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Create accountDrive Time
2h 46m
Distance
168.1 mi
271 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$39
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Central Valley (historical), CA
Stephen Leonardi
Sacramento, CA
Stephen Leonardi
The drive from Central Valley (historical), CA to Sacramento, CA covers 168.1 miles and takes about 2h 46m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Montana Avenue, Shasta Dam Boulevard, Cascade Wonderland Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $38.93 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
84 miles from Central Valley (historical), CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 23m into the drive .
Expect a 2h 46m drive with frequent turns across 168.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
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.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Central Valley (historical), CA to Sacramento, CA is easy. At 2h 46m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Central Valley (historical), CA to Sacramento, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Montana Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Shasta Dam Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Cascade Wonderland Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Westside Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Downtown | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| J Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 5th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| H Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Central Valley (historical), CA and Sacramento, CA.
Start on the route
Turn left
Turn left onto Montana Avenue
Turn right onto Shasta Dam Boulevard
Take the ramp straight
Keep slight right
Merge slight left onto Cascade Wonderland Highway
Keep slight left to continue on Cascade Wonderland Highway
Continue on Westside Freeway
Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway
Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway
Take the exit slight right toward Downtown, J Street
Continue on J Street
Turn left onto 5th Street
Turn right onto H Street
Turn right onto 9th Street
Arrive at your destination
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
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 80 miles or 1h 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 84 miles or 1h 23m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sacramento, CA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Central Valley (historical), 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 Central Valley (historical), CA
This is one driving day of about 168.1 miles and 2h 46m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 84 mi from Central Valley (historical), CA · 1h 23m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
84 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.
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.
Regular Gas
$38.93 one way
$77.86 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $40.15 | $80.29 |
| premium | $6.24 | $41.32 | $82.63 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $37.35 | $74.69 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 58.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 50.4 | 0 | $17.65 | $8.07 |
| Efficient EV | 42 | 0 | $14.71 | $6.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 67.2 | 0 | $23.53 | $10.76 |
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 kg (66% 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
Late night in Central Valley (historical) on Monday
Local time
5:55 AM
PDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Destination
Late night in Sacramento on Monday
Local time
5:55 AM
PDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
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
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
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.
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