Origin
Carmichael, CA
Evening in Carmichael on Thursday
Local time
7:35 PM
PDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Carmichael, CA to Rancho Cordova, CA
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
15m
Distance
9.1 mi
15 km
Drive Score
5/10
Practical drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 14m
★
6 AM
0h 16m
8 AM
0h 19m
10 AM
0h 17m
12 PM
0h 16m
3 PM
0h 17m
5 PM
0h 18m
8 PM
0h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Carmichael, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Rancho Cordova, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Trip Overview
The drive from Carmichael, CA to Rancho Cordova, CA covers 9.1 miles and takes about 15m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Fair Oaks Boulevard, Sunrise Boulevard, Folsom Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 4.4 miles on Fair Oaks Boulevard. At current regular gas prices, budget about $2.09 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 15m. Total distance: 9.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 15m drive with frequent turns across 9.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 7 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Fair Oaks Boulevard is the longest continuous segment at about 4.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Fair Oaks Boulevard.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Carmichael, CA to Rancho Cordova, CA is easy. At 15m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Fair Oaks Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 4.5 miles (CR E2 / Sunrise Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.1 miles (Folsom Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
3 of 3 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
3
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Fair Oaks Boulevard
Turn right onto Fair Oaks Boulevard
Navigation decision point
4
4.5 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
CR E2 / Sunrise Boulevard
Turn right onto CR E2 / Sunrise Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / uturn lanes.
3
9.1 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
Folsom Boulevard
Continue onto Folsom Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the uturn lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Fair Oaks Boulevard | 4.4 mi | 7m |
| Sunrise Boulevard | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| Folsom Boulevard | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| Palm Drive | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Fair Oaks Boulevard
— 4.4 mi, about 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Carmichael, CA and Rancho Cordova, CA.
1
Start on Palm Drive
80 ft
·
6 sec
·
Palm Drive
2
Turn right onto Fair Oaks Boulevard
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Fair Oaks Boulevard
3
Continue on Fair Oaks Boulevard
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Fair Oaks Boulevard
4
Turn right onto CR E2
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Sunrise Boulevard
Use the left / uturn lanes.
5
Turn right onto Folsom Boulevard
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Folsom Boulevard
6
Continue on Folsom Boulevard
108 ft
·
7 sec
·
Folsom Boulevard
Use the uturn lane.
7
Arrive at destination
Folsom Boulevard
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.09 one way
$4.18 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
3 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $2.16 | $4.31 |
| premium | $6.18 | $2.21 | $4.43 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.01 | $4.02 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 3.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2.7 | 0 | $0.96 | $0.44 |
| Efficient EV | 2.3 | 0 | $0.80 | $0.36 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 3.6 | 0 | $1.27 | $0.58 |
Gas CO2
3 kg
EV CO2
1 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Rancho Cordova, CA
Evening in Rancho Cordova on Thursday
Local time
7:35 PM
PDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
23 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
15m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Carmichael, CA to Rancho Cordova, CA covers 9.1 miles and takes about 15m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Fair Oaks Boulevard, Sunrise Boulevard, Folsom Boulevard. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 4.5 miles from Carmichael, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.09 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
The drive from Carmichael, CA to Rancho Cordova, CA is easy. At 15m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Fair Oaks Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 4.5 miles (CR E2 / Sunrise Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.1 miles (Folsom Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Carmichael, CA to Rancho Cordova, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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