Origin
Carmichael, CA
Late night in Carmichael on Tuesday
Local time
1:47 AM
PDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Carmichael, CA to Elk Grove, 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
28m
Distance
16.2 mi
26 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 26m
★
6 AM
0h 28m
8 AM
0h 33m
10 AM
0h 30m
12 PM
0h 29m
3 PM
0h 30m
5 PM
0h 33m
8 PM
0h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Carmichael, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Elk Grove, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Carmichael, CA to Elk Grove, CA is 16.2 miles and takes about 28 minutes via Elk Grove Florin Road/Fair Oaks Boulevard/South Watt Avenue, with a fuel budget near $4 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short, local drive stays within California's Pacific Coast region, making it a convenient option for a quick trip. Given its brief duration and minimal highway use, this route is ideal for a spontaneous outing or an easy errand. You'll navigate primarily through developed areas, so expect typical urban traffic patterns. It's a straightforward journey with no overnight stays required.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Elk Grove Florin Road | 6 mi | 10m |
| Fair Oaks Boulevard | 4.5 mi | 8m |
| South Watt Avenue | 4 mi | 6m |
| Watt Avenue | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Palm Drive | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Elk Grove Florin Road
— 6 mi, about 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Carmichael, CA and Elk Grove, CA.
1
Start on Palm Drive
80 ft
·
4 sec
·
Palm Drive
2
Turn left onto Fair Oaks Boulevard
4.5 mi
·
8 min
·
Fair Oaks Boulevard
3
Turn left onto Watt Avenue
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Watt Avenue
Use the left / uturn lanes.
4
Continue on South Watt Avenue
4.0 mi
·
6 min
·
South Watt Avenue
Use the left lane.
5
Continue on Elk Grove Florin Road
6.0 mi
·
10 min
·
Elk Grove Florin Road
Use the left lane.
6
Arrive at destination
Elk Grove Florin Road
Heads-up: tricky spots
1 of 11 decision points cluster around mile 4.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
4.6 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
Watt Avenue
Turn left onto Watt Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / uturn lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.72 one way
$7.45 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $3.84 | $7.67 |
| premium | $6.18 | $3.94 | $7.88 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.58 | $7.15 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.9 | 0 | $1.70 | $0.78 |
| Efficient EV | 4.1 | 0 | $1.42 | $0.65 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.5 | 0 | $2.27 | $1.04 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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
Elk Grove, CA
Late night in Elk Grove on Tuesday
Local time
1:47 AM
PDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
28m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' with 0% highway share, meaning you'll be on surface streets for the entire 16.2 miles. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll experience is 6 miles along Elk Grove Florin Road. You'll be frequently navigating intersections and local traffic, so be prepared for a dynamic driving experience rather than a steady cruise. The route utilizes main roads like Elk Grove Florin Road, Fair Oaks Boulevard, and South Watt Avenue, which are well-traveled urban arteries.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
6 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 6 mi on Elk Grove Florin Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 4.6 miles in near Watt Avenue.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Carmichael, CA to Elk Grove, CA is easy. At 28m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
There is one spot that needs extra attention: at 4.6 miles (Watt Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Carmichael, CA
Full guide →Arriving in Elk Grove, CA
Full guide →Founded 1850
Elk Grove is a city of 176,000 people (2020) in Sacramento County in California. Elk Grove has many wineries, wine cellars, and vineyards.
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 28m. Total distance: 16.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 6 miles on Elk Grove Florin Road. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
There is one spot that needs extra attention: at 4.6 miles (Watt Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Elk Grove, CA before heading back.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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