Origin
Fairfield, CA
Late night in Fairfield on Tuesday
Local time
2:10 AM
PDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fairfield, 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
52m
Distance
42.2 mi
68 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 49m
★
6 AM
0h 53m
8 AM
1h 2m
10 AM
0h 56m
12 PM
0h 55m
3 PM
0h 56m
5 PM
1h 1m
8 PM
0h 50m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fairfield, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Sacramento, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking to get from Fairfield to Sacramento, you are in for a quick 42.2-mile journey that typically takes about 52 minutes. This trip is perfectly suited for a single day, as it is a straightforward connection within the Pacific Coast region. You can expect to spend approximately $10 on fuel for the trek, making it a very budget-friendly transit. By utilizing a combination of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, the Yolo Causeway, and local Texas Street, you will move efficiently between these two California hubs. Since this route is short and direct, it serves well as a simple commute or a quick weekend run without the need for an overnight stay.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 29.3 mi | 33m |
| Yolo Causeway | 3.7 mi | 4m |
| Texas Street | 3.4 mi | 6m |
| Capital City Freeway | 3.3 mi | 3m |
| Westside Freeway | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| H Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| J Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 5th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 29.3 mi, about 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fairfield, CA and Sacramento, CA.
1
Start on US 40 Historic
3.4 mi
·
6 min
·
Texas Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
2
Turn left onto Manuel Campos Parkway
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
Manuel Campos Parkway
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward I 80 East: Sacramento
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Merge onto I 80
21 mi
·
24 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
8.4 mi
·
9 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 80
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Yolo Causeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto US 50; I 80 Business
3.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Capital City Freeway
Exit 82
Toward Sacramento, South Lake Tahoe
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
13 sec
Exit 4A
Toward I 5 North, I 5 South: Redding, Los Angeles
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 4A
Toward I 5 North: Redding
Use the slight left lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
Exit 4A
Toward I 5 North: Redding
11
Merge onto I 5
0.6 mi
·
44 sec
·
Westside Freeway
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 519B
Toward J Street, Downtown
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn right onto J Street
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
J Street
14
Turn left onto 5th Street
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
5th Street
Use the straight lane.
15
Turn right onto H Street
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
H Street
16
Turn right onto 9th Street
490 ft
·
15 sec
·
9th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Arrive at destination
9th Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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 42 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.1 miles from Fairfield, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 155 decision points cluster between mile 3.5 and 41.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
3.5 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the ramp toward I 80 East: Sacramento
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 80 East: Sacramento
9
36.7 mi into trip
|
~45m in
|
US 50; I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 50; I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway toward Sacramento, South Lake Tahoe
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 82
Toward Sacramento, South Lake Tahoe
8
40 mi into trip
|
~48m in
Take the exit toward I 5 North, I 5 South: Redding, Los Angeles
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 4A
Toward I 5 North, I 5 South: Redding, Los Angel...
9
40.2 mi into trip
|
~49m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 5 North: Redding
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 4A
Toward I 5 North: Redding
8
41.3 mi into trip
|
~50m 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
$9.70 one way
$19.40 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $10.00 | $19.99 |
| premium | $6.18 | $10.26 | $20.53 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.32 | $18.63 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.7 | 0 | $4.43 | $2.03 |
| Efficient EV | 10.6 | 0 | $3.69 | $1.69 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.9 | 0 | $5.91 | $2.70 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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
Sacramento, CA
Late night in Sacramento on Tuesday
Local time
2:10 AM
PDT
Current temp
68°F
Sunny
NNW 13 to 18 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 16 at 10:43AM PDT until April 17 at 11:00AM PDT by NWS Medford OR
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 16 at 10:32AM PDT until April 17 at 11:00AM PDT by NWS Hanford CA
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
19 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
52m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that requires your full attention as you navigate through the area. While only 10% of this route is classified as highway, you will spend your longest uninterrupted stretch of 29.3 miles cruising along the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. The transition between fast-paced highway segments and the more technical, winding local roads defines the character of this trip. You will find that the road conditions shift noticeably as you exit the highway and move onto local infrastructure like Texas Street. It is a practical drive that demands quick adjustments rather than the monotonous experience of a long-distance interstate haul.
Only 10% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 29.3 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.5 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 15 decision points packed into just 42.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 52m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 36.7 miles (US 50; I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 40 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
227 ft
13 ft
Total Climb
234 ft
Total Descent
220 ft
Highest Point
227 ft
~6 mi in
Elevation Range
214 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Fairfield, CA and Sacramento, CA, road signs point toward Lake Tahoe and Los Angeles.
Lake Tahoe
36.7 mi in
|
~45m
|
via US 50; I 80 Business
Los Angeles
40 mi in
|
~48m
About the Cities
Starting in Fairfield, CA
Full guide →Founded 1859
Fairfield is in Solano County in the Sacramento Valley of California.
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 52m. Total distance: 42.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 29.3 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 36.7 miles (US 50; I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 40 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial and Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Sacramento, 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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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