Origin
Folsom, CA
Late night in Folsom on Tuesday
Local time
2:12 AM
PDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Folsom, 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
30m
Distance
23 mi
37 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 28m
★
6 AM
0h 31m
8 AM
0h 36m
10 AM
0h 32m
12 PM
0h 32m
3 PM
0h 33m
5 PM
0h 36m
8 PM
0h 29m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Folsom, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Sacramento, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick transition between Folsom and Sacramento, this 23-mile journey is a straightforward commute that takes about 30 minutes to complete. Because the trip is so short, it is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you will not need to worry about overnight accommodations. You can expect to spend roughly $5 on fuel, making this an incredibly budget-friendly option for your travel plans. Both the origin and destination sit within the Pacific Coast region of California, ensuring a consistent climate and environment throughout your time on the road. Whether you are heading into the city for business or returning home, this route offers a reliable, no-fuss connection.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| El Dorado Freeway | 17.2 mi | 19m |
| Folsom Boulevard | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| 16th Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| I Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Capital City Freeway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Leidesdorff Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Sutter Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Wool Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
El Dorado Freeway
— 17.2 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Folsom, CA and Sacramento, CA.
1
Start on Sutter Street
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
Sutter Street
2
Turn right onto Wool Street
366 ft
·
18 sec
·
Wool Street
3
Turn left onto Leidesdorff Street
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
Leidesdorff Street
4
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
5
Turn straight onto Folsom Boulevard
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Folsom Boulevard
Use the left lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 50 West: Sacramento
Use the right lane.
7
Merge onto US 50
17 mi
·
19 min
·
El Dorado Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on US 50
0.3 mi
·
18 sec
·
Capital City Freeway
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 5
Toward CA 160: 16th Street
Use the slight right lane.
10
Turn right onto 16th Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
16th Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
11
Turn left onto I Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
12
Turn left onto 9th Street
71 ft
·
1 sec
·
9th Street
13
Arrive at destination
9th Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 21.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Leidesdorff Street
Turn left onto Leidesdorff Street
Navigation decision point
5
3.1 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the ramp toward US 50 West: Sacramento
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward US 50 West: Sacramento
5
3.6 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
US 50 / El Dorado Freeway
Merge onto US 50 / El Dorado Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
21.1 mi into trip
|
~26m in
Take the exit toward CA 160: 16th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 5
Toward CA 160: 16th Street
5
21.3 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
16th Street
Turn right onto 16th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.29 one way
$10.57 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $5.45 | $10.90 |
| premium | $6.18 | $5.59 | $11.19 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.08 | $10.16 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.9 | 0 | $2.41 | $1.10 |
| Efficient EV | 5.8 | 0 | $2.01 | $0.92 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.2 | 0 | $3.22 | $1.47 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
2:12 AM
PDT
Current temp
45°F
Clear
NNW 15 mph
0% chance
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
6 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
30m 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?
This drive is heavily highway-focused, with 76% of your time spent on major thoroughfares like the El Dorado Freeway. You will spend the bulk of your journey on a single 17.2-mile stretch of the freeway, which provides a fast and consistent pace behind the wheel. As you transition from the freeway onto Folsom Boulevard and eventually 16th Street, the character of the road shifts from high-speed transit to local city driving. It is a functional, efficient route that prioritizes speed over winding scenery. Expect a predictable experience that allows you to reach your destination quickly without the complexity of technical mountain passes or rural backroads.
76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 17.2 mi on El Dorado Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on El Dorado Freeway and Folsom Boulevard. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Leidesdorff Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 23 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Leidesdorff Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3.6 miles (US 50 / El Dorado Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
220 ft
8 ft
Total Climb
90 ft
Total Descent
282 ft
Highest Point
220 ft
Elevation Range
212 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Folsom, CA
Full guide →Folsom is a city of 82,000 people (2019) in Sacramento County in California. Folsom is home to Folsom Lake College, Folsom Dam, Folsom Prison and a historic district. Folsom is also home to the largest private employer in the Sacramento area, Intel.
Top landmarks
- • Folsom Depot — train station in Folsom, California
- • Murer House and Gardens — house in Folsom, California, United States
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 30m. Total distance: 23 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 17.2 miles on El Dorado Freeway. 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 0.2 miles (Leidesdorff Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3.6 miles (US 50 / El Dorado Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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