Sacramento, CA to Parkwood, CA is 149.7 miles and takes about 2h 57m via CA 99, with a fuel budget near $34 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Pacific Coast region, offering a straightforward drive. It's a solid option for a single-day excursion, primarily utilizing major highways. You'll find the journey efficient, making it a practical choice for those looking to cover ground without extensive planning.
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
74.8 miles from Sacramento, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 28m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
CA 99
87.6 mi
1h 41m
South Sacramento Freeway
56.4 mi
1h 5m
15th Street
1.1 mi
2m
South Madera Avenue
1 mi
1m
Capital City Freeway
0.6 mi
<1m
J Street
0.5 mi
<1m
Raymond Thomas Street
0.5 mi
1m
East Pecan Avenue
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
CA 99
— 87.6 mi, about 1h 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sacramento, CA and Parkwood, 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
88 mi·1 hr 41 min·CA 99
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Exit 153Toward CA 145: Madera Avenue, KermanUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn left onto West Olive Avenue
221 ft·6 sec·West Olive Avenue
13
Turn right onto CA 145
1.0 mi·1 min·South Madera Avenue
14
Turn left onto East Pecan Avenue
0.4 mi·47 sec·East Pecan Avenue
15
Turn right onto Raymond Thomas Street
0.5 mi·1 min·Raymond Thomas Street
16
Continue on Raymond Thomas Road
0.2 mi·42 sec·Raymond Thomas Road
17
Continue on East Hazel Avenue
0.2 mi·49 sec·East Hazel Avenue
18
Arrive at destination
East Hazel Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 57m duration, this trip is easily manageable in a single day, so consider leaving in the morning to maximize your time at your destination. With only one recommended stop, you can opt for a quick gas and stretch break or push through if needed. The fuel cost is estimated at $34, so ensure your tank is full before departing Sacramento. Keep an eye on CA 99 for potential traffic, especially near urban areas, as it can impact your 2h 57m estimate.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 74.8 miles from Sacramento, CA, or about 1h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 87.6 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 33 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 74.8 miles or 1h 28m 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 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Parkwood, 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 149.7 miles and 2h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 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 87.6 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 147.1 — 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.
8
147.1 mi into trip|~2h 51m in
Take the exit toward CA 145: Madera Avenue, Kerman
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 153
Toward CA 145: Madera Avenue, Kerman
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.41 one way
$68.81 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg52 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$35.46
$70.91
premium
$6.18
$36.41
$72.81
diesel
$5.61
$33.05
$66.10
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
44.9
0
$15.72
$7.19
Efficient EV
37.4
0
$13.10
$5.99
EV Truck/SUV
59.9
0
$20.96
$9.58
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (65% 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
4:11 AM
PDT
Current temp
68°F
Sunny
NNW 13 to 18 mph0% chanceLive 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
Parkwood, CA
Late night
in Parkwood on Tuesday
Local time
4:11 AM
PDT
Current temp
71°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
3 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
2h 57m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for this route, with 97% of it on major roads. The majority of your time will be spent on CA 99, which includes the South Sacramento Freeway, forming the backbone of this journey. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 87.6 miles on CA 99, indicating long periods of consistent highway travel. This profile suggests a drive characterized by steady progress rather than winding scenic byways.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 87.6 mi on CA 99.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 149.7 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 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 2h 57m. Total distance: 149.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 87.6 miles on CA 99. 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 Parkwood, 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Parkwood, CA before heading back.
