Aliso Creek Rest Area (Southbound)
0 mi from route
Trip from Poway, CA to Sacramento, CA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 20, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
9h 21m
Distance
499.2 mi
803 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$104
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
9h 13m
★
6 AM
9h 21m
8 AM
9h 38m
10 AM
9h 27m
12 PM
9h 25m
3 PM
9h 28m
5 PM
9h 37m
8 PM
9h 16m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Poway, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Sacramento, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Poway to Sacramento is 499.2 miles and takes about 9h 21m via I 5 Truck, with a fuel budget near $113 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route spans the Pacific Coast region, primarily utilizing major freeways to connect Southern California with the Central Valley. It's a straightforward, mostly highway drive that's best suited for those prioritizing efficient travel over sightseeing. Given the nearly 10-hour drive time, it's recommended to plan for at least two days to make the trip more comfortable.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
249.6 miles from Poway, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 50m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Westside Freeway | 298.7 mi | 5h 22m |
| Golden State Freeway | 50 mi | 57m |
| I 5 Truck | 45.3 mi | 52m |
| San Diego Freeway | 40.7 mi | 46m |
| Santa Ana Freeway | 30.4 mi | 35m |
| Ronald Packard Parkway | 15.8 mi | 18m |
| Escondido Freeway | 9.1 mi | 9m |
| El Camino Real | 2.2 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 298.7 mi, about 5h 22m
Traffic on I-5
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 584 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~4,745 veh/hr typical · worst 5,882
Quietest
2 AM
~632 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 44 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Poway, CA and Sacramento, CA.
1
Start on Putney Road
100 ft
·
7 sec
·
Putney Road
2
Turn right onto Midland Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Midland Road
3
Turn left onto Aubrey Street
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
Aubrey Street
Use the left lane.
4
Turn right onto Community Road
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Community Road
5
Turn left onto Twin Peaks Road
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Twin Peaks Road
Use the left lane.
6
Continue on Camino del Norte
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Camino del Norte
Use the left lane.
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward I 15 North
Use the right lane.
8
Merge onto I 15
5.4 mi
·
6 min
·
Escondido Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 15
3.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Escondido Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
Exit 32
Toward CA 78: Oceanside, Ramona
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward CA 78 West: Oceanside
Use the slight left lane.
12
Continue on CA 78
16 mi
·
18 min
·
Ronald Packard Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 1B
Toward I 5 North: Los Angeles
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto I 5
15 mi
·
17 min
·
San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
18 mi
·
20 min
·
San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
7.4 mi
·
8 min
·
San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 5 Truck
Toward Bake Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
6.0 mi
·
6 min
·
I 5 Truck
Use the slight right lane.
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
Exit 100
Toward Jamboree Road
Use the slight right lane.
20
Continue on this road
527 ft
·
11 sec
·
this road
21
Turn right onto Jamboree Road
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Jamboree Road
Use the left / right lanes.
22
Turn left onto El Camino Real
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
El Camino Real
Use the left lane.
23
Turn left onto Newport Avenue
357 ft
·
13 sec
·
Newport Avenue
Use the left lane.
24
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
Toward I 5 North: Los Angeles
25
Merge onto I 5
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
27
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
9.4 mi
·
10 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
28
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
25 mi
·
29 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 5 Truck
Exit 161A
Toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck
36 mi
·
41 min
·
I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
33
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
22 mi
·
25 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
34
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
226 mi
·
4 hr 1 min
·
Westside Freeway
Toward I 5 North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
35
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
26 mi
·
27 min
·
Westside Freeway
36
Keep left at fork onto I 5
48 mi
·
52 min
·
Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
37
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 519B
Toward J Street, Downtown
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
38
Turn right onto J Street
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
J Street
39
Turn left onto 5th Street
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
5th Street
Use the straight lane.
