Susanville to Sacramento is 188.4 miles and takes about 4h 2m via CA 32 and CA 70, with a fuel budget near $43 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This one-day drive, primarily highway-focused, connects the Pacific Coast regions of Northern California. You'll generally experience a straightforward journey on well-maintained roads. Consider this route if you're looking for an efficient way to travel between these two points within the state. The drive is practical and gets you where you need to go without significant detours.
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
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
94.2 miles from Susanville, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 8m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
CA 32
52.4 mi
1h 10m
CA 70
49.2 mi
58m
Hillcrest Road
28.8 mi
38m
CA 36
18.1 mi
26m
CA 99
9.9 mi
11m
Golden State Highway
7.7 mi
8m
Westside Freeway
5.5 mi
6m
CA 149
5.5 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
CA 32
— 52.4 mi, about 1h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Susanville, CA and Sacramento, CA.
1
Start on Foss Street
61 ft·11 sec·Foss Street
2
Turn left onto CA 36
0.6 mi·1 min·Main Street
3
Continue on CA 36
0.1 mi·9 sec·South Pine Street
Use the straight lane.
4
Continue on CA 36
29 mi·38 min·Hillcrest Road
5
Enter roundabout onto CA 36
138 ft·9 sec·CA 36
6
Continue on CA 36
18 mi·26 min·CA 36
7
Turn left onto CA 32
52 mi·1 hr 10 min·CA 32
Use the left lane.
8
Turn left
361 ft·10 sec
Use the left lane.
9
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·12 sec
Use the straight lane.
10
Merge onto CA 99
9.9 mi·11 min·CA 99
Use the straight lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 149
5.5 mi·6 min·CA 149
Toward Oroville, MarysvilleUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto CA 70
19 mi·22 min·CA 70
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on CA 70
11 mi·12 min·CA 70
14
Continue on CA 70
1.5 mi·3 min·CA 70
Use the straight lane.
15
Turn right onto 5th Street
0.2 mi·31 sec·5th Street
16
Turn left onto CA 70
4.2 mi·5 min·E Street
17
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 70
18 mi·20 min·CA 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Merge onto CA 99
4.9 mi·5 min·Bernie Richter Memorial Highway
19
Continue on CA 99
7.7 mi·8 min·Golden State Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Merge onto I 5
5.5 mi·6 min·Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Exit 519BToward Downtown, J StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Continue on J Street
0.2 mi·25 sec·J Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
23
Turn left onto 5th Street
0.2 mi·19 sec·5th Street
Use the straight lane.
24
Turn right onto H Street
0.3 mi·40 sec·H Street
25
Turn right onto 9th Street
490 ft·15 sec·9th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
26
Arrive at destination
9th Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short 4-hour drive time, you have the flexibility to depart anytime. A morning start from Susanville will have you in Sacramento with plenty of daylight remaining. With only one recommended stop, you can easily complete this trip in a single day. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially before embarking on the longest stretch of 52.4 miles on CA 32, as services might be less frequent in certain sections. Planning to fuel up in Susanville or before leaving it is a good idea.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 94.2 miles from Susanville, CA, or about 2h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 52.4 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 41 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 94.2 miles or 2h 8m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sacramento, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Susanville, 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 Susanville, CA
This is one driving day of about 188.4 miles and 4h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 miles from Susanville, 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 32 for about 52.4 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 100 and 188.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
100 mi into trip|~2h 16m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
110.2 mi into trip|~2h 28m in|CA 149
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 149 toward Oroville, Marysville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward Oroville, Marysville
8
187.4 mi into trip|~4h in
Take the exit toward Downtown, J Street
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 519B
Toward Downtown, J Street
7
187.9 mi into trip|~4h 1m in|5th Street
Turn left onto 5th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
188.3 mi into trip|~4h 2m in|9th Street
Turn right onto 9th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$43.30 one way
$86.60 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg66 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$44.62
$89.25
premium
$6.18
$45.82
$91.63
diesel
$5.61
$41.60
$83.19
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 65.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
21 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Target - Tesla Supercharger
Chico, CA
Tesla
18 DCFC
Del Paso Marketplace - Tesla Supercharger
Sacramento, CA
Tesla
12 DCFC
New Earth Market - Tesla Supercharger
Yuba City, CA
Tesla
10 DCFC
Diamond Mountain Casino & Hotel - Tesla Supercharger
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
56.5
0
$19.78
$9.04
Efficient EV
47.1
0
$16.49
$7.54
EV Truck/SUV
75.4
0
$26.38
$12.06
Gas CO2
66 kg
EV CO2
22 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 15, 2026
Origin
Susanville, CA
Late night
in Susanville on Sunday
Local time
4:32 AM
PDT
Current temp
32°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Sacramento, CA
Late night
in Sacramento on Sunday
Local time
4:32 AM
PDT
Current temp
68°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
36 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
4h 2m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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.
Lassen Volcanic National Park
National Park
Lassen Volcanic National Park is home to steaming fumaroles, meadows freckled with wildflowers, clear mountain lakes, and numerous volcanoes. Jagged peaks tell the story of its eruptive past while hot...
16 mi from route
~40 min detour
$30
near mile 45.5
Park Closure: Roads to Juniper Lake and Warner Valley Closed for Repairs
Park Closure: Lassen National Park Highway under Seasonal Closure
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is largely a highway-focused drive, with about 75% of the route utilizing faster roads. You'll encounter stretches where you can maintain steady speeds, including one continuous segment of 52.4 miles on CA 32. While primarily highway, the route incorporates other roads like CA 70 and Hillcrest Road, offering some variation. Expect a driving experience that is generally smooth and direct, suitable for covering ground efficiently.
75% 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: 52.4 mi on CA 32.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on CA 32 and CA 70. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 100 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 188.4 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 100 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 110.2 miles (CA 149): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 187.4 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.
Between Susanville, CA and Sacramento, CA, road signs point toward Oroville and Marysville.
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 4h 2m. Total distance: 188.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (75%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 52.4 miles on CA 32. 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 Sacramento, 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 100 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 110.2 miles (CA 149): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 187.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Lassen Volcanic National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Sacramento, CA, but most travelers stay overnight.
