Origin
Modesto, CA
Morning in Modesto on Tuesday
Local time
10:08 AM
PDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Modesto, 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
1h 29m
Distance
75.1 mi
121 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 23m
★
6 AM
1h 30m
8 AM
1h 44m
10 AM
1h 35m
12 PM
1h 33m
3 PM
1h 35m
5 PM
1h 43m
8 PM
1h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Modesto, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Sacramento, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 75.1-mile drive from Modesto, CA to Sacramento, CA is easily manageable as a single-day trip, typically taking about 1 hour and 29 minutes. You'll spend most of your time on the CA 99, with brief transitions onto L Street and I Street. With a projected fuel cost of around $17, this route is quite budget-friendly for a quick hop within the Pacific Coast region. Its highway-focused profile means you can cover the distance efficiently, making it a practical choice for a straightforward journey between these two California cities.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| CA 99 | 71.7 mi | 1h 22m |
| L Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| I Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Capital City Freeway | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| H Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| 16th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 30th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 6th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
CA 99
— 71.7 mi, about 1h 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Modesto, CA and Sacramento, CA.
1
Start on 11th Street
81 ft
·
10 sec
·
11th Street
2
Turn left onto H Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
H Street
3
Turn right onto 6th Street
486 ft
·
15 sec
·
6th Street
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
5
Merge onto CA 99
27 mi
·
31 min
·
CA 99
6
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99
45 mi
·
51 min
·
CA 99
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on Capital City Freeway
0.5 mi
·
32 sec
·
Capital City Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 7A
Toward N Street
Use the slight right lane.
9
Turn left onto 30th Street
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
30th Street
10
Turn left onto L Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
L Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
11
Turn right onto US 40 Historic
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
16th Street
12
Turn left onto I Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
13
Turn left onto 9th Street
71 ft
·
1 sec
·
9th Street
14
Arrive at destination
9th Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
38 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 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 37.6 miles from Modesto, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before CA 99 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 71.7 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 115 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 74.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
H Street
Turn left onto H Street
Navigation decision point
6
27.6 mi into trip
|
~32m in
|
CA 99
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
72.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 25m in
Take the exit toward N Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 7A
Toward N Street
5
73.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 26m in
|
L Street
Turn left onto L Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
74.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 28m in
|
I Street
Turn left onto I Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.26 one way
$34.52 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $17.79 | $35.57 |
| premium | $6.18 | $18.26 | $36.53 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.58 | $33.16 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$17
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.5 | 0 | $7.89 | $3.60 |
| Efficient EV | 18.8 | 0 | $6.57 | $3.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 30 | 0 | $10.51 | $4.81 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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
Morning in Sacramento on Tuesday
Local time
10:08 AM
PDT
Current temp
53°F
Mostly Cloudy
S 2 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
2 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
1h 29m 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 predominantly highway-focused experience, with 96% of the drive utilizing major roadways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 71.7 miles on CA 99, so be prepared for extended periods of consistent driving. This route is designed for efficiency rather than scenic detours, offering a direct and functional connection between your starting and ending points. The transition from CA 99 to L Street and I Street in Sacramento marks the final approach into the city.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 71.7 mi on CA 99.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on CA 99 and L Street. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near H Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 75.1 miles you will encounter 11 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: near the start (H Street): Navigation decision point; at 27.6 miles (CA 99): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 72.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Modesto, CA
Full guide →Founded 1870
Modesto is a city in California's San Joaquin Valley.
Top landmarks
- • McHenry Mansion — building in 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 1h 29m. Total distance: 75.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 71.7 miles on CA 99. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 2 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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: near the start (H Street): Navigation decision point; at 27.6 miles (CA 99): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 72.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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