Sacramento to Burney is 211.9 miles and takes about 4h 3m via Westside Freeway and CA 299, with a fuel budget near $49 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within California, moving from the Pacific Coast region towards the northern part of the state. It's a straightforward, highway-focused trip that's easily manageable in a single day. Plan for a smooth journey with minimal complications, making it a convenient option when you need to get from point A to point B efficiently.
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
105.9 miles from Sacramento, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Westside Freeway
126.6 mi
2h 16m
Cascade Wonderland Highway
33.7 mi
36m
CA 299
27.4 mi
38m
Highway 299
21.9 mi
27m
State Highway 299
0.6 mi
<1m
I Street
0.4 mi
<1m
East Stillwater Way
0.2 mi
<1m
10th Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 126.6 mi, about 2h 16m
Traffic on I-5
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 142 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~2,249 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,601
Quietest
2 AM
~212 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 48 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 Sacramento, CA and Burney, CA.
1
Start on 9th Street
348 ft·16 sec·9th Street
2
Turn left onto J Street
406 ft·14 sec·J Street
3
Turn left onto 10th Street
419 ft·18 sec·10th Street
4
Turn left onto I Street
0.4 mi·44 sec·I Street
Use the left lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·55 sec
Toward I 5 North, CA 99 North: Redding, Yuba CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto I 5
5.6 mi·6 min·Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
121 mi·2 hr 10 min·Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 5
34 mi·36 min·Cascade Wonderland Highway
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·19 sec
Toward Burney
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·17 sec
11
Turn straight onto CA 299
2.8 mi·3 min·Highway 299
12
Continue on CA 299
0.6 mi·53 sec·State Highway 299
13
Continue on CA 299
0.2 mi·16 sec·East Stillwater Way
14
Continue on CA 299
19 mi·24 min·Highway 299
15
Turn left onto CA 299
27 mi·38 min·CA 299
16
Arrive at destination
CA 299
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 3m estimated drive time, departing Sacramento in the morning is ideal to maximize daylight. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing yourself. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 126.6-mile stretch on Westside Freeway, as services might be less frequent. The $49 fuel cost is an estimate, so it's wise to check current prices. This is a manageable one-day trip, so you can afford to take your time and enjoy the drive without feeling rushed.
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 105.9 miles from Sacramento, CA, or about 1h 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 126.6 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 47 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 105.9 miles or 1h 55m 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 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Burney, 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 211.9 miles and 4h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 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 Westside Freeway for about 126.6 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 6.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|J Street
Turn left onto J Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|10th Street
Turn left onto 10th Street
Navigation decision point
6
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|I Street
Turn left onto I Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in
Take the ramp toward I 5 North, CA 99 North: Redding, Yuba City
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 5 North, CA 99 North: Redding, Yuba Ci...
6
6.7 mi into trip|~9m 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$44.33 one way
$88.66 round trip
$5.31/gal25.4 MPG avg74 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.52
$46.04
$92.08
premium
$5.67
$47.26
$94.52
diesel
$4.80
$40.01
$80.02
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 74.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
63.6
0
$22.25
$10.17
Efficient EV
53
0
$18.54
$8.48
EV Truck/SUV
84.8
1
$29.67
$13.56
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Sacramento, CA
Afternoon
in Sacramento on Sunday
Local time
12:29 PM
PDT
Current temp
92°F
Sunny
SW 7 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 12:55PM PDT until July 21 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Destination
Burney, CA
Afternoon
in Burney on Sunday
Local time
12:29 PM
PDT
Current temp
90°F
Sunny
WSW 9 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 12:55PM 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
2 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 3m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Whiskeytown National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
Whiskeytown Lake’s crystal-clear waters are iconic, but this 42,000-acre National Recreation Area offers much more. Explore waterfalls, hike rugged trails, uncover Gold Rush history, and witness the r...
13 mi from route
~32 min detour
$15
near mile 160.7
Caution: Winter Hazards on Trails - Downed Trees and High Water
Lassen Volcanic National Park is home to steaming fumaroles, meadows freckled with wildflowers, clear mountain lakes, and numerous volcanoes. Jagged peaks tell the story of its eruptive past while hot...
30 mi from route
~75 min detour
$30
near mile 211.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is primarily a highway-focused drive, with 83% of the journey on major roads. You'll spend a good portion of your time on the Westside Freeway, experiencing a longest uninterrupted stretch of 126.6 miles. While largely highway, the latter part of the drive incorporates roads like Cascade Wonderland Highway and CA 299, offering a change of pace as you near your destination. Expect a consistent driving experience for the majority of the trip.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 126.6 mi on Westside Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and Cascade Wonderland Highway. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near J Street.
Driving Effort5/10
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 211.9 miles you will encounter 9 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: at 0.1 miles (J Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (10th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (I Street): 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 4h 3m. Total distance: 211.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 126.6 miles on Westside Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 22 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, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (J Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (10th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (I Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Whiskeytown National Recreation Area and Lassen Volcanic National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Burney, CA, but most travelers stay overnight.
