This 270.1-mile journey from West Bishop, CA to Sacramento, CA will take approximately 4 hours and 54 minutes. It's a manageable one-day trip with a projected fuel cost of around $63. You'll be navigating primarily local roads, including Ed Powers Road, Sinclair Street, and Emigrant Street, with no highway driving involved. The overall feel is that of a turn-heavy local drive, so be prepared for frequent adjustments. Given the duration and nature of the route, it’s well-suited for a single day of travel.
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
134.5 miles from West Bishop, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 50
93.8 mi
1h 58m
US 395
84.4 mi
1h 40m
Route 395
39.8 mi
51m
CA 89
28.8 mi
41m
Luther Pass Road
11.1 mi
15m
CA 88
5.8 mi
7m
Ed Powers Road
1.4 mi
3m
Red Hill Road
1.2 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
US 50
— 93.8 mi, about 1h 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Bishop, CA and Sacramento, CA.
1
Start on Red Hill Road
1.2 mi·3 min·Red Hill Road
2
Turn right onto Ed Powers Road
1.4 mi·3 min·Ed Powers Road
3
At end of road, turn left onto US 395
84 mi·1 hr 40 min·US 395
Use the straight lane.
4
Turn right onto Sinclair Street
0.1 mi·12 sec·Sinclair Street
5
Turn left onto Emigrant Street
0.5 mi·40 sec·Emigrant Street
6
Continue on US 395
40 mi·51 min·Route 395
Use the left lane.
7
Turn left onto CA 89
18 mi·25 min·CA 89
8
At end of road, turn right onto CA 89
11 mi·16 min·CA 89
9
Turn left onto CA 88; CA 89
5.8 mi·7 min·CA 88; CA 89
10
Turn right onto CA 89
11 mi·15 min·Luther Pass Road
11
Enter roundabout onto US 50
217 ft·9 sec·US 50
12
Continue on US 50
94 mi·1 hr 57 min·US 50
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Exit 5Toward CA 160: 16th StreetUse the slight right lane.
14
Turn right onto 16th Street
1.1 mi·2 min·16th Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
15
Turn left onto I Street
0.5 mi·1 min·I Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
16
Turn left onto 9th Street
71 ft·1 sec·9th Street
17
Arrive at destination
9th Street
Trip Plan
Since this 4-hour and 54-minute drive is easily completed in a single day, you have flexibility in when you depart. Leaving West Bishop, CA in the morning will allow you to reach Sacramento, CA with ample time. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost of $63, planning is straightforward. Keep an eye out for the numerous turns that define this route; it's a good idea to have your GPS active for navigation. A specific tip for this drive: be mindful of your speed through the local road segments, as they can often have lower speed limits.
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 134.5 miles from West Bishop, CA, or about 2h 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 93.8 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 59 miles or 1h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 134.5 miles or 2h 48m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 42m
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 West Bishop, 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 West Bishop, CA
This is one driving day of about 268.9 miles and 5h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 miles from West Bishop, 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 US 50 for about 93.8 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.2 and 268.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
1.2 mi into trip|~3m in|Ed Powers Road
Turn right onto Ed Powers Road
Navigation decision point
6
2.6 mi into trip|~6m in|US 395
At end of road, turn left onto US 395
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
267 mi into trip|~5h 41m in
Take the exit toward CA 160: 16th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 5
Toward CA 160: 16th Street
5
267.2 mi into trip|~5h 41m in|16th Street
Turn right onto 16th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
5
268.4 mi into trip|~5h 43m in|I Street
Turn left onto I Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$56.26 one way
$112.51 round trip
$5.31/gal25.4 MPG avg94 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.52
$58.43
$116.86
premium
$5.67
$59.97
$119.95
diesel
$4.80
$50.77
$101.55
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$56
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$81–$106
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 94.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
80.7
0
$28.23
$12.91
Efficient EV
67.2
0
$23.53
$10.76
EV Truck/SUV
107.6
1
$37.65
$17.21
Gas CO2
94 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 20, 2026
Origin
West Bishop, CA
Evening
in West Bishop on Monday
Local time
7:47 PM
PDT
Current temp
68°F
Partly Cloudy
W 2 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 20 at 3:27AM PDT until July 20 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Reno NV
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 19 at 6:43PM PDT until July 21 at 5:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Destination
Sacramento, CA
Evening
in Sacramento on Monday
Local time
7:47 PM
PDT
Current temp
62°F
Mostly Cloudy
S 6 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 20 at 3:27AM PDT until July 20 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Reno NV
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 19 at 6:43PM PDT until July 21 at 5:00PM 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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 44m 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.
Devils Postpile National Monument
National Monument
Established in 1911 by presidential proclamation, Devils Postpile National Monument protects and preserves the Devils Postpile formation, the 101-foot high Rainbow Falls, and pristine mountain scenery...
9 mi from route
~23 min detour
Free
near mile 37.1
Park Closure: Reds Meadow Road Access Restrictions in 2026
Park Closure: Devils Postpile National Monument facilities are closed for the season
Not just a great valley, but a shrine to human foresight, the strength of granite, the power of glaciers, the persistence of life, and the tranquility of the High Sierra. First protected in 1864, Yose...
25 mi from route
~62 min detour
$35
near mile 64.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a driving experience characterized by frequent turns, as this route has a 'turn-heavy local drive' profile. With 0% highway share, you'll be on local roads for the entire 270.1 miles. There isn't a 'longest stretch' noted, suggesting a continuous series of turns and changes in direction rather than long, straightaways. This means you'll be actively engaged behind the wheel, constantly adapting to the road's personality as you move from one segment to the next.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 93.8 mi on US 50.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 50 and US 395. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in near Ed Powers Road.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 44m drive. You will face about 14 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles (Ed Powers Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.6 miles (US 395): Lane positioning matters here; at 267 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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
The longest stretch is about 93.8 miles on US 50. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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. There are 1 rest area along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles (Ed Powers Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.6 miles (US 395): Lane positioning matters here; at 267 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Devils Postpile National Monument and Yosemite National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.7 hours each way, a round trip means 11.5 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.
