Origin
Avalon, CA
Late night in Avalon on Tuesday
Local time
4:40 AM
PDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Avalon, CA to Sacramento, CA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
7h 33m
Distance
408.2 mi
657 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$94
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
7h 24m
★
6 AM
7h 34m
8 AM
7h 54m
10 AM
7h 41m
12 PM
7h 39m
3 PM
7h 42m
5 PM
7h 53m
8 PM
7h 28m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Avalon, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Sacramento, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 408.2-mile journey from Avalon to Sacramento is estimated to take around 7 hours and 33 minutes of driving time, making it a feasible, albeit long, day trip. You'll navigate primarily local roads, with a 0% highway share, and the route is characterized by frequent turns. With an estimated fuel cost of $95 and two planned stops, it's a drive that requires attention to navigation. Considering the duration and the nature of the roads, splitting this trip into two days might offer a more relaxed experience, though it can certainly be accomplished in one go. This route takes you from the Pacific Coast region of Southern California up to the same region in Northern California.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
204.1 miles from Avalon, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 51m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Westside Freeway | 298.7 mi | 5h 22m |
| I 5 Truck | 39.3 mi | 45m |
| San Diego Freeway | 35.9 mi | 41m |
| Golden State Freeway | 22.3 mi | 25m |
| Harbor Freeway | 7.5 mi | 8m |
| South Gaffey Street | 2.8 mi | 6m |
| H Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| J Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 298.7 mi, about 5h 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Avalon, CA and Sacramento, CA.
1
Start on this road
487 ft
·
39 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto West Paseo del Mar
188 ft
·
15 sec
·
West Paseo del Mar
3
Turn left onto South Gaffey Street
2.8 mi
·
6 min
·
South Gaffey Street
4
Continue on I 110
7.5 mi
·
8 min
·
Harbor Freeway
Toward I 110 North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
309 ft
·
7 sec
Toward I 405: San Diego Freeway, Santa Monica, Long Beach
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on this road
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
this road
Exit 9
Toward I 405 North, I 405 South: Santa Monica, Long Beach
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 405: Santa Monica, San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 405
36 mi
·
41 min
·
San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 5 Truck
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 5 Truck
Exit 161A
Toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck
36 mi
·
41 min
·
I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
22 mi
·
25 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
226 mi
·
4 hr 1 min
·
Westside Freeway
Toward I 5 North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
26 mi
·
27 min
·
Westside Freeway
15
Keep left at fork onto I 5
48 mi
·
52 min
·
Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 519B
Toward J Street, Downtown
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Turn right onto J Street
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
J Street
18
Turn left onto 5th Street
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
5th Street
Use the straight lane.
19
Turn right onto H Street
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
H Street
20
Turn right onto 9th Street
490 ft
·
15 sec
·
9th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Arrive at destination
9th Street
Trip Plan
Given the 7-hour, 33-minute estimated drive time and the turn-heavy nature of the route, consider an early start to maximize daylight and minimize traffic, especially if attempting this as a single-day trip. With $95 in estimated fuel costs and two planned stops, pace yourself to take breaks as needed, particularly because of the continuous need for navigation adjustments. While the drive is manageable in one day, if you prefer a more leisurely pace, splitting it into two days would allow for more relaxed exploration. A specific tip for this route is to ensure your GPS or navigation app is fully updated, as frequent turns on local roads mean precise routing is crucial.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 204.1 miles from Avalon, CA, or about 3h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 298.7 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 90 miles or 1h 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 204.1 miles or 3h 51m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sacramento, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Avalon, CA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Avalon, CA
This is one driving day of about 408.2 miles and 7h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 90 miles from Avalon, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Westside Freeway for about 298.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
204 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 90 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 204.1 miles from Avalon, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Westside Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 298.7 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 195 decision points cluster between mile 10.4 and 407.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
10.4 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Take the exit toward I 405: San Diego Freeway, Santa Monica, Long Beach
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 405: San Diego Freeway, Santa Monica,...
8
10.6 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 405: Santa Monica, San Diego Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 405: Santa Monica, San Diego Freeway
9
48.6 mi into trip
|
~1h in
|
I 5 Truck
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 161A
Toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
7
108.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 9m in
|
I 5 / Westside Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 / Westside Freeway toward I 5 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 5 North
8
407.2 mi into trip
|
~7h 31m in
Take the exit toward J Street, Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 519B
Toward J Street, Downtown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$93.82 one way
$187.64 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
143 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $96.68 | $193.36 |
| premium | $6.18 | $99.27 | $198.54 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $90.13 | $180.25 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$94
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$119–$144
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 142.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $43 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 122.5 | 1 | $42.86 | $19.59 |
| Efficient EV | 102.1 | 1 | $35.72 | $16.33 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 163.3 | 2 | $57.15 | $26.12 |
Gas CO2
143 kg
EV CO2
48 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Sacramento, CA
Late night in Sacramento on Tuesday
Local time
4:40 AM
PDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
17 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
7h 33m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
The Santa Monica Mountains offer easy access to surprisingly wild places. Experience the famous beaches of Malibu or explore more than 500 miles of trails. The park abounds with historical and cultura...
19 mi from route
~48 min detour
Free
near mile 42.2
View on nps.gov
César E. Chávez National Monument
National Monument
Yes, we can! Widely recognized as the most important Latino leader in the United States during the twentieth century, Cesar Chavez led farm workers and supporters in the establishment of the country's...
27 mi from route
~68 min detour
Free
near mile 112.6
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a "turn-heavy local drive" for the entirety of this 408.2-mile route, as indicated by the 0% highway share. This means you'll be spending most of your time on surface streets and local roads, requiring constant attention to your navigation system. There isn't a "longest stretch" without turns, so be prepared for frequent adjustments. The character of the drive remains consistent, focusing on local connectivity rather than high-speed travel. This type of driving can be engaging but also more demanding than cruising on an interstate.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 298.7 mi on Westside Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and I 5 Truck. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 10.4 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 408.2 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 10.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 48.6 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
Arriving in Sacramento, CA
Full guide →Founded 1849
Sacramento is the state capital of California in the United States. It is the regional center for the Greater Sacramento metropolitan area, which dominates much of the surrounding Sacramento Valley and stretches into parts of Gold Country. Sacramento is the oldest incorporated city in California, settled between the confluences of the Sacramento and American rivers. The city has been the site of many important historic events that have shaped California and U.S. history, most notably the California Gold Rush and location of the original terminus of the First Transcontinental Railroad. Much of this historical legacy has been preserved, especially in the historic Old Sacramento district, where buildings and railroads from that era continue to attract visitors. However, Sacramento is not a city that is stuck in the past. As the capital of the most populous U.S.
Top landmarks
- • California State Capitol — state capitol building of the U.S. state of California
- • Crocker Art Museum — art museum in Sacramento, California
- • Sacramento Valley Station — main railroad and light rail station in Sacramento, California
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 33m. Total distance: 408.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 33m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 298.7 miles on Westside Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Sacramento, CA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 10.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 48.6 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and César E. Chávez National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.6 hours each way, a round trip means 15.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Sacramento, CA before the return drive.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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