This 85.3-mile drive from Sacramento to Strawberry, California, will take you about 1 hour and 48 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. You'll primarily navigate on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, John T. Knox Freeway, and Richmond Parkway, with about 24% of the journey on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this route is around $20. Given its relatively short distance and duration, you have plenty of flexibility to depart when you wish and take your time. The drive stays within the Pacific Coast region, offering a consistent regional experience throughout.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.7 miles from Sacramento, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
50.1 mi
58m
John T. Knox Freeway
5.6 mi
8m
Richmond Parkway
5.1 mi
6m
Yolo Causeway
3.9 mi
4m
Linus F. Claeys Freeway
3.4 mi
3m
Capital City Freeway
3.2 mi
3m
Eastshore Freeway
3.2 mi
3m
Redwood Highway
2.5 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 50.1 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sacramento, CA and Strawberry, 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 FranciscoUse the slight left lane.
5
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·39 sec
Exit 518Toward US 50 West: San FranciscoUse 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
2.8 mi·3 min·Eastshore Freeway
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Exit 20Toward San Rafael, Fitzgerald DriveUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn right onto Richmond Parkway
5.1 mi·6 min·Richmond Parkway
Use the right lane.
15
Turn slight right onto Castro Street
1.7 mi·2 min·Castro Street
Use the straight lane.
16
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward I 580 West: San RafaelUse the left lane.
17
Merge onto I 580
5.6 mi·8 min·John T. Knox Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.4 mi·35 sec
Exit 2AToward Sir Francis Drake BoulevardUse the slight right lane.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto Sir Francis Drake Boulevard East
1.5 mi·2 min·Sir Francis Drake Boulevard East
Use the straight lane.
20
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward US 101 South: San FranciscoUse the left / straight lanes.
21
Merge onto US 101
2.5 mi·3 min·Redwood Highway
Use the straight lane.
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Exit 447Toward CA 131: Tiburon Boulevard, East Blithedale AvenueUse the slight right lane.
23
Turn left onto CA 131
263 ft·6 sec·East Blithedale Avenue
24
Continue on CA 131
0.2 mi·20 sec·Tiburon Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
25
Turn slight right
181 ft·8 sec
Toward US 101 North: EurekaUse the right lane.
26
Turn right onto Redwood Highway Frontage Road
0.1 mi·19 sec·Redwood Highway Frontage Road
27
Turn left onto Reed Boulevard
0.3 mi·49 sec·Reed Boulevard
28
Continue on Reed Boulevard
34 ft·1 sec·Reed Boulevard
29
Continue on Reed Boulevard
0.2 mi·39 sec·Reed Boulevard
30
Turn right onto Inez Place
308 ft·13 sec·Inez Place
31
Arrive at destination
Inez Place
Trip Plan
With a total duration of under two hours, this trip from Sacramento to Strawberry offers a relaxed pace. You can easily complete this drive in a single day, allowing for flexibility in your departure time. There are no recommended stops built into this route, so you can decide on breaks as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel; with an estimated cost of $20, it's a manageable expense, but it's always wise to start with a full tank. Pay close attention to the numerous turns indicated on your navigation, as this route is characterized by its 'turn-heavy local drive' profile.
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 42.7 miles from Sacramento, CA, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 50.1 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 19 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.7 miles or 50m 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 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Strawberry, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Sacramento, CA
This is one driving day of about 85.3 miles and 1h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 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 50.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 42.7 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 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.3 and 84.2 — 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
66.6 mi into trip|~1h 18m in
Take the exit toward San Rafael, Fitzgerald Drive
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 20
Toward San Rafael, Fitzgerald Drive
7
73.7 mi into trip|~1h 28m in
Take the ramp toward I 580 West: San Rafael
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 580 West: San Rafael
8
84.2 mi into trip|~1h 44m in
Take the exit toward CA 131: Tiburon Boulevard, East Blithedale Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 447
Toward CA 131: Tiburon Boulevard, East Blitheda...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.61 one way
$39.21 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$20.20
$40.41
premium
$6.18
$20.74
$41.49
diesel
$5.61
$18.83
$37.67
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.6
0
$8.96
$4.09
Efficient EV
21.3
0
$7.46
$3.41
EV Truck/SUV
34.1
0
$11.94
$5.46
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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 Sunday
Local time
12:58 AM
PDT
Current temp
68°F
Sunny
NNW 18 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 16 at 12:49PM PDT until April 17 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS Eureka CA
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 16 at 12:35PM PDT until April 16 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Destination
Strawberry, CA
Late night
in Strawberry on Sunday
Local time
12:58 AM
PDT
Current temp
72°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
4 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
1h 48m 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
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...
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,...
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...
6 mi from route
~14 min detour
Free
near mile 85.3
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...
8 mi from route
~19 min detour
Free
near mile 85.3
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
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 58.8
From its thunderous ocean breakers crashing against rocky headlands and expansive sand beaches to its open grasslands, brushy hillsides, and forested ridges, Point Reyes offers visitors over 1500 spec...
22 mi from route
~54 min detour
Free
near mile 82.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, rather than a straightforward interstate cruise. While 24% of the journey involves highway travel, the majority will be on more localized roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 50.1 miles on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. As you progress, the road character will likely shift between these faster highway sections and more intricate local street navigation, requiring your attention to turns and traffic signals.
Only 24% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 50.1 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. 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 Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 85.3 miles you will encounter 21 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. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 66.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
On the drive from Sacramento, CA to Strawberry, CA, road signs begin pointing toward San Rafael along the way.
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 1h 48m. Total distance: 85.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 50.1 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 Strawberry, CA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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 66.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park, Muir Woods National Monument and Golden Gate National Recreation Area (6 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 Strawberry, CA before heading back.
