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Trip from Altadena, CA to Sacramento, CA

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

7h 5m

Distance

384.5 mi

619 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$88

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 34 min
4 AM
6h 54m ★
6 AM
7h 5m
8 AM
7h 28m
10 AM
7h 13m
12 PM
7h 11m
3 PM
7h 14m
5 PM
7h 26m
8 PM
6h 59m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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census-designated place in Los Angeles County, California, United States

Altadena, CA

Wikimedia Commons

capital city of the U.S. state of California and seat of Sacramento County

Sacramento, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Embark on a 384.5-mile journey from Altadena, CA to Sacramento, CA, a drive that typically takes around 7 hours and 5 minutes. This predominantly highway-focused route, with 99% of it on major roads like the Westside Freeway and I-5 Truck, is well-suited for a single-day trip. Expect a fuel cost of approximately $88 for this drive. With two planned stops, you can break up the 298.7-mile longest stretch on the Westside Freeway. This trip connects two points within the Pacific Coast region, offering a straightforward path north through California.

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

192.3 miles from Altadena, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 36m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 5m. Total distance: 384.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

7h 5m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Drive Character

This is a highway-focused drive, with almost the entirety of your 384.5 miles spent on major freeways, including the Westside Freeway and I-5 Truck. The road offers a consistent driving experience for long stretches, highlighted by a continuous 298.7-mile segment on the Westside Freeway. While primarily an interstate experience, the route is designed for efficient travel, making it a predictable and steady journey north. You'll find the road character remains largely consistent throughout the 7-hour drive.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Westside Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 298.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

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 25.4 miles in.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 384.5 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 25.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 84.9 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 383.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 18 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

6
25.4 mi into trip | ~32m in

Keep slight right at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane.
7
84.9 mi into trip | ~1h 40m 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
383.6 mi into trip | ~7h 3m 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
384 mi into trip | ~7h 4m in | 5th Street

Turn left onto 5th Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
7
384.4 mi into trip | ~7h 5m in | 9th Street

Turn right onto 9th Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Westside Freeway 298.7 mi 5h 22m
I 5 Truck 37.1 mi 42m
Foothill Freeway 22.3 mi 25m
Golden State Freeway 22.3 mi 25m
East Woodbury Road 1.3 mi 2m
Marengo Avenue 0.7 mi 1m
East Altadena Drive 0.6 mi 1m
H Street 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Westside Freeway — 298.7 mi, about 5h 22m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Altadena, CA and Sacramento, CA.

1

Start on North Lake Avenue

154 ft · 5 sec · North Lake Avenue
2

Turn left onto East Altadena Drive

0.6 mi · 1 min · East Altadena Drive
Use the left lane.
3

Turn left onto Marengo Avenue

0.7 mi · 1 min · Marengo Avenue
4

Turn right onto East Woodbury Road

1.3 mi · 2 min · East Woodbury Road
Use the right lane.
5

Turn left onto Windsor Avenue

0.1 mi · 17 sec · Windsor Avenue
6

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 44 sec
Toward I 210 West: San Fernando
7

Merge onto I 210

22 mi · 25 min · Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Keep slight right at fork

0.1 mi · 9 sec
Use the slight right lane.
9

Merge onto I 5 Truck

1.0 mi · 1 min · I 5 Truck
Exit 161A
10

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck

36 mi · 41 min · I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

22 mi · 25 min · Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5

226 mi · 4 hr 1 min · Westside Freeway
Toward I 5 North Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5

26 mi · 27 min · Westside Freeway
14

Keep left at fork onto I 5

48 mi · 52 min · Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 34 sec
Exit 519B Toward J Street, Downtown Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Turn right onto J Street

0.2 mi · 25 sec · J Street
17

Turn left onto 5th Street

0.2 mi · 19 sec · 5th Street
Use the straight lane.
18

Turn right onto H Street

0.3 mi · 40 sec · H Street
19

Turn right onto 9th Street

490 ft · 15 sec · 9th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
20

Arrive at destination

9th Street

Trip Plan

With a drive time of just over 7 hours, this route is comfortably manageable as a single-day trip from Altadena to Sacramento. To make the most of your 384.5-mile journey, consider an early morning departure to avoid potential traffic, especially on the initial stretches. Plan for your two stops strategically to break up the longest stretch of 298.7 miles. Given the $88 estimated fuel cost, ensure your vehicle is fueled before you depart, as significant portions are on highway systems where services can be spaced out.

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 192.3 miles from Altadena, CA, or about 3h 36m 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 85 miles or 1h 41m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 192.3 miles or 3h 36m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 5h 57m

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 Altadena, 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 Altadena, CA

This is one driving day of about 384.5 miles and 7h 5m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 85 miles from Altadena, 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.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 192.3 mi from Altadena, CA · 3h 36m into the drive

city and county seat of Kern County, California, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Bakersfield, CA

192 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.

Popular next leg

Bakersfield, CA to Sacramento, CA

276.9 mi · 5h 14m

Pacing Suggestions

Bakersfield, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 85 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Mendota, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 192.3 miles from Altadena, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Westside Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 298.7 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.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

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...

22 mi from route ~56 min detour Free near mile 26.5
View on nps.gov
César E. Chávez National Monument

César E. Chávez National Monument

National Monument

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...

28 mi from route ~71 min detour Free near mile 92.8
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$88.37 one way

$176.75 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 135 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $91.07 $182.14
premium $6.18 $93.51 $187.01
diesel $5.61 $84.89 $169.79

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$88

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$113–$138

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 134.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $40 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 115.4 1 $40.37 $18.46
Efficient EV 96.1 1 $33.64 $15.38
EV Truck/SUV 153.8 1 $53.83 $24.61

Gas CO2

135 kg

EV CO2

45 kg (67% 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 Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Altadena, CA

Afternoon in Altadena on Thursday

Local time

2:22 PM

PDT

Current temp

73°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Sacramento, CA

Afternoon in Sacramento on Thursday

Local time

2:22 PM

PDT

Current temp

68°F

Sunny

NNW 10 to 20 mph 0% chance 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

5 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 5m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Altadena, CA to Sacramento, CA covers 384.5 miles and takes about 7h 5m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Westside Freeway, I 5 Truck, Foothill Freeway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 192.3 miles from Altadena, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $88.37 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks 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 18 significant decision points across 384.5 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 25.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 84.9 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 383.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Altadena, CA to Sacramento, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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