Traveling from Sacramento to Auberry covers 187.2 miles and typically takes about 3 hours and 54 minutes. Because this is a highway-focused drive, you can comfortably complete the journey in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend roughly $43 on fuel for the trip, depending on your vehicle's efficiency. You will primarily utilize CA 99, the South Sacramento Freeway, and CA 145 to navigate between these two Pacific Coast locations. It is a straightforward route that prioritizes efficiency over meandering detours, making it a reliable choice for those looking to reach their destination directly.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
93.6 miles from Sacramento, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
CA 99
86.8 mi
1h 40m
South Sacramento Freeway
56.4 mi
1h 5m
CA 145
17 mi
25m
Auberry Road
13.3 mi
21m
Millerton Road
5.7 mi
9m
West Yosemite Avenue
2.2 mi
3m
206
2.1 mi
3m
15th Street
1.1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
CA 99
— 86.8 mi, about 1h 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sacramento, CA and Auberry, CA.
1
Start on 9th Street
348 ft·16 sec·9th Street
2
Turn left onto J Street
0.5 mi·55 sec·J Street
3
Turn right onto 15th Street
1.1 mi·2 min·15th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Turn left onto X Street
400 ft·8 sec·X Street
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward I 80 East, CA 99 South: Reno, Placerville, Fresno
6
Merge onto US 50; I 80 Business
0.4 mi·22 sec·Capital City Freeway
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 Business
0.3 mi·18 sec·Capital City Freeway
Toward I 80 Business East, CA 99 South: Reno, FresnoUse the slight right lane.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·34 sec
Toward CA 99 South: FresnoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto CA 99
56 mi·1 hr 5 min·South Sacramento Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99
87 mi·1 hr 40 min·CA 99
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.1 mi·19 sec
Exit 154Toward Fourth StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn left onto North I Street
0.3 mi·36 sec·North I Street
13
Turn left onto West Yosemite Avenue
2.2 mi·3 min·West Yosemite Avenue
14
Continue on CA 145
17 mi·25 min·CA 145
15
Turn right onto 206
2.1 mi·3 min·206
16
Continue on North Fork Road
0.1 mi·22 sec·North Fork Road
17
Turn left onto Millerton Road
5.7 mi·9 min·Millerton Road
18
At end of road, turn left onto Auberry Road
9.3 mi·14 min·Auberry Road
19
Enter roundabout onto CA 168
216 ft·4 sec·Auberry Road
20
Continue on CA 168
1.1 mi·1 min·Auberry Road
21
Continue on Auberry Road
2.9 mi·5 min·Auberry Road
22
Keep slight right at fork onto Auberry Road
361 ft·10 sec·Auberry Road
23
Arrive at destination
Auberry Road
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 3 hour and 54 minute travel time, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refresh. Since the route is manageable as a day trip, you have the flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule, though avoiding peak traffic hours on CA 99 is always a smart move. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge during the longer highway stretches, as the $43 estimated cost can fluctuate based on idling and speed. A practical tip for this specific drive is to finalize your fuel stops before you exit the major highway system, as services become more dispersed once you transition onto CA 145.
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 93.6 miles from Sacramento, CA, or about 1h 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 86.8 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 41 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 93.6 miles or 1h 49m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Auberry, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Sacramento, 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 Sacramento, CA
This is one driving day of about 187.2 miles and 3h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 miles from Sacramento, 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 99 for about 86.8 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 0.5 and 146.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in|15th Street
Turn right onto 15th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
2.3 mi into trip|~4m in|I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway toward I 80 Business East, CA 99 South: Reno, Fresno
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 80 Business East, CA 99 South: Reno, F...
6
2.6 mi into trip|~4m in
Take the exit toward CA 99 South: Fresno
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward CA 99 South: Fresno
6
59.5 mi into trip|~1h 10m 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
146.3 mi into trip|~2h 50m in
Take the exit toward Fourth Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 154
Toward Fourth Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$43.03 one way
$86.05 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg66 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$44.34
$88.68
premium
$6.18
$45.52
$91.05
diesel
$5.61
$41.33
$82.66
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 65.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
56.2
0
$19.66
$8.99
Efficient EV
46.8
0
$16.38
$7.49
EV Truck/SUV
74.9
0
$26.21
$11.98
Gas CO2
65 kg
EV CO2
22 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.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Sacramento, CA
Late night
in Sacramento on Tuesday
Local time
3:19 AM
PDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Auberry, CA
Late night
in Auberry on Tuesday
Local time
3:19 AM
PDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
16 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
3h 54m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
With 86% of the route consisting of highway driving, this trip is largely about maintaining a steady pace. You will spend your longest uninterrupted stretch covering 86.8 miles on CA 99, which provides a consistent driving experience. As you transition from the main freeway arteries onto CA 145, the character of the road shifts from high-speed transit to a more localized driving environment. The overall profile is distinctly highway-focused, offering a predictable rhythm for the majority of your time behind the wheel. Prepare for long, open segments that require steady focus as you make your way toward the destination.
86% 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: 86.8 mi on CA 99.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on CA 99 and South Sacramento Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near 15th Street.
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 187.2 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 0.5 miles (15th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles (I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 3h 54m. Total distance: 187.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 86.8 miles on CA 99. 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 Auberry, 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 0.5 miles (15th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles (I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Auberry, CA, but most travelers stay overnight.
