Origin
Palo Alto, CA
Late night in Palo Alto on Tuesday
Local time
5:25 AM
PDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Palo Alto, 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
2h 23m
Distance
115.9 mi
187 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$27
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 14m
★
6 AM
2h 23m
8 AM
2h 43m
10 AM
2h 30m
12 PM
2h 28m
3 PM
2h 31m
5 PM
2h 42m
8 PM
2h 17m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Palo Alto, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Sacramento, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 115.9-mile drive from Palo Alto, CA to Sacramento, CA takes approximately 2 hours and 23 minutes. It's a straightforward, single-day trip with a manageable fuel cost of around $27. The route predominantly utilizes major highways, making it an efficient journey across California's Pacific Coast region. Given the relatively short duration and distance, this drive is perfectly suited for a day trip, allowing for flexibility in your schedule. You'll spend about half the time on the interstate, so it's a practical choice for getting between these two key California locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
58 miles from Palo Alto, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 15m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 50.2 mi | 58m |
| I 880 | 17.8 mi | 20m |
| Eastshore Freeway | 14.3 mi | 16m |
| Nimitz Freeway | 7.7 mi | 9m |
| Dumbarton Bridge | 6.8 mi | 8m |
| Yolo Causeway | 3.7 mi | 4m |
| Linus F. Claeys Freeway | 3.5 mi | 3m |
| Capital City Freeway | 3.3 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 50.2 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Palo Alto, CA and Sacramento, CA.
1
Start on Middlefield Road
0.3 mi
·
55 sec
·
Middlefield Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
Turn right onto Melville Avenue
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Melville Avenue
3
At end of road, turn left onto Channing Avenue
164 ft
·
7 sec
·
Channing Avenue
4
Turn right onto Lincoln Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Lincoln Avenue
5
Turn right onto University Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
University Avenue
6
Turn left onto Donohoe Street
416 ft
·
15 sec
·
Donohoe Street
Use the left lane.
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Toward US 101 North: San Francisco
Use the left lane.
8
Merge onto US 101
0.4 mi
·
28 sec
·
Bayshore Freeway
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 404
Toward Willow Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Turn right onto CA 114
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Willow Road
Use the right lane.
11
Turn right onto CA 84
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Bayfront Expressway
Use the right lane.
12
Continue on CA 84
6.8 mi
·
8 min
·
Dumbarton Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on Decoto Road
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Decoto Road
Use the right lane.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward I 880 North: Oakland
Use the right lane.
15
Merge onto I 880
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Nimitz Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 880
18 mi
·
20 min
·
I 880
Use the slight left lane.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 880
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Nimitz Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on I 880
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Nimitz Freeway
Exit 46B
Toward I 80 East, I 580 West: San Rafael, Sacramento
19
Continue on I 80; I 580
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Eastshore Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
7.4 mi
·
8 min
·
Eastshore Freeway
Toward I 80 East: Vallejo, Sacramento
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Continue on I 80
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Eastshore Freeway
Exit 21
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
22
Continue on I 80
3.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Linus F. Claeys Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Continue on I 80
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
Eastshore Freeway
24
Continue on I 80
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Carquinez Bridge
25
Continue on I 80
14 mi
·
16 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
26
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
27 mi
·
31 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
8.4 mi
·
9 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Continue on I 80
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Yolo Causeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
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.
30
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.
31
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 4A
Toward I 5 North: Redding
Use the slight left lane.
32
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
Exit 4A
Toward I 5 North: Redding
33
Merge onto I 5
0.6 mi
·
44 sec
·
Westside Freeway
34
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 519B
Toward J Street, Downtown
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
35
Turn right onto J Street
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
J Street
36
Turn left onto 5th Street
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
5th Street
Use the straight lane.
37
Turn right onto H Street
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
H Street
38
Turn right onto 9th Street
490 ft
·
15 sec
·
9th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
39
Arrive at destination
9th Street
Trip Plan
For this 2-hour, 23-minute drive, starting earlier in the day can help you avoid the brunt of Bay Area traffic. Since it's a relatively short trip of 115.9 miles, you won't need to plan for overnight stops, giving you flexibility. There are no specific stops recommended in the data, so consider this a direct journey where you can add breaks as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the estimated cost is $27, and ensure you have enough to reach Sacramento comfortably.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 58 miles from Palo Alto, CA, or about 1h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 50.2 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 25 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 58 miles or 1h 15m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sacramento, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Palo Alto, CA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Palo Alto, CA
This is one driving day of about 115.9 miles and 2h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Palo Alto, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 50.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
58 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 25 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 58 miles from Palo Alto, 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 305 decision points cluster between mile 41.2 and 115 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
41.2 mi into trip
|
~55m in
|
I 80 / Eastshore Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80 / Eastshore Freeway toward I 80 East: Vallejo, Sacramento
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 80 East: Vallejo, Sacramento
9
110.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 15m 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
113.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 19m 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
113.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 19m 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
115 mi into trip
|
~2h 21m 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
$26.64 one way
$53.28 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
41 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $27.45 | $54.90 |
| premium | $6.18 | $28.19 | $56.37 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $25.59 | $51.18 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 34.8 | 0 | $12.17 | $5.56 |
| Efficient EV | 29 | 0 | $10.14 | $4.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 46.4 | 0 | $16.23 | $7.42 |
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (66% 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
5:25 AM
PDT
Current temp
68°F
Sunny
NNW 10 to 20 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 16 at 8:38AM PDT until April 16 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS Eureka CA
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 16 at 8:38AM PDT until April 17 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS Eureka CA
68°F
Richmond, CA
58 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
18 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
2h 23m 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 offers a mixed experience, with 42% of the journey on major highways like the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway and I 880. You'll encounter stretches of faster driving, including a longest uninterrupted segment of 50.2 miles on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. While not a purely scenic route, the transition from the Bay Area's urban landscape to the Central Valley offers a subtle shift in scenery. Expect a blend of freeway cruising and potentially some slower sections as you approach your destination.
42% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
39 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 50.2 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 41.2 miles in near I 80 / Eastshore Freeway.
Driving Effort
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 30 significant decision points across 115.9 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 41.2 miles (I 80 / Eastshore Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 110.4 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 113.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
Starting in Palo Alto, CA
Full guide →Founded 1894
Top landmarks
- • HP Garage — founding site of the company Hewlett-Packard, "birthplace of Silicon Valley"
- • Hanna–Honeycomb House — historic house in California, United States
- • Palo Alto station — railway station in Palo Alto, 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 2h 23m. Total distance: 115.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (42%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 50.2 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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 41.2 miles (I 80 / Eastshore Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 110.4 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 113.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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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