CALIFORNIA STATE ROUTE 17 - Nimitz Freeway

Highway 17 is the only multi-lane highway connecting San Jose and Silicon Valley to the coastal town of Santa Cruz.

Highway 17 begins at Highway 1 in Santa Cruz and heads north through the Santa Cruz Mountains to San Jose. Highway 17 is a full freeway from Santa Cruz to Scotts Valley and from Los Gatos to San Jose but between Scotts Valley and Los Gatos, it is a curvy 4-lane mountain highway. Highway 17 used to run from Santa Cruz to US 101 in San Rafael but in 1984, it was renumbered as Interstate 880 from Interstate 280 to Oakland and as Interstate 580 from Richmond to San Rafael.


Exit 377A Exit Number Installed
Exit 377A Exit Number Not Installed

Exit 19
North

Santa Cruz Avenue is the main road through downtown Los Gatos which includes a number of high-end restaurants and shops.

As this exit is located before Hwy 17 returns to freeway status, this sign may never get an exit number.

Exit 20A
North

Exit 20A is an extension of Hwy 9 east and ends at Los Gatos Blvd. This is one of two exits to reach the Los Gatos Auto Row.

Exit 20B
North

This is the northern terminus of Hwy 9 and connects the downtown areas of Los Gatos and Saratoga. Beyond Saratoga, Hwy 9 traverses the Santa Cruz Mountains passing by Big Basin State Park before ending in Santa Cruz.

Exit 21
North

Lark Avenue is a short road in northern Los Gatos that connects Los Gatos Blvd to Santa Cruz Avenue/Winchester Blvd. This is the second exit to reach the Los Gatos Auto Row.

Exit 22
North

Hwy 85 is also known as the West Valley Freeway and serves the southern and western parts of Silicon Valley. The 18-mile segment from Cupertino to south San Jose was built without any state or federal funding and no trucks are allowed on this segment.

Exit 23
North

Camden Avenue connects Campbell and west San Jose to the Almaden Valley region of south San Jose. San Tomas Expwy is a major north-south commuter route connecting Campbell to Santa Clara.

Exit 25
North

Hamilton Avenue is a major east-west road that connects west San Jose to the Willow Glen neighborhood in central San Jose. There is a VTA light rail station located right at this interchange.

Exit 26A
North

Interstate 280 south heads into downtown San Jose before turning north at U.S. 101 and becoming Interstate 680.

Exit 26B
North

This exit serves both Interstate 280 north heading towards San Francisco and Stevens Creek Blvd. This ramp is congested on a daily basis with shoppers trying to get to the Valley Fair Mall and the Santana Row shopping complex.

Highway 17 becomes Interstate 880 after crossing Interstate 280 and continues north on its way to Fremont, Union City, Hayward, San Leandro and Oakland