Redway to Sacramento is 224.9 miles and takes about 4h 52m via CA 20, with a fuel budget near $51 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive takes you from the Pacific Coast region of California inland towards the state capital. While the majority of the route is on highways, you'll experience a shift in scenery as you leave the coastal influence behind. It's a straightforward, single-day trip that's manageable for most drivers.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
112.5 miles from Redway, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 29m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
CA 20
79.5 mi
1h 54m
Redwood Highway
77.6 mi
1h 39m
Westside Freeway
58 mi
1h 3m
Willits Bypass
5.4 mi
6m
Redwood Drive
2.8 mi
5m
H Street
0.3 mi
<1m
J Street
0.2 mi
<1m
5th Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
CA 20
— 79.5 mi, about 1h 54m
Traffic on I-5
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 101 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~2,908 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~300 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 29 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 Redway, CA and Sacramento, CA.
1
Start on Redwood Drive
2.8 mi·5 min·Redwood Drive
2
Turn right onto Sprowel Creek Road
0.1 mi·23 sec·Sprowel Creek Road
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·22 sec
4
Merge onto US 101
65 mi·1 hr 24 min·Redwood Highway
5
Continue on US 101
5.4 mi·6 min·Willits Bypass
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on US 101; CA 20
13 mi·15 min·Redwood Highway
7
Take the exit onto CA 20
19 mi·26 min·CA 20
Exit 555BToward CA 20 East: Upper Lake, Williams
8
Enter roundabout onto CA 20
115 ft·1 sec·CA 20
9
Continue on CA 20
3.8 mi·5 min·CA 20
10
Enter roundabout onto CA 20
143 ft·8 sec·CA 20
11
Continue on CA 20
19 mi·31 min·CA 20
12
Enter roundabout onto CA 20
166 ft·2 sec·CA 20
13
Continue on CA 20
37 mi·50 min·CA 20
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
15
Merge onto I 5
24 mi·26 min·Westside Freeway
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
16 mi·16 min·Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
18 mi·20 min·Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Exit 519BToward Downtown, J StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on J Street
0.2 mi·25 sec·J Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
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
Trip Plan
For this 4h 52m drive, leaving in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight and arrive in Sacramento with time to spare. With only one recommended stop and a relatively short duration, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially before the longest stretch of 79.5 miles on CA 20, as services can be more spread out in some sections. The $51 fuel cost estimate is a good baseline to plan around for your budget.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 112.5 miles from Redway, CA, or about 2h 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 79.5 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 49 miles or 1h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 112.5 miles or 2h 29m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 6m
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 Redway, 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 Redway, CA
This is one driving day of about 224.9 miles and 4h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from Redway, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on CA 20 for about 79.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 86.1 and 224.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
86.1 mi into trip|~1h 51m in|CA 20
Take the exit onto CA 20 toward CA 20 East: Upper Lake, Williams
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 555B
Toward CA 20 East: Upper Lake, Williams
6
190.3 mi into trip|~4h 12m in|I 5 / Westside Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 / Westside Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
223.9 mi into trip|~4h 50m in
Take the exit toward Downtown, J Street
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 Downtown, J Street
7
224.4 mi into trip|~4h 51m in|5th Street
Turn left onto 5th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
224.8 mi into trip|~4h 52m in|9th Street
Turn right onto 9th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$47.05 one way
$94.10 round trip
$5.31/gal25.4 MPG avg79 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.52
$48.87
$97.73
premium
$5.67
$50.16
$100.32
diesel
$4.80
$42.47
$84.93
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 78.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
67.5
0
$23.61
$10.80
Efficient EV
56.2
0
$19.68
$9.00
EV Truck/SUV
90
1
$31.49
$14.39
Gas CO2
79 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Redway, CA
Late night
in Redway on Sunday
Local time
2:03 AM
PDT
Current temp
95°F
Sunny
NW 1 to 6 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 1:24AM PDT until July 21 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Destination
Sacramento, CA
Late night
in Sacramento on Sunday
Local time
2:03 AM
PDT
Current temp
92°F
Sunny
SW 3 to 7 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 1:24AM 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.
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
3 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
4h 52m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly highway, with 61% of the 224.9 miles on freeways. You'll encounter your longest continuous stretch on CA 20, covering 79.5 miles without a major change in road type. Expect a significant portion of your travel to be on the Redwood Highway and Westside Freeway. You’ll notice the transition from rural highway cruising to more developed freeway conditions as you approach Sacramento.
61% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 79.5 mi on CA 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on CA 20 and Redwood Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 86.1 miles in near CA 20.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 224.9 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 86.1 miles (CA 20): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 190.3 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 223.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,668 ft27 ft
Total Climb
1,615 ft
Total Descent
2,127 ft
Highest Point
1,668 ft
~48.2 mi in
Elevation Range
1,641 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 Redway, CA to Sacramento, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Williams along the way.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 52m. Total distance: 224.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 79.5 miles on CA 20. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 86.1 miles (CA 20): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 190.3 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 223.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Sacramento, CA, but most travelers stay overnight.
