Origin
Sacramento, CA
Afternoon in Sacramento on Saturday
Local time
4:46 PM
PDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sacramento, CA to San Carlos, CA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 25, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 13m
Distance
109.1 mi
176 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$25
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 4m
★
6 AM
2h 13m
8 AM
2h 32m
10 AM
2h 20m
12 PM
2h 18m
3 PM
2h 21m
5 PM
2h 31m
8 PM
2h 8m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sacramento, CA
Wikimedia Commons
San Carlos, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Sacramento, CA to San Carlos, CA is 109.1 miles and takes about 2h 13m via Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway and Bayshore Freeway, with a fuel budget near $25 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within California, moving from the Pacific Coast region to another part of the Pacific Coast. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, making for a relatively straightforward transit between these two points. With a drive time under three hours and a low fuel cost, this is a very manageable one-day trip.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
54.5 miles from Sacramento, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 4m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 56.3 mi | 1h 7m |
| Bayshore Freeway | 17.4 mi | 20m |
| Eastshore Freeway | 15.2 mi | 17m |
| 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 |
| Route 80 | 1.4 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 56.3 mi, about 1h 7m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 38 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~4,091 veh/hr typical
Quietest
1 AM
~388 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 13 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 San Carlos, 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
5.2 mi
·
6 min
·
Bayshore Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight left at fork onto US 101
12 mi
·
14 min
·
Bayshore Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Exit 411
Toward Holly Street, Brittan Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Toward Holly Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Turn straight onto Holly Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Holly Street
Use the straight lane.
27
Turn left onto CA 82
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
El Camino Real
Use the straight lane.
28
Turn right onto San Carlos Avenue
62 ft
·
1 sec
·
San Carlos Avenue
Use the right lane.
29
Arrive at destination
San Carlos Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of this trip, you can afford to be flexible with your departure time. Leaving Sacramento mid-morning, after the initial rush hour, should provide a smooth start. You won't need to break this drive into multiple days, so you can focus on enjoying the transit. Keep an eye on your fuel; while the estimated cost is $25, it's always wise to fill up before departing Sacramento, as services can be more spread out on the highway sections. The longest stretch on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway is over 50 miles, so plan for a rest stop before or after that segment if needed.
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 54.5 miles from Sacramento, CA, or about 1h 4m 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 24 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 54.5 miles or 1h 4m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near San Carlos, 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 109.1 miles and 2h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
55 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 24 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 54.5 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 185 decision points cluster between mile 1.3 and 108.4 — 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
108.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 11m in
Take the exit toward Holly Street, Brittan Avenue
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 411
Toward Holly Street, Brittan Avenue
8
108.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 11m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Holly Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Holly Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.73 one way
$49.46 round trip
$5.76/gal
25.4 MPG avg
38 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.96 | $25.58 | $51.17 |
| premium | $6.09 | $26.17 | $52.33 |
| diesel | $5.40 | $23.21 | $46.41 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 38.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 32.7 | 0 | $11.46 | $5.24 |
| Efficient EV | 27.3 | 0 | $9.55 | $4.36 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 43.6 | 0 | $15.27 | $6.98 |
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 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.
Destination
San Carlos, CA
Afternoon in San Carlos on Saturday
Local time
4:46 PM
PDT
Current temp
51°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
27 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 13m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is 41% highway, with the longest continuous stretch on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway covering 56.3 miles. Expect a mixed driving experience with significant highway time followed by surface roads. You'll notice the urban merging as you approach the San Francisco Bay Area. After the major highway segments, the route transitions to surface streets for the final portion of the drive.
41% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
29 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?
9/10
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
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 18 significant decision points across 109.1 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.
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 San Carlos, 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
Arriving in San Carlos, CA
Full guide →San Carlos is on the Peninsula in the San Francisco Bay Area of California.
Top landmarks
- • San Carlos station — railway station in San Carlos, 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 13m. Total distance: 109.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (41%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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 San Carlos, 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. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at San Carlos, 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 FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
More trips to San Carlos, CA
Explore more options from Sacramento, CA or browse trips ending in San Carlos, CA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CA road trips.