Temple City to Sacramento is 392.5 miles and takes about 7h 13m via Westside Freeway, with a fuel budget near $89 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This Pacific Coast route takes you from Southern California up to the state capital, mostly on well-traveled freeways. If you're looking for a straightforward drive with minimal navigation, this trip fits the bill. Expect a consistent travel experience as you cover the distance, making it a solid choice for a single-day transit.
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
196.2 miles from Temple City, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 40m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Westside Freeway
298.7 mi
5h 22m
I 5 Truck
37.1 mi
42m
Foothill Freeway
30 mi
34m
Golden State Freeway
22.3 mi
25m
Temple City Boulevard
1.3 mi
2m
South Michillinda Avenue
0.9 mi
1m
South Sunset Boulevard
0.7 mi
1m
H Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 298.7 mi, about 5h 22m
Traffic on I-5
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 330 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
12a6anoon6p11p
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 Temple City, CA and Sacramento, CA.
1
Start on Las Tunas Drive
0.2 mi·35 sec·Las Tunas Drive
2
Turn right onto Temple City Boulevard
1.3 mi·2 min·Temple City Boulevard
3
Continue on South Sunset Boulevard
0.7 mi·1 min·South Sunset Boulevard
4
Turn right onto South Michillinda Avenue
0.9 mi·1 min·South Michillinda Avenue
Use the right lane.
5
Continue on North Michillinda Avenue
426 ft·8 sec·North Michillinda Avenue
Use the left lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·11 sec
Toward I 210 West: Pasadena, Los Angeles
7
Merge onto I 210
4.4 mi·5 min·Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 210
26 mi·29 min·Foothill Freeway
Exit 26AToward I 210 West: SacramentoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·9 sec
Use the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto I 5 Truck
1.0 mi·1 min·I 5 Truck
Exit 161A
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck
36 mi·41 min·I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
22 mi·25 min·Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
226 mi·4 hr 1 min·Westside Freeway
Toward I 5 NorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
26 mi·27 min·Westside Freeway
15
Keep left at fork onto I 5
48 mi·52 min·Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·34 sec
Exit 519BToward J Street, DowntownUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Turn right onto J Street
0.2 mi·25 sec·J Street
18
Turn left onto 5th Street
0.2 mi·19 sec·5th Street
Use the straight lane.
19
Turn right onto H Street
0.3 mi·40 sec·H Street
20
Turn right onto 9th Street
490 ft·15 sec·9th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Arrive at destination
9th Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 7-hour drive, consider leaving early in the morning to avoid peak traffic, especially as you depart Temple City. With 2 planned stops, you can break up the 392.5 miles comfortably. Keep an eye on your fuel; the estimated cost is $89, and it's always wise to top off before embarking on longer highway stretches like the 298.7-mile segment on the Westside Freeway. This is a manageable one-day trip, but if you prefer a more relaxed pace, breaking it into two days offers flexibility.
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 196.2 miles from Temple City, CA, or about 3h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 298.7 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 86 miles or 1h 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 196.2 miles or 3h 40m 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 6m
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 Temple City, 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 Temple City, CA
This is one driving day of about 392.5 miles and 7h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 86 miles from Temple City, 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 298.7 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 7.7 and 392.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
7.7 mi into trip|~11m in|I 210 / Foothill Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 210 / Foothill Freeway toward I 210 West: Sacramento
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 26A
Toward I 210 West: Sacramento
7
92.9 mi into trip|~1h 49m in|I 5 / Westside Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 / Westside Freeway toward I 5 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 5 North
8
391.5 mi into trip|~7h 11m in
Take the exit toward J Street, Downtown
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 J Street, Downtown
7
391.9 mi into trip|~7h 12m in|5th Street
Turn left onto 5th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
392.4 mi into trip|~7h 13m in|9th Street
Turn right onto 9th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$82.12 one way
$164.23 round trip
$5.31/gal25.4 MPG avg137 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.52
$85.28
$170.57
premium
$5.67
$87.54
$175.08
diesel
$4.80
$74.11
$148.22
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$82
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$107–$132
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 137.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $41 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
117.8
1
$41.21
$18.84
Efficient EV
98.1
1
$34.34
$15.70
EV Truck/SUV
157
1
$54.95
$25.12
Gas CO2
137 kg
EV CO2
46 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 17, 2026
Origin
Temple City, CA
Late night
in Temple City on Monday
Local time
12:38 AM
PDT
Current temp
92°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Sacramento, CA
Late night
in Sacramento on Monday
Local time
12:38 AM
PDT
Current temp
59°F
Mostly Clear
S 8 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 16 at 12:00PM PDT until July 16 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Hanford CA
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 16 at 11:39AM PDT until July 17 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS Medford OR
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
33 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
7h 13m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
The Santa Monica Mountains offer easy access to surprisingly wild places. Experience the famous beaches of Malibu or explore more than 500 miles of trails. The park abounds with historical and cultura...
23 mi from route
~59 min detour
Free
near mile 40.6
Yes, we can! Widely recognized as the most important Latino leader in the United States during the twentieth century, Cesar Chavez led farm workers and supporters in the establishment of the country's...
27 mi from route
~67 min detour
Free
near mile 94.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend virtually all your time on highways, with a 99% highway share. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 298.7 miles on the Westside Freeway. Given the predominantly highway profile, anticipate frequent exits and potential for merging traffic as you get closer to urban areas. The drive is almost entirely freeway until the very end.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 298.7 mi on Westside Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 7.7 miles in near I 210 / Foothill Freeway.
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 17 significant decision points across 392.5 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 7.7 miles (I 210 / Foothill Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 92.9 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 391.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 7h 13m. Total distance: 392.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 13m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 298.7 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 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 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 7.7 miles (I 210 / Foothill Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 92.9 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 391.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and César E. Chávez National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.2 hours each way, a round trip means 14.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Sacramento, CA before the return drive.
