Origin
Carmichael, CA
Late night in Carmichael on Saturday
Local time
5:46 AM
PDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Carmichael, 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
17m
Distance
10.5 mi
17 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 16m
★
6 AM
0h 17m
8 AM
0h 20m
10 AM
0h 18m
12 PM
0h 18m
3 PM
0h 18m
5 PM
0h 20m
8 PM
0h 16m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Carmichael, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Sacramento, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Carmichael to Sacramento is 10.5 miles and takes about 17 minutes via Marconi Avenue and the Capital City Freeway, with a fuel budget near $2 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short journey stays within the Pacific Coast region, specifically in California. It's a straightforward drive that's perfect for a quick transition between two points within the greater Sacramento area. Consider this route for its simplicity and minimal time commitment, making it ideal for a day trip or a simple commute.
About the Cities
Arriving in Sacramento, CA
Full guide →Founded 1849
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.
Top landmarks
- • California State Capitol — state capitol building of the U.S. state of California
- • Crocker Art Museum — art museum in Sacramento, California
- • Sacramento Valley Station — main railroad and light rail station in Sacramento, California
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 17m. Total distance: 10.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (36%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile.
Drive Character
This drive offers a mixed experience, with 36% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 5 miles on Marconi Avenue before transitioning onto the North Sacramento Freeway and then the Capital City Freeway. Expect sections that feel like a typical urban commute, interspersed with faster-paced highway driving. The road conditions generally remain consistent, allowing for a predictable and smooth transit.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 10 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Marconi Avenue is the longest continuous segment at about 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 5 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 6 decision points packed into just 10.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 17m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 5.2 miles (I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.4 miles (CA 160 / North Sacramento Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 6 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
5 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Take the ramp toward I 80 Business West
Navigation decision point
Toward I 80 Business West
5
5.2 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway
Merge onto I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
6.4 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
CA 160 / North Sacramento Freeway
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
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward CA 160 West: Downtown Sacramento
6
9.6 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
CA 160; US 40 Historic / 12th Street
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 160; US 40 Historic / 12th Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
6
10.2 mi into trip
|
~16m in
|
I Street
Turn right onto I Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Marconi Avenue | 5 mi | 9m |
| North Sacramento Freeway | 2.6 mi | 2m |
| Capital City Freeway | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| 12th Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| North 12th Street | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| I Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Palm Drive | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| 9th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Marconi Avenue
— 5 mi, about 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Carmichael, CA and Sacramento, CA.
1
Start on Palm Drive
80 ft
·
4 sec
·
Palm Drive
2
Continue on Marconi Avenue
5.0 mi
·
9 min
·
Marconi Avenue
Use the left / uturn lanes.
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward I 80 Business West
4
Merge onto I 80 Business
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Capital City Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 160
2.6 mi
·
2 min
·
North Sacramento Freeway
Toward CA 160 West: Downtown Sacramento
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on CA 160; US 40 Historic
0.6 mi
·
56 sec
·
North 12th Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 160; US 40 Historic
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
12th Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
8
Turn right onto I Street
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
I Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Turn left onto 9th Street
71 ft
·
1 sec
·
9th Street
10
Arrive at destination
9th Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.41 one way
$4.83 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
4 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $2.49 | $4.97 |
| premium | $6.18 | $2.55 | $5.11 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.32 | $4.64 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 3.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.2 | 0 | $1.10 | $0.50 |
| Efficient EV | 2.6 | 0 | $0.92 | $0.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.2 | 0 | $1.47 | $0.67 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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
Sacramento, CA
Late night in Sacramento on Saturday
Local time
5:46 AM
PDT
Current temp
68°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
1 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
17m 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 Sacramento, CA covers 10.5 miles and takes about 17m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Marconi Avenue, North Sacramento Freeway, Capital City Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 5.2 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 $2.41 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.
This is a short but busy drive. With 6 decision points packed into just 10.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 17m.
The main spots that need attention: at 5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 5.2 miles (I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.4 miles (CA 160 / North Sacramento Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Carmichael, 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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