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Trip from Sacramento, CA to Ladera, CA

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 27m

Distance

120.5 mi

194 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$28

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 30 min
4 AM
2h 18m ★
6 AM
2h 28m
8 AM
2h 48m
10 AM
2h 35m
12 PM
2h 33m
3 PM
2h 36m
5 PM
2h 47m
8 PM
2h 22m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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capital city of the U.S. state of California and seat of Sacramento County

Sacramento, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Ladera, CA, CA

Ladera, CA

Skyler Sion

Trip Overview

Sacramento, CA to Ladera, CA is 120.5 miles and takes about 2 hours 27 minutes via Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, Junipero Serra Freeway, and Eastshore Freeway, with a fuel budget near $28 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route takes you entirely within California, moving from the Pacific Coast region to another point within the same region. It's a relatively short drive, best suited for a single-day trip, making it a convenient option for a quick journey. You'll be covering a significant portion of the drive on major highways, so expect a steady pace. The fuel cost estimate is around $28, which is helpful for budgeting this straightforward trip.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

60.2 miles from Sacramento, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 11m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway 56.3 mi 1h 7m
Junipero Serra Freeway 21 mi 24m
Eastshore Freeway 15.2 mi 17m
Bayshore Freeway 5 mi 5m
James Lick Freeway 4.3 mi 6m
Yolo Causeway 3.9 mi 4m
Linus F. Claeys Freeway 3.4 mi 3m
Capital City Freeway 3.2 mi 3m
Longest stretch: Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway — 56.3 mi, about 1h 7m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Sacramento, CA and Ladera, 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 left at fork

0.2 mi · 12 sec
Toward US 50: South Lake Tahoe, San Francisco Use the slight left lane.
5

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 39 sec
Exit 518 Toward US 50 West: San Francisco Use the slight right lane.
6

Merge onto US 50; I 80 Business

3.2 mi · 3 min · Capital City Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Continue on I 80

3.9 mi · 4 min · Yolo Causeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Continue on I 80

50 mi · 58 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Continue on I 80

1.0 mi · 1 min · Carquinez Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Continue on I 80

0.3 mi · 24 sec · Eastshore Freeway
11

Continue on I 80

3.4 mi · 3 min · Linus F. Claeys Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Continue on I 80

14 mi · 16 min · Eastshore Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Take the exit onto Eastshore Freeway

0.8 mi · 1 min · Eastshore Freeway
Toward San Francisco Use the slight left lane.
14

Merge onto I 80

0.4 mi · 33 sec · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Turn slight left onto I 80

0.4 mi · 33 sec · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
16

Keep slight left at fork onto I 80

5.5 mi · 8 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the slight left lane.
17

Continue on I 80

0.3 mi · 24 sec · Route 80
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
18

Continue on I 80

0.8 mi · 1 min · Route 80
Exit 2A Use the straight / slight left lanes.
19

Continue on I 80

0.4 mi · 32 sec · Route 80
Exit 1A Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20

Keep slight left at fork onto I 80

0.3 mi · 25 sec · I 80
Exit 1A Toward US 101 South: San Jose Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21

Merge onto US 101

4.3 mi · 6 min · James Lick Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22

Continue on US 101

5.0 mi · 5 min · Bayshore Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 43 sec
Exit 423B Toward I 380 West: San Bruno Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24

Merge onto I 380

1.1 mi · 1 min · Quentin L. Kopp Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25

Keep slight left at fork onto I 380

0.6 mi · 56 sec · I 380
Exit 5B Toward I 280 South: San Jose Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
26

Merge onto I 280

21 mi · 24 min · Junipero Serra Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 33 sec
Exit 22 Toward Alpine Road Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28

Keep slight right at fork

324 ft · 7 sec
Toward Portola Valley, Palo Alto University Use the right lane.
29

Turn straight onto Alpine Road

0.5 mi · 1 min · Alpine Road
30

Turn right onto La Mesa Drive

0.3 mi · 1 min · La Mesa Drive
31

Continue on La Mesa Drive

518 ft · 28 sec · La Mesa Drive
32

Turn left

73 ft · 5 sec
33

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Given the 2 hour 27 minute duration, this drive is easily accomplished in a single day, offering flexibility in your departure time. You could leave Sacramento in the morning and arrive in Ladera by lunchtime, or depart later and still have plenty of daylight. With only 120.5 miles to cover, you won't need to worry about splitting the drive. The longest stretch is 56.3 miles on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, so plan for that section to be primarily highway driving. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the estimated cost is $28, and it's always wise to fill up before embarking on a longer highway segment.

