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Interstate 280

The Junipera Serra Freeway

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The Junipero Serra Freeway is a major artery connecting San Jose and San Francisco. Newer and wider than the more heavily traveled Highway 101, this surprisingly beautiful road runs along the crest of the hills that form the backbone of the San Francisco Peninsula.

At it's southern end, Interstate 280 loops around central San Jose, becoming Interstate 680. Toward the north, I-280 leaves the urban San Jose area, passing through the suburbs of Santa Clara and Campbell, then Los Altos for the sparsely populated reaches of hilly tracts of open land until the road reaches San Francisco.

Magnificent views are part of the delight of I-280, as well as fewer cars and no trucks. The distance between the two cities is about 50 miles. There are several turnouts provided along the way for a little rest from the road. Highway 92 from the San Mateo Bridge to the east intersects I-280 near Crystal Springs Reservoir and the San Andreas Earthquake Fault, both of which run parallel to the freeway. Named for an early Catholic Missionary, Father Junipero Serra.



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