Origin
Alta Sierra, CA
Night in Alta Sierra on Tuesday
Local time
11:07 PM
PDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Alta Sierra, CA to Sacramento, CA
Data updated 1 hour ago
Drive Time
5h 53m
Distance
295 mi
475 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$68
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 41m
★
6 AM
5h 54m
8 AM
6h 20m
10 AM
6h 3m
12 PM
6h 0m
3 PM
6h 4m
5 PM
6h 19m
8 PM
5h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Alta Sierra, CA
Patrick Gamelkoorn
Sacramento, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Alta Sierra, CA to Sacramento, CA covers 295 miles and takes about 5h 53m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Golden State Highway, Northbound California State Route 99, CA 99 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 89.5 miles on Golden State Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $67.80 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
147.5 miles from Alta Sierra, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 1m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
The drive from Alta Sierra, CA to Sacramento, CA covers 295 miles and takes about 5h 53m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Golden State Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 89.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 50.3 miles in near CA 99 / Golden State Highway.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 295 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 50.3 miles (CA 99 / Golden State Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 138 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 159.9 miles (CA 99 / Northbound California State Route 99): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
50.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 15m in
|
CA 99 / Golden State Highway
Merge onto CA 99 / Golden State Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
138 mi into trip
|
~2h 50m in
Take the exit toward Avenue 7
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 144
Toward Avenue 7
7
159.9 mi into trip
|
~3h 15m in
|
CA 99 / Northbound California State Route 99
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 99 / Northbound California State Route 99 toward CA 99
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward CA 99
6
247.5 mi into trip
|
~4h 56m in
|
CA 99
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
292.7 mi into trip
|
~5h 49m in
Take the exit toward N Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 7A
Toward N Street
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 Alta Sierra, CA to Sacramento, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Avenue 7 along the way.
Avenue 7
138 mi in
|
~2h 50m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Golden State Highway | 89.5 mi | 1h 36m |
| Northbound California State Route 99 | 84.6 mi | 1h 38m |
| CA 99 | 66.1 mi | 1h 15m |
| Garces Highway | 26.3 mi | 39m |
| Evans Road | 13 mi | 19m |
| Bakersfield-Glennville Road | 9.9 mi | 14m |
| Old U.S. Route 99E | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| L Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Golden State Highway
— 89.5 mi, about 1h 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Alta Sierra, CA and Sacramento, CA.
1
Start on Old State Road
486 ft
·
21 sec
·
Old State Road
2
Continue on Old State Road
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Old State Road
3
Turn left onto CA 155
13 mi
·
19 min
·
Evans Road
4
Turn slight left onto CA 155
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Bakersfield-Glennville Road
5
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 155
8.0 mi
·
11 min
·
Bakersfield-Glennville Road
6
Continue on CA 155
25 mi
·
36 min
·
Garces Highway
7
Enter roundabout onto CA 155
145 ft
·
2 sec
·
Garces Highway
8
Continue on CA 155
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Garces Highway
9
Turn right onto CA 155
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
·
Fremont Street
10
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
11
Merge onto CA 99
88 mi
·
1 hr 34 min
·
Golden State Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 144
Toward Avenue 7
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto CA 99
21 mi
·
24 min
·
CA 99
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 99
85 mi
·
1 hr 38 min
·
Northbound California State Route 99
Toward CA 99
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on CA 99
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Golden State Highway
16
Continue on CA 99
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Old U.S. Route 99E
17
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99
45 mi
·
51 min
·
CA 99
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on Capital City Freeway
0.5 mi
·
32 sec
·
Capital City Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 7A
Toward N Street
Use the slight right lane.
20
Turn left onto 30th Street
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
30th Street
21
Turn left onto L Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
L Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
22
Turn right onto US 40 Historic
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
16th Street
23
Turn left onto I Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
24
Turn left onto 9th Street
71 ft
·
1 sec
·
9th Street
25
Arrive at destination
9th Street
Trip Plan
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 147.5 miles from Alta Sierra, CA, or about 3h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 89.5 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 80 miles or 1h 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 147.5 miles or 3h 1m 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 50m
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 Alta Sierra, 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 Alta Sierra, CA
This is one driving day of about 295 miles and 5h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Alta Sierra, 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 Golden State Highway for about 89.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 147.5 mi from Alta Sierra, CA · 3h 1m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
148 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 147.5 miles from Alta Sierra, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Golden State Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 89.5 miles.
Arriving in Sacramento, CA
The final approach into Sacramento, CA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Sacramento, CA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$67.80 one way
$135.61 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
103 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $69.87 | $139.74 |
| premium | $6.18 | $71.74 | $143.48 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $65.13 | $130.26 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$68
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$93–$118
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 103.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 88.5 | 1 | $30.97 | $14.16 |
| Efficient EV | 73.8 | 0 | $25.81 | $11.80 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 118 | 1 | $41.30 | $18.88 |
Gas CO2
103 kg
EV CO2
35 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.
Destination
Sacramento, CA
Night in Sacramento on Tuesday
Local time
11:07 PM
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
25 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
5h 53m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Alta Sierra, CA to Sacramento, CA covers 295 miles and takes about 5h 53m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Golden State Highway, Northbound California State Route 99, CA 99. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 147.5 miles from Alta Sierra, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $67.80 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 295 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 50.3 miles (CA 99 / Golden State Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 138 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 159.9 miles (CA 99 / Northbound California State Route 99): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Alta Sierra, CA to Sacramento, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Avenue 7 along the way.
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