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 60.2 miles from Sacramento, CA, or about 1h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 56.3 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 27 miles or 32m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 60.2 miles or 1h 11m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ladera, 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 120.5 miles and 2h 27m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Sacramento, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 56.3 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city and county seat of Alameda County, California, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Oakland, CA

60 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.

Popular next leg

Oakland, CA to Ladera, CA

45.6 mi · 59m

Pacing Suggestions

Fairfield, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 27 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Vallejo, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 60.2 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.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 20

5 decision points cluster between mile 1.3 and 119.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

9
1.3 mi into trip | ~2m in

Keep slight left at fork toward US 50: South Lake Tahoe, San Francisco

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left lane. Toward US 50: South Lake Tahoe, San Francisco
8
1.5 mi into trip | ~3m in

Keep slight right at fork toward US 50 West: San Francisco

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 518 Toward US 50 West: San Francisco
8
86.2 mi into trip | ~1h 44m in | I 80

Keep slight left at fork onto I 80 toward US 101 South: San Jose

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 1A Toward US 101 South: San Jose
8
97.6 mi into trip | ~1h 58m in | I 380

Keep slight left at fork onto I 380 toward I 280 South: San Jose

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Exit 5B Toward I 280 South: San Jose
9
119.4 mi into trip | ~2h 24m in

Keep slight right at fork toward Portola Valley, Palo Alto University

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the right lane. Toward Portola Valley, Palo Alto University

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$27.70 one way

$55.39 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 42 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $28.54 $57.08
premium $6.18 $29.30 $58.61
diesel $5.61 $26.60 $53.21

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$28

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$53–$78

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 42.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 36.2 0 $12.65 $5.78
Efficient EV 30.1 0 $10.54 $4.82
EV Truck/SUV 48.2 0 $16.87 $7.71

Gas CO2

42 kg

EV CO2

14 kg (67% 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 16, 2026

Origin

Sacramento, CA

Late night in Sacramento on Tuesday

Local time

5:13 AM

PDT

Current temp

68°F

Sunny

NNW 13 to 18 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Freeze Warning

Freeze Warning issued April 16 at 10:43AM PDT until April 17 at 11:00AM PDT by NWS Medford OR

Wind Advisory

Wind Advisory issued April 16 at 10:32AM PDT until April 17 at 11:00AM PDT by NWS Hanford CA

Destination

Ladera, CA

Late night in Ladera on Tuesday

Local time

5:13 AM

PDT

Current temp

50°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

18 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

2h 27m on the road

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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park

Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Celebrate and honor the contributions and sacrifices of American civilians on the WWII home front. Discover how diverse communities lived, worked, and interacted. Many faces, many stories, many truths...

3 mi from route ~6 min detour Free near mile 70.6
View on nps.gov
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Established in 1988, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park celebrates America’s maritime heritage on the Pacific Coast. Our 50-acre park has grown around Aquatic Park Cove, a protected area...

3 mi from route ~7 min detour Free near mile 83.1
View on nps.gov
Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial

Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial

National Memorial

On July 17, 1944, a massive explosion jolted the San Francisco East Bay area, shattering windows and lighting up the night sky. At Port Chicago Naval Magazine, 320 men were killed instantly when two s...

11 mi from route ~28 min detour Free near mile 58.2
View on nps.gov
Golden Gate National Recreation Area

Golden Gate National Recreation Area

National Recreation Area

Experience a park so rich it supports 19 distinct ecosystems with over 2,000 plant and animal species. Go for a hike, enjoy a vista, have a picnic or learn about the centuries of overlapping history f...

13 mi from route ~32 min detour Free near mile 87.2
View on nps.gov
Muir Woods National Monument

Muir Woods National Monument

National Monument

Walk among old growth coast redwoods, cooling their roots in the fresh water of Redwood Creek and lifting their crowns to reach the sun and fog. Federally protected as a National Monument since 1908,...

13 mi from route ~33 min detour $15 near mile 83.1
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

This drive offers a mixed experience, with 46% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter stretches on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, Junipero Serra Freeway, and Eastshore Freeway. The longest uninterrupted segment is 56.3 miles on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, so be prepared for a sustained period of highway driving. The character of the road is predominantly that of a freeway, facilitating a consistent speed for much of the trip. Expect a practical, efficient drive rather than a winding scenic tour.

46% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
33 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 56.3 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 10/10

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 20 significant decision points across 120.5 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. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 86.2 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

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 Sacramento, CA to Ladera, CA, road signs begin pointing toward San Francisco along the way.

San Francisco

77.8 mi in | ~1h 31m | via Eastshore Freeway

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

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 27m. Total distance: 120.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (46%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 56.3 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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 Ladera, 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. 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. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 86.2 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes — Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park and Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial (5 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Ladera, CA before heading back.

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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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