SF, so its about 30-45 minutes closer.

The speed limit on I5 is 70 for much of the drive. If you stay around that, you're looking at about 6 1/4 hours, maybe a tad more, assuming you (A) don't make any prolonged stops, and (B) don't hit LA during the rush hours. That's door to door.

You can shave a bit off of that if you are the type that tends to exceed the posted limit.

When you say two days, are you talking about driving down one day, and returning the next? If so, that's not something I'd like to do, but it is possible.

 

[yeartolate]

We do the 6 hour drive (if you leave at "bad times" it could be 9 hours!) all the time.

By the time we get taken to the airport - get there 90 minutes ahead of time, deal with flight delays, wait for baggage, arrange transportation it can be nearly a 6 hour ordeal anyway. Since I enjoy the drive, that is the tiebraker.

I say that, but we will probably fly next time - I am skiddish with major freeway driving since my car was totalled on the freeway last December by an overly aggressive and stupid driver.

 

[raidermatt]

I'd have plenty of driving time I was wondering how long to see the parks? I have never been there and didn't know how big it is. How much time do I need at Disneyland?

To see all/most of Disneyland, 2 days. Its pretty much the same amount of time as MK. The area is more compact, but that doesn't really save much time. If you skip the "duplicates", like Dumbo, Peter Pan, HISTA, Big Thunder, Splash, Space Mt (if its open when you go), Pooh, and a few others, you can cut the time down significantly. Some of those aren't EXACT duplicates, but close enough. I purposely didn't include Pirates, because it is significantly better at DL. The MK version is abbreviated, though it does have a better queue.

DCA, one day or less, depending on how much it appeals to you. It also has some duplicates with WDW, like Tough to be a Bug, Muppetvision, and ToT. (ToT isn't an exact duplicate, but most consider it to be at least slightly inferior to the WDW version)

 

[yeartolate]

San Jose is south of SF, so its about 30-45 minutes closer.

Is there a way to get on I-5 from San Jose (aside from going to 680 to 580 to I 5)?

 

[Growin'upDisney]

Is there a way to get on I-5 from San Jose (aside from going to 680 to 580 to I 5)?

Yes, you cut through what we call the Pacheco Pass. I am not sure of the Highway number - I will look it up for you and get back to you.


ETA - you take 101 South to 152 East to I-5 South

 

[yeartolate]

I knew there were ways to cut across, and I have been tempted to take them - but I never knew how long it took. I am always afraid in getting into some backroads nightmare.

 

[KatelynnsAuntie]

San Jose resident here

Having done this drive many times, I can tell you it takes about 6 hours if the traffic is good.

Another way to get over to I-5 from San Jose is to take 101 S to 46 E in Paso Robles, and cut over to 5 that way. 152 is a very dangerous 2 lane road in some parts (lots of head-on collisions there). That having been said, 46 is also a 2 lane road but we prefer it over 152.

 

[yeartolate]

Great info, thanks!

 

[Alice28]

Another former SJ resident here. We just did this last summer when we stayed with my mother in law in S. San Jose (as well as NUMEROUS times when we lived there). We did the 101 to 152 to I-5 and it took under 6 hours. My husband is a pretty effecient driver and we probably did about 72-75 MPH once on I-5 with a quick stop for gas and a burger in Kettleman's City (near Bakersfield). Try and leave early from San Jose so you are nowhere near traffic time in LA. Like leave San Jose at 5:30 or so AM so you are rolling into Anaheim around lunchtime.

I agree that 3 days is preferable, but you could do something like go to DL the day you get there. Go the full day your second day and do DCA on your return home day- get to DCA at 10AM (when it usually opens I think) and leave the park by 3:30 or 4. Something like that anyway.

 

[got2travel]

From another northern CA girl, the drive is fine.

But I want to disagree with a previous poster, please don't skip the rides that MK also has. None of them are exactly the same and you will appreciate the sometimes subtle, sometimes in your face differences.

Depending on when you go, midweek being best, 2 days is doable. Although even with an annual pass, I prefer 3 days. But that's just because I love it so much.