Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 28m
Distance
70.4 mi
113 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sacramento, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Byron, CA
Tori Pezzulla❤️
This 70.4-mile drive from Sacramento to Byron, California, is a straightforward journey that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 28 minutes. Primarily utilizing the Westside Freeway, West Charter Way, and Byron Highway, this route is heavily focused on highway driving, with 68% of it being on major roads. With an estimated fuel cost of $16, it's an economical option for a day trip. Given its manageable distance and duration, this route is well-suited for a single-day excursion, offering a direct path between the Pacific Coast regions of your origin and destination.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Westside Freeway | 46.7 mi | 51m |
| West Charter Way | 18.9 mi | 28m |
| Byron Highway | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| CA 4 | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| 9th Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| P Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Sacramento, CA and Byron, CA.
Start on 9th Street
Turn right onto P Street
Take the ramp
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 5
Take the exit onto CA 4
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto CA 4
Continue on CA 4
Turn left onto J4
Turn left
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
35 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.
A short stop after about 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 35.2 miles from Sacramento, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.3 and 48.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Keep slight right at fork toward I 5 South: Los Angeles
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto I 5 / Westside Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit onto CA 4 toward CA 4 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Merge onto CA 4 / West Charter Way
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$16.18 one way
$32.36 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $16.67 | $33.35 |
| premium | $6.18 | $17.12 | $34.24 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.54 | $31.09 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$16
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.1 | 0 | $7.39 | $3.38 |
| Efficient EV | 17.6 | 0 | $6.16 | $2.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.2 | 0 | $9.86 | $4.51 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Sacramento on Tuesday
Local time
1:46 AM
PDT
Current temp
74°F
Sunny
Destination
Late night in Byron on Tuesday
Local time
1:46 AM
PDT
Current temp
--
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Road read
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.
Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this 70.4-mile trip. The majority of your journey will be on freeways, contributing to the 68% highway share. You'll encounter a significant uninterrupted stretch of 46.7 miles on the Westside Freeway, offering a consistent pace. While the route is primarily designed for efficient travel, it maintains a practical feel without unnecessary detours, allowing you to cover ground steadily. The character of the drive is one of directness and forward momentum.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and West Charter Way. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.3 miles in.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 70.4 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 1.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.8 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 48.6 miles (CA 4): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 28m. Total distance: 70.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (68%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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