Origin
Sacramento, CA
Night in Sacramento on Saturday
Local time
9:38 PM
PDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sacramento, CA to La Quinta, CA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
9h 30m
Distance
510.7 mi
822 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$117
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
9h 22m
★
6 AM
9h 30m
8 AM
9h 48m
10 AM
9h 36m
12 PM
9h 35m
3 PM
9h 37m
5 PM
9h 47m
8 PM
9h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sacramento, CA
Wikimedia Commons
La Quinta, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 510.7-mile journey from Sacramento to La Quinta is a significant undertaking, estimated to take around 9 hours and 30 minutes of driving time. Given its length and the 90% highway share, it's best suited for a two-day trip to avoid excessive fatigue. You'll be spending most of your time on major freeways like the Westside Freeway and I-5 Truck. The estimated fuel cost for this drive is approximately $117. While both your origin and destination are within the Pacific Coast region, this route traverses a considerable portion of California, offering a true long-distance driving experience.
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
255.4 miles from Sacramento, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 37m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Westside Freeway | 296.7 mi | 5h 19m |
| I 5 Truck | 58.4 mi | 1h 6m |
| Foothill Freeway | 44 mi | 50m |
| Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway | 40.3 mi | 44m |
| Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway | 25.2 mi | 26m |
| San Bernardino Freeway | 20.1 mi | 23m |
| I-10 Metro ExpressLanes | 9 mi | 9m |
| Washington Street | 4.7 mi | 8m |
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 296.7 mi, about 5h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sacramento, CA and La Quinta, CA.
1
Start on 9th Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
9th Street
2
Turn right onto P Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
P Street
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
Toward US 50, I 5 South: South Lake Tahoe, San Francisco, Los Angeles
4
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
37 sec
Toward I 5 South: Los Angeles
Use the slight right lane.
5
Merge onto I 5
59 mi
·
1 hr 5 min
·
Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
0.8 mi
·
48 sec
·
Westside Freeway
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
237 mi
·
4 hr 13 min
·
Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
58 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
·
I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
17 sec
Exit 161A
Toward I 210 East: Pasadena
Use the slight right lane.
11
Continue on I 210
24 mi
·
28 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 210
19 mi
·
22 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Toward CA 134 West, I 210 East: San Bernardino, Ventura
Use the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 210
0.5 mi
·
32 sec
·
Foothill Freeway
14
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Exit 44A
Toward CA 57 South: Santa Ana
Use the slight right lane.
15
Continue on CA 57
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Orange Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Exit 22A; 22B
Toward I 10 East, I 10 West: San Bernardino, Los Angeles
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 22B
Toward I 10 East: San Bernardino Freeway, San Bernardino
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
18
Merge onto I 10
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
4.0 mi
·
4 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 EXPR
9.0 mi
·
9 min
·
I-10 Metro ExpressLanes
Use the slight left lane.
21
Merge onto I 10
14 mi
·
16 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
22
Continue on I 10
40 mi
·
44 min
·
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Toward Redlands, Palm Springs
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
25 mi
·
26 min
·
Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 137
Toward Washington Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Turn right onto Washington Street
4.7 mi
·
8 min
·
Washington Street
Use the right lane.
26
Turn right onto Eisenhower Drive
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Eisenhower Drive
Use the right lane.
27
Enter roundabout onto Eisenhower Drive
80 ft
·
2 sec
·
Eisenhower Drive
28
Continue on Eisenhower Drive
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Eisenhower Drive
29
Enter roundabout onto Eisenhower Drive
98 ft
·
3 sec
·
Eisenhower Drive
30
Continue on Eisenhower Drive
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
Eisenhower Drive
31
Enter roundabout onto Eisenhower Drive
97 ft
·
2 sec
·
Eisenhower Drive
32
Continue on Eisenhower Drive
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Eisenhower Drive
33
Turn right onto Calle Chihuahua
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
Calle Chihuahua
34
Arrive at destination
Calle Chihuahua
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 9-hour-plus drive, plan for at least two days of travel. Starting early in the morning, especially on the first day, will allow you to cover significant ground before midday. With two planned stops, ensure they are spaced out to break up the longest stretch of 296.7 miles on the Westside Freeway. Keep a close eye on your fuel levels, as long stretches on the highway mean fewer immediate refueling opportunities. Consider splitting the drive roughly in half to ensure a more comfortable pace.
