There are 4 ways to get from San Jose to San Mateo by train, bus, car, or taxi
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Caltrain
best- Take the train from San Jose Diridon Caltrain Northbound to San Mateo Caltrain Northboundtrain Local Weekday / ...
49 min$7–9Line 22 bus, bus
cheapest- Take the bus from Santa Clara & Almaden Blvd to Palo Alto Transit Centerbus Rapid 522 / ...
- Take the bus from Palo Alto Transit Ctr-Bay 9 to El Camino Real & E 5th Avebus Ecr / ...
2h 25m$6–8Drive 29.9 mi
- Drive from San Jose to San Mateocar 29.9 mi
32 min$6–8Taxi
- Take the taxi from San Jose to San Mateotaxi 29.9 mi
32 min$110–140
San Jose to San Mateo by train
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from San Jose to San Mateo is to drive which costs $5 - $8 and takes 32 min.
The fastest way to get from San Jose to San Mateo is to drive which takes 32 min and costs $5 - $8.
No, there is no direct bus from San Jose to San Mateo. However, there are services departing from Santa Clara & Almaden Blvd and arriving at El Camino Real & E 5th Ave via Palo Alto Transit Ctr-Bay 9. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 2h 25m.
Yes, there is a direct train departing from San Jose Diridon Caltrain Northbound and arriving at San Mateo Caltrain Northbound. Services depart every 30 minutes, and operate every day. The journey takes approximately 49 min.
The distance between San Jose and San Mateo is 29 miles. The road distance is 30 miles.
The best way to get from San Jose to San Mateo without a car is to Caltrain which takes 49 min and costs $7 - $9.
The Caltrain from San Jose Diridon Caltrain Northbound to San Mateo Caltrain Northbound takes 49 min including transfers and departs every 30 minutes.
San Jose to San Mateo bus services, operated by Santa Clara VTA, depart from Santa Clara & Almaden Blvd station.
San Jose to San Mateo train services, operated by Caltrain, depart from San Jose Diridon Caltrain Northbound station.
The best way to get from San Jose to San Mateo is to Caltrain which takes 49 min and costs $7 - $9. Alternatively, you can line 22 bus and bus, which costs $5 - $8 and takes 2h 25m.
What companies run services between San Jose, CA, USA and San Mateo, CA, USA?
Caltrain operates a train from San Jose Diridon Caltrain Northbound to San Mateo Caltrain Northbound every 30 minutes. Tickets cost $7–9 and the journey takes 49 min. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Santa Clara & Almaden Blvd to El Camino Real & E 5th Ave via Palo Alto Transit Ctr-Bay 9 in around 2h 25m.
- Phone
- +1 800-660-4287
- Website
- Cal Train
Train from San Jose Diridon Caltrain Northbound to San Mateo Caltrain Northbound
- Ave. Duration
- 49 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $7–9
- Website
- Cal Train
- Schedules at
- Cal Train
- One-way Adult
- $7–9
- Phone
- +1 408-321-2300
- customer.service@vta.org
- Website
- Santa Clara VTA
Bus from Santa Clara & Almaden Blvd to Palo Alto Transit Center
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 27m
- Frequency
- Every 10 minutes
- Estimated price
- $2–5
- Website
- Santa Clara VTA
- Adult
- $2–5
- Phone
- 1-800-660-4287
- customerservice@samtrans.com
- Website
- SamTrans Homepage
Bus from Palo Alto Transit Ctr-Bay 9 to El Camino Real & E 5th Ave
- Ave. Duration
- 52 min
- Frequency
- Every 15 minutes
- Estimated price
- $3
- Website
- SamTrans Homepage
- Schedules at
- SamTrans Schedules
- Single Fare
- $3
- Ave. Duration
- 32 min
- Estimated price
- $110–140
AJ Taxi Services
- Phone
- +1 408-759-9654
- Website
- ajtaxiservices.com
Taxi San Jose
- Phone
- +1 408-459-8010
- Website
- taxisanjose.com
Yellow Checker Cab
- Phone
- +1 408-777-7777
- Website
- yellowcheckercab.com
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Booking & Getting There
San Jose to San Mateo bus services, operated by Santa Clara VTA, arrive at Palo Alto Transit Center station.
San Jose to San Mateo train services, operated by Caltrain, arrive at San Mateo Caltrain Northbound station.
Yes, the driving distance between San Jose to San Mateo is 30 miles. It takes approximately 32 min to drive from San Jose to San Mateo.
There are 454+ hotels available in San Mateo.