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Trip from Martinez, CA to Sacramento, CA

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 16m

Distance

62.9 mi

101 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$14

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 18 min
4 AM
1h 11m ★
6 AM
1h 17m
8 AM
1h 29m
10 AM
1h 21m
12 PM
1h 20m
3 PM
1h 21m
5 PM
1h 28m
8 PM
1h 13m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Download GPX
city in and seat of Contra Costa County, California, United States

Martinez, CA

Wikimedia Commons

capital city of the U.S. state of California and seat of Sacramento County

Sacramento, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Traveling from Martinez to Sacramento covers approximately 62.9 miles, typically taking about 1 hour and 16 minutes to complete. Because this is a relatively short trip, you can easily handle it as a single-day excursion without needing an overnight stay. You will primarily utilize the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, the Luther E. Gibson Freeway, and the Yolo Causeway to reach your destination. Expect to spend around $15 on fuel for this journey, making it a very budget-friendly transit between these two Pacific Coast locations. Since the drive is straightforward, it serves as a highly practical connection rather than a long-haul adventure.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway 37.3 mi 43m
Luther E Gibson Freeway 12 mi 13m
Yolo Causeway 3.7 mi 4m
Capital City Freeway 3.3 mi 3m
Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway 1.8 mi 2m
Marina Vista Avenue 1 mi 2m
Westside Freeway 0.6 mi <1m
Benicia-Martinez Bridge 0.4 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway — 37.3 mi, about 43m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Martinez, CA and Sacramento, CA.

1

Start on Escobar Street

0.3 mi · 1 min · Escobar Street
2

Turn straight onto Marina Vista Avenue

1.0 mi · 2 min · Marina Vista Avenue
3

Continue on Waterfront Road

0.2 mi · 24 sec · Waterfront Road
4

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 24 sec
Toward I 680 North: Sacramento
5

Merge onto I 680

1.8 mi · 2 min · Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
6

Keep slight right at fork onto I 680

0.4 mi · 26 sec · Benicia-Martinez Bridge
7

Continue on I 680

12 mi · 13 min · Luther E Gibson Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 55 sec
Exit 71A Toward I 80 East, CA 12 East: Fairfield, Sacramento
9

Merge onto I 80; CA 12

1.7 mi · 1 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Keep slight left at fork onto I 80

27 mi · 31 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Keep slight left at fork onto I 80

8.4 mi · 9 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Continue on I 80

3.7 mi · 4 min · Yolo Causeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

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.
14

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.
15

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 29 sec
Exit 4A Toward I 5 North: Redding Use the slight left lane.
16

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 14 sec
Exit 4A Toward I 5 North: Redding
17

Merge onto I 5

0.6 mi · 44 sec · Westside Freeway
18

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 34 sec
Exit 519B Toward J Street, Downtown Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Turn right onto J Street

0.2 mi · 25 sec · J Street
20

Turn left onto 5th Street

0.2 mi · 19 sec · 5th Street
Use the straight lane.
21

Turn right onto H Street

0.3 mi · 40 sec · H Street
22

Turn right onto 9th Street

490 ft · 15 sec · 9th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
23

Arrive at destination

9th Street

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in and county seat of Solano County, California, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Fairfield, CA

31 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.

Popular next leg

Fairfield, CA to Sacramento, CA

42.2 mi · 52m

Pacing Suggestions

Suisun, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Vacaville, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 31.5 miles from Martinez, 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 17

5 decision points cluster between mile 16 and 62 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

7
16 mi into trip | ~20m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 80 East, CA 12 East: Fairfield, Sacramento

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 71A Toward I 80 East, CA 12 East: Fairfield, Sacram...
9
57.4 mi into trip | ~1h 8m 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
60.7 mi into trip | ~1h 12m 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
60.9 mi into trip | ~1h 12m 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
62 mi into trip | ~1h 14m 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

$14.46 one way

$28.91 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 22 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $14.90 $29.80
premium $6.18 $15.30 $30.59
diesel $5.61 $13.89 $27.78

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$14

Estimated CO2 emission: 22 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 18.9 0 $6.60 $3.02
Efficient EV 15.7 0 $5.50 $2.52
EV Truck/SUV 25.2 0 $8.81 $4.03

Gas CO2

22 kg

EV CO2

7 kg (68% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 13, 2026

Origin

Martinez, CA

Late night in Martinez on Tuesday

Local time

2:08 AM

PDT

Current temp

59°F

Chance Rain Showers

WSW 13 mph 27% chance Live forecast

Wind Advisory

Wind Advisory issued April 12 at 2:16PM PDT until April 12 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Hanford CA

Winter Storm Warning

Winter Storm Warning issued April 12 at 1:43PM PDT until April 12 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Hanford CA

Destination

Sacramento, CA

Late night in Sacramento on Tuesday

Local time

2:08 AM

PDT

Current temp

51°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

8 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

1h 16m 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 trip features a turn-heavy, local-drive personality that requires your full attention behind the wheel. Only 25% of your time will be spent on highways, meaning you will navigate a mix of surfaces rather than just a monotonous interstate grind. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs during the 37.3 miles spent on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. As you progress, the road transitions through various local segments that demand a more active driving style. You should be prepared for a dynamic experience that shifts from major highway corridors to tighter, more technical local roads.

Only 25% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 37.3 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 16 miles in.

Driving Effort 10/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 62.9 miles you will encounter 17 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 16 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 57.4 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 60.7 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

228 ft 14 ft

Total Climb

224 ft

Total Descent

213 ft

Highest Point

228 ft

~27 mi in

Elevation Range

213 ft

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Martinez, CA to Sacramento, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Lake Tahoe along the way.

Lake Tahoe

57.4 mi in | ~1h 8m | via US 50; I 80 Business

About the Cities

Starting in Martinez, CA

Full guide →

Founded 1849

Martinez is in the outer East Bay in the San Francisco Bay Area in California. Martinez has easy access to nature, so it's no wonder the famed naturalist John Muir decided to settle here.

Top landmarks

  • • John Muir National Historic Site — former home of John Muir in Martinez, California
  • • Martinez Library — Martinez Branch of the Contra Costa County Library system

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 1h 16m. Total distance: 62.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 16m 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 37.3 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 16 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 57.4 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 60.7 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, Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park and San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park (5 total within detour distance). 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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