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 255.4 miles from Sacramento, CA, or about 4h 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 296.7 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 112 miles or 2h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 255.4 miles or 4h 37m 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 255.4 miles or 4h 37m
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 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near La Quinta, 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.
+
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 Sacramento, CA
Aim for roughly 255 miles and 4.8 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into La Quinta, CA
Aim for roughly 255 miles and 4.8 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 112 miles from Sacramento, 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 296.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
169 mi into the route
Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch
This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.
Second major stop
Overnight candidate
337 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
255 mi · about 4.8h in
A practical overnight split lands near Santa Clarita, CA after about 255 miles or 4.8 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 112 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 255.4 miles from Sacramento, 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 296.7 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 255 miles or 4.8 hours on the road.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 275 decision points cluster between mile 1.3 and 407.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
1.3 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 5 South: Los Angeles
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 5 South: Los Angeles
7
358.9 mi into trip
|
~6h 32m in
Take the exit toward I 210 East: Pasadena
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 161A
Toward I 210 East: Pasadena
8
383.6 mi into trip
|
~7h 1m in
|
I 210 / Foothill Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 210 / Foothill Freeway toward CA 134 West, I 210 East: San Bernardino, Ventura
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward CA 134 West, I 210 East: San Bernardino,...
8
407.4 mi into trip
|
~7h 29m in
Take the exit toward I 10 East, I 10 West: San Bernardino, Los Angeles
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 22A; 22B
Toward I 10 East, I 10 West: San Bernardino, Lo...
9
407.6 mi into trip
|
~7h 30m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 10 East: San Bernardino Freeway, San Bernardino
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 22B
Toward I 10 East: San Bernardino Freeway, San B...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$117.38 one way
$234.76 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
179 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $120.96 | $241.92 |
| premium | $6.18 | $124.20 | $248.39 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $112.76 | $225.51 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$117
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$247–$357
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 178.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $54 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 153.2 | 1 | $53.62 | $24.51 |
| Efficient EV | 127.7 | 1 | $44.69 | $20.43 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 204.3 | 2 | $71.50 | $32.68 |
Gas CO2
179 kg
EV CO2
60 kg (66% 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.
Destination
La Quinta, CA
Night in La Quinta on Saturday
Local time
9:38 PM
PDT
Current temp
79°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.
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
11 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 30m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused drive, with 90% of the route utilizing major freeways. The character is that of a long-distance, high-speed transit, with the Westside Freeway presenting the longest uninterrupted stretch at 296.7 miles. You'll experience the efficiency of the interstate system for the majority of the trip. While primarily freeway, the transition between these main roads will mark the progression of your journey across the state.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
34 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 296.7 mi on Westside Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and I 5 Truck. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.3 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 27 significant decision points across 510.7 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 1.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 358.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 383.6 miles (I 210 / Foothill Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Sacramento, CA and La Quinta, CA, road signs point toward Ventura, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Redlands and Palm Springs.
Ventura
383.6 mi in
|
~7h 1m
|
via I 210
Los Angeles
407.4 mi in
|
~7h 29m
San Bernardino
407.6 mi in
|
~7h 30m
Redlands
437.4 mi in
|
~8h 4m
|
via I 10
Palm Springs
437.4 mi in
|
~8h 4m
|
via I 10
About the Cities
Starting 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
Arriving in La Quinta, CA
Full guide →La Quinta is a city in Riverside County in Southern California. It is a desert resort city about 30 minutes southeast of Palm Springs. La Quinta is one of the nation's leading golf destinations, having 28 golf courses within the city limits. Tourism is centered primarily on golf, hiking in the surrounding mountains, relaxing at the historic La Quinta Resort, and shopping and dining in the Village.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 296.7 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 255 miles on day one.
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 La Quinta, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 358.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 383.6 miles (I 210 / Foothill Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 9.5 hours each way, a round trip means 19.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at La Quinta, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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