Sacramento to Upland is 415.7 miles and takes about 7h 41m via Westside Freeway, I 5 Truck, and Foothill Freeway, with a fuel budget near $87 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within California, crossing the Pacific Coast region. It's a predominantly highway route, meaning you'll cover a lot of ground efficiently. Consider this an option when you need to get from Northern to Southern California quickly, with most of your time spent on main freeways.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
207.8 miles from Sacramento, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 46m 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
51.8 mi
59m
Golden State Freeway
2 mi
2m
West Foothill Boulevard
1.7 mi
2m
Benson Avenue
1 mi
1m
Baseline Road
0.7 mi
1m
9th Street
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 296.7 mi, about 5h 19m
Traffic on I-5
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 165 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~3,871 veh/hr typical
· worst 5,154
Quietest
2 AM
~553 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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Averaged across 44 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 Upland, 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 AngelesUse 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 161AToward I 210 East: PasadenaUse 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, VenturaUse the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 210
2.9 mi·3 min·Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
1.4 mi·1 min·Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
1.2 mi·1 min·Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
1.8 mi·2 min·Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
1.0 mi·1 min·Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.4 mi·49 sec
Exit 52Toward Base Line RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Turn right onto Base Line Road
477 ft·8 sec·Base Line Road
20
Continue on Baseline Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Baseline Road
Use the left lane.
21
Turn right onto Benson Avenue
1.0 mi·1 min·Benson Avenue
22
Turn left onto US 66 Hist
1.7 mi·2 min·West Foothill Boulevard
23
Turn right onto North Euclid Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·North Euclid Avenue
Use the right lane.
24
Turn left onto West Arrow Highway
0.2 mi·26 sec·West Arrow Highway
25
Turn right onto North 2nd Avenue
0.2 mi·24 sec·North 2nd Avenue
26
Arrive at destination
North 2nd Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this drive can be completed in under 8 hours, leaving Sacramento in the morning is ideal, allowing you to arrive in Upland by late afternoon. With only 2 recommended stops, you have flexibility in when and where you choose to stretch your legs. Monitor your fuel, especially before the longest 296.7-mile stretch on the Westside Freeway, as service areas can be spaced out. The $87 fuel cost is an estimate, so it's wise to have a little extra on hand.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 207.8 miles from Sacramento, CA, or about 3h 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 296.7 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 91 miles or 1h 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 207.8 miles or 3h 46m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Upland, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Sacramento, CA
This is one driving day of about 415.7 miles and 7h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 91 miles from Sacramento, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.3 and 411 — 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
6
62 mi into trip|~1h 10m in|I 5 / Westside Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 / Westside Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
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,...
7
411 mi into trip|~7h 32m in
Take the exit toward Base Line Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 52
Toward Base Line Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$86.97 one way
$173.94 round trip
$5.31/gal25.4 MPG avg145 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.52
$90.32
$180.65
premium
$5.67
$92.71
$185.43
diesel
$4.80
$78.49
$156.98
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$87
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$112–$137
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 145.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $44 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
124.7
1
$43.65
$19.95
Efficient EV
103.9
1
$36.37
$16.63
EV Truck/SUV
166.3
2
$58.20
$26.60
Gas CO2
145 kg
EV CO2
49 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.
Forecast as of Jul 16, 2026
Origin
Sacramento, CA
Morning
in Sacramento on Sunday
Local time
8:25 AM
PDT
Current temp
63°F
Clear
SSE 6 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Extreme Heat Warning
Extreme Heat Warning issued July 16 at 2:28AM PDT until July 16 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 16 at 2:28AM PDT until July 16 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Destination
Upland, CA
Morning
in Upland on Sunday
Local time
8:25 AM
PDT
Current temp
69°F
Partly Cloudy
0 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Extreme Heat Warning
Extreme Heat Warning issued July 16 at 2:28AM PDT until July 16 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 16 at 2:28AM PDT until July 16 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
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
6 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
7h 41m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is almost entirely highway, at 98%. You'll spend the vast majority of your time on freeways, with the longest continuous stretch being 296.7 miles on the Westside Freeway. Expect a consistent cruising experience with minimal time on surface roads. Keep an eye out for the dense urban merging as you approach the Los Angeles metropolitan area.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 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?
7/10
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 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 21 significant decision points across 415.7 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 62 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): 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.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
2,797 ft19 ft
Total Climb
3,520 ft
Total Descent
2,309 ft
Highest Point
2,797 ft
~326.6 mi in
Elevation Range
2,779 ft
Notable High Points
2,797 ft at ~326.6 miles+1,053 ft prominence
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 Upland, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Ventura 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
Upland is a city in San Bernardino County on the edge of the Inland Empire in Southern California. Formally incorporated in 1906, Upland has a long, rich history in agriculture and included a segment of Route 66. Upland and the region used to be home to thousands of acres of citrus groves; today, however, the city is home to many quiet residential neighborhoods and is a gateway to recreational opportunities in the San Gabriel Mountains.
Top landmarks
•Madonna of the Trail — series of 12 monuments dedicated to the spirit of pioneer women in the United St...
•Old Carnegie Library — library building in Upland, California, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 41m. Total distance: 415.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 41m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
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.
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 Upland, 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 62 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): 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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.7 hours each way, a round trip means 15.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Upland, CA before the return drive.
