Origin
Auburn Lake Trails, CA
Afternoon in Auburn Lake Trails on Friday
Local time
3:35 PM
PDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 6m
Distance
44.2 mi
71 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Auburn Lake Trails, CA
Robert So
Sacramento, CA
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from Auburn Lake Trails, CA to Sacramento, CA covers 44.2 miles and takes about 1h 6m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Alan S. Hart Freeway, Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, Capital City Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 17.1 miles on Alan S. Hart Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.16 one way before food or hotel costs.
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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 6m. Total distance: 44.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (64%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
This is a 1h 6m highway drive covering 44.2 miles, with most of the trip on Alan S. Hart Freeway and Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 17.1 miles on Alan S. Hart Freeway.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Alan S. Hart Freeway and Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.4 miles in near CA 193 / Georgetown Road.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 44.2 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.4 miles (CA 193 / Georgetown Road): Navigation decision point; at 35.2 miles (I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 40.1 miles (CA 160 / North Sacramento Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
At end of road, turn right onto CA 193 / Georgetown Road
Navigation decision point
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway toward I 80 Business West: Sacramento
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 160 / North Sacramento Freeway toward CA 160 West: Downtown Sacramento
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 160; US 40 Historic / 12th Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto I Street
Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Alan S. Hart Freeway | 17.1 mi | 19m |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 7.1 mi | 8m |
| Capital City Freeway | 4.9 mi | 5m |
| CA 49 | 3.6 mi | 7m |
| North Sacramento Freeway | 2.6 mi | 2m |
| El Dorado Street | 2.4 mi | 5m |
| Georgetown Road | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Sweetwater Trail | 1.6 mi | 6m |
Step-by-step road directions between Auburn Lake Trails, CA and Sacramento, CA.
Start on Cascade Trail
Turn right onto Brown Bear Trail
At end of road, turn right onto Hidden Gold Trail
Turn left onto Sweetwater Trail
At end of road, turn right onto CA 193
Turn right onto CA 49
Continue on CA 49
Continue on CA 49
Enter roundabout onto CA 49
Continue on CA 49
Turn right onto CA 49
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 80; CA 49
Continue on I 80
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 Business
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 160
Continue on CA 160; US 40 Historic
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 160; US 40 Historic
Turn right onto I Street
Turn left onto 9th Street
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 22.1 mi from Auburn Lake Trails, CA · 40m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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.
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 22.1 miles from Auburn Lake Trails, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$10.16 one way
$20.32 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $10.47 | $20.94 |
| premium | $6.18 | $10.75 | $21.50 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.76 | $19.52 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.3 | 0 | $4.64 | $2.12 |
| Efficient EV | 11.1 | 0 | $3.87 | $1.77 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.7 | 0 | $6.19 | $2.83 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Auburn Lake Trails on Friday
Local time
3:35 PM
PDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Destination
Afternoon in Sacramento on Friday
Local time
3:35 PM
PDT
Current temp
68°F
Sunny
64°F
Auburn, CA
22 mi in
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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