40
Turn right onto H Street
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
H Street
41
Turn right onto 9th Street
490 ft
·
15 sec
·
9th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
42
Arrive at destination
9th Street
Trip Plan
Given the 9h 21m duration, splitting this drive over two days is highly recommended for a more relaxed experience. Aim to leave Poway early in the morning to maximize daylight and avoid the worst of potential traffic. Plan for two stops along the way to break up the nearly 500 miles. Keep an eye on fuel prices; the estimated cost is $113, so filling up before heading north on I 5 Truck could be beneficial if prices are lower in the southern part of the state.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 249.6 miles from Poway, CA, or about 4h 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 298.7 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 110 miles or 2h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 249.6 miles or 4h 50m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 249.6 miles or 4h 50m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 8h 13m
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 Poway, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Poway, CA
Aim for roughly 250 miles and 4.7 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Sacramento, CA
Aim for roughly 250 miles and 4.7 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 110 miles from Poway, CA.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Westside Freeway for about 298.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
250 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Los Angeles, CAOvernight Options
Night 1
250 mi · about 4.7h in
A practical overnight split lands near Los Angeles, CA after about 250 miles or 4.7 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 110 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 249.6 miles from Poway, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Westside Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 298.7 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 250 miles or 4.7 hours on the road.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Water
0.1 mi from route
Dos Amigos Vista Point
0.1 mi from route
EZ Trip Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
EZ Trip Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Castaic Truck Stop
0.1 mi from route
Tejon Pass Rest Area - Southbound
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Coalinga Avenal Safety Roadside Rest Area - Northbound
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Coalinga - Avenal Rest Area - Southbound
0.2 mi from route
Coalinga - Avenal Rest Area - Northbound
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
John "Chuck" Erreca Southbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Buttonwillow Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Buttonwillow Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Aliso Creek Rest Area (Northbound)
0.2 mi from route
Westley Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Tejon Pass Rest Area - Northbound
0.2 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.2 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Lost Hills Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
John "Chuck" Erreca Northbound Rest Area
0.3 mi from route
Westley Rest Area
0.3 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.3 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
TA
0.4 mi from route
Rest Area
0.6 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.8 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.9 mi from route
Rayzilla Viewpoint
1.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
1.3 mi from route
Rayzilla Rest Area
1.3 mi from route
Rest Area
1.6 mi from route
Rest Area
1.7 mi from route
Rest Area
1.8 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
2 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 375 decision points cluster between mile 13.4 and 498.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
13.4 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Take the exit toward CA 78: Oceanside, Ramona
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 32
Toward CA 78: Oceanside, Ramona
7
13.5 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Keep slight left at fork toward CA 78 West: Oceanside
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward CA 78 West: Oceanside
7
30 mi into trip
|
~38m in
Take the exit toward I 5 North: Los Angeles
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 1B
Toward I 5 North: Los Angeles
9
139.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 48m in
|
I 5 Truck
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 161A
Toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
8
498.2 mi into trip
|
~9h 18m 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
$104.44 one way
$208.88 round trip
$5.31/gal
25.4 MPG avg
175 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.52 | $108.47 | $216.94 |
| premium | $5.67 | $111.34 | $222.67 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $94.26 | $188.52 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$104
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$234–$344
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 174.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $52 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 149.8 | 1 | $52.42 | $23.96 |
| Efficient EV | 124.8 | 1 | $43.68 | $19.97 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 199.7 | 2 | $69.89 | $31.95 |
Gas CO2
175 kg
EV CO2
58 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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.
Origin
Poway, CA
Night in Poway on Sunday
Local time
11:22 PM
PDT
Current temp
87°F
Patchy Fog then Sunny
W 5 to 10 mph
3% chance
Live forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 19 at 8:50AM PDT until July 21 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Destination
Sacramento, CA
Night in Sacramento on Sunday
Local time
11:22 PM
PDT
Current temp
92°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 2 to 7 mph
1% chance
Live forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 19 at 8:50AM PDT until July 21 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
5 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
9h 21m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
The Santa Monica Mountains offer easy access to surprisingly wild places. Experience the famous beaches of Malibu or explore more than 500 miles of trails. The park abounds with historical and cultura...
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
Free
near mile 137.7
View on nps.gov
Cabrillo National Monument
National Monument
In 1542, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo climbed out of his boat and onto shore, becoming the first European to set foot on what is now the West Coast of the United States. Cabrillo National Monument not only...
23 mi from route
~58 min detour
$20
View on nps.gov
César E. Chávez National Monument
National Monument
Yes, we can! Widely recognized as the most important Latino leader in the United States during the twentieth century, Cesar Chavez led farm workers and supporters in the establishment of the country's...
28 mi from route
~70 min detour
Free
near mile 206.5
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is overwhelmingly on freeways, with a 98% highway share. You'll encounter a long stretch of 298.7 miles on the Westside Freeway, indicating extended periods of consistent cruising. Expect to see dense exit activity and urban merging as you navigate through populated areas before transitioning to more open highway travel. The majority of your driving will be on these high-speed roadways.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
42 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 298.7 mi on Westside Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and Golden State Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 13.4 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
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 37 significant decision points across 499.2 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 13.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 30 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
3,330 ft
16 ft
Total Climb
3,757 ft
Total Descent
4,239 ft
Highest Point
3,330 ft
~178.3 mi in
Elevation Range
3,315 ft
Notable High Points
3,330 ft at ~178.3 miles
+1,556 ft prominence
About the Cities
Starting in Poway, CA
Full guide →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).
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 298.7 miles on Westside Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 250 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 42 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.
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. Plan at least 2 meaningful breaks. There are 42 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 13.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 30 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, Cabrillo National Monument and César E. Chávez National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 9.4 hours each way, a round trip means 18.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Sacramento, CA before the return drive.
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, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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