aggiegirl

Hi,

I am flying into San Jose Airport (SJC) and my destination is the Carmel area. My flight home will be at noon on a weekday. Should I stay in San Jose the final night or would it be ok to drive in from Carmel that morning? How bad is traffic? I have never been to this part of California, so I have no idea what to expect and I don't want to miss my flight of course!

Thanks in advance.

SAB

I would conservatively estimate that your drive time will be under 1 hour 30 minutes. If your flight is at noon, what time do you want to be at airport? If you are a 2 hour before the flight kind of person and need to be there at 10 am, you should miss the morning San Jose/Gilroy/Morgan Hill traffic.

november_moon

Traffic shouldn't be much of a problem. Like SAB says, with a noon flight, you will miss the morning traffic, or perhaps get the tail end of it. You might spend the last several miles in some traffic, but not stop-and-go.

easytraveler

I've driven between the Greater San Jose area and Monterey/Carmel countless times and I'd say that a safe estimate for Carmel to San Jose Airport would be closer to two hours.

There are stretches where the going can be slow, especially on the short connector, Highway 156, between Highway 101 and Highway 1. There are also some curvy parts where, for one unfamiliar with the road, it would be best to go slower.

In addition, I'm presuming that you have to return a rental car, so figure another 1/2 hour for that.

If it's a noon flight, I'd leave no later than 8am to be on the safe side.

A couple of other things:

1) The best place for you to fill up your gas tank for the rental car would be the Leavesley exit in Gilroy. You will be about 35 miles from the airport, but this is a major crossroad with several gas stations and easy on and off from the freeway. Just don't try to find a gas station near the airport.

2) If you are coming from Highway 101 in the northbound direction, the exit to take is BROKAW Road. If memory serves correctly, there are no signs saying "Airport", but this exit would be the closest to SJC.

At the bottom of the offramp, turn LEFT on Brokaw Road, which becomes Airport Parkway. Drive to the end of Airport Parkway (it's a short drive) and turn RIGHT. You should be on airport property by then and just follow the signs for the rental car return.

aggiegirl

Thanks everyone and extra thanks to easytraveler for the helpful hints.

november_moon

Easy's directions to the airport from 101 are correct, but rest assured, there are signs for the airport on Hwy 101 and once you get off the highway as well. It's very easy.

Returning a rental car at SJC is very easy since they opened the new car rental center - it is on-site, well laid out, and quick.

SAB

ET you must drive much slower than I--it takes me less than 1 hour and 40 mins to get to SFO from Carmel (non rush hour)!!!

easytraveler

november: thanks for updating on the airport signs. SJC has been under construction for so many years and the driving directions changed so many times, I can't remember what the latest is anymore!

SAB: I probably am a much slower driver than you! I'm in Los Gatos and the closest freeway for me is 85 and usually allot 1 hour and 20 minutes just to get to the Pebble Beach Highway 17 Gate (the one that intersects with Highway 68). Going in the opposite direction, it usually takes about an hour and 10 minutes to get to SFO. You must have wings on your car!

sf7307

easy, Los Gatos to SFO is a 45-minute drive for me (and I think for SAB, too)!

november_moon

I live in South SJ (near 85 and Blossom Hill) and my house to SFO is about 45 minutes as well. And I do have wings on my car