Origin
Buellton, CA
Evening in Buellton on Friday
Local time
6:18 PM
PDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Buellton, CA to Sacramento, CA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 35m
Distance
353.2 mi
568 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$81
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 22m
★
6 AM
5h 36m
8 AM
6h 2m
10 AM
5h 45m
12 PM
5h 42m
3 PM
5h 46m
5 PM
6h 1m
8 PM
5h 28m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Buellton, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Sacramento, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Buellton, CA to Sacramento, CA covers 353.2 miles and takes about 5h 35m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 101 North, CA 46 East, Skyline Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $81.18 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
176.6 miles from Buellton, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 47m into the drive .
About the Cities
Arriving in Sacramento, CA
Full guide →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).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 35m. Total distance: 353.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 5h 35m drive with frequent turns across 353.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 101 North is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 35m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Buellton, CA to Sacramento, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 101 North | — | — |
| CA 46 East | — | — |
| Skyline Boulevard | — | — |
| South Lassen Avenue | — | — |
| I 5 North | — | — |
| Westside Freeway | — | — |
| J Street | — | — |
| 5th Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
US 101 North
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Buellton, CA and Sacramento, CA.
1
Start on the route
161 ft
·
17 sec
·
the route
2
At the end of the road, turn left
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
3
Take the ramp left toward US 101 North
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
US 101 North
4
Merge slight left
91 mi
·
1 hr 45 min
5
Take the exit slight right toward CA 46 East: Fresno, Bakersfield
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
CA 46 East: Fresno, Bakersfield
6
Turn right
24 mi
·
28 min
7
Merge slight left
1.4 mi
·
1 min
8
Turn slight right
489 ft
·
6 sec
9
Keep slight right
19 mi
·
26 min
10
Turn left
9.3 mi
·
12 min
11
Turn right onto Skyline Boulevard
5.6 mi
·
8 min
·
Skyline Boulevard
12
Continue on South Lassen Avenue
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
South Lassen Avenue
13
Take the ramp left toward I 5 North
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
I 5 North
14
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
126 mi
·
2 hr 15 min
·
Westside Freeway
15
Keep slight right to continue on Westside Freeway
26 mi
·
27 min
·
Westside Freeway
16
Keep left to continue on Westside Freeway
48 mi
·
52 min
·
Westside Freeway
17
Take the exit slight right toward J Street, Downtown
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
J Street, Downtown
18
Turn right onto J Street
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
J Street
19
Turn left onto 5th Street
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
5th Street
20
Turn right onto H Street
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
H Street
21
Turn right onto 9th Street
489 ft
·
15 sec
·
9th Street
22
Arrive at your destination
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 176.6 miles from Buellton, CA, or about 2h 47m into the drive.
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 78 miles or 1h 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 176.6 miles or 2h 47m 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 38m
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 Buellton, 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 Buellton, CA
This is one driving day of about 353.2 miles and 5h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 78 miles from Buellton, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 176.6 mi from Buellton, CA · 2h 47m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
177 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 78 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 176.6 miles from Buellton, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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
$81.18 one way
$162.36 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
124 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $83.66 | $167.31 |
| premium | $6.18 | $85.89 | $171.79 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $77.98 | $155.96 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$81
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$106–$131
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 123.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 106 | 1 | $37.09 | $16.95 |
| Efficient EV | 88.3 | 1 | $30.90 | $14.13 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 141.3 | 1 | $49.45 | $22.60 |
Gas CO2
124 kg
EV CO2
41 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.
Destination
Sacramento, CA
Evening in Sacramento on Friday
Local time
6:18 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
1 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 35m 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 Buellton, CA to Sacramento, CA covers 353.2 miles and takes about 5h 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 101 North, CA 46 East, Skyline Boulevard. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 176.6 miles from Buellton, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $81.18 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 straightforward 5h 35m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Buellton, CA to Sacramento, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Buellton, CA to Sacramento, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
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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