Origin
Chico, CA
Late night in Chico on Friday
Local time
4:36 AM
PDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Chico, CA to Sacramento, CA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 49m
Distance
89 mi
143 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$20
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 41m
★
6 AM
1h 49m
8 AM
2h 5m
10 AM
1h 55m
12 PM
1h 53m
3 PM
1h 55m
5 PM
2h 4m
8 PM
1h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chico, CA
Efrem Efre
Sacramento, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Chico, CA to Sacramento, CA covers 89 miles and takes about 1h 49m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on CA 70, CA 99, Golden State Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 49.2 miles on CA 70. At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.46 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.
Midpoint
44.5 miles from Chico, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 54m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 49m. Total distance: 89 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 49m highway drive covering 89 miles, with most of the trip on CA 70 and CA 99. The longest continuous stretch is about 49.2 miles on CA 70.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
CA 70 is the longest continuous segment at about 49.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on CA 70 and CA 99. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 10.7 miles in near CA 149.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 89 miles you will encounter 13 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 10.7 miles (CA 149): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 52.3 miles (CA 70): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 88 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
10.7 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
CA 149
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 149 toward Oroville, Marysville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward Oroville, Marysville
6
52.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
|
CA 70
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 70
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
88 mi into trip
|
~1h 46m in
Take the exit toward Downtown, J Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 519B
Toward Downtown, J Street
7
88.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 47m in
|
5th Street
Turn left onto 5th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
88.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 48m in
|
9th Street
Turn right onto 9th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Chico, CA and Sacramento, CA, road signs point toward Oroville and Marysville.
Oroville
10.7 mi in
|
~15m
|
via CA 149
Marysville
10.7 mi in
|
~15m
|
via CA 149
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| CA 70 | 49.2 mi | 58m |
| CA 99 | 8 mi | 9m |
| Golden State Highway | 7.7 mi | 8m |
| Westside Freeway | 5.5 mi | 6m |
| CA 149 | 5.5 mi | 6m |
| Bernie Richter Memorial Highway | 4.9 mi | 5m |
| E Street | 4.2 mi | 5m |
| Park Avenue | 1.3 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
CA 70
— 49.2 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chico, CA and Sacramento, CA.
1
Start on East 5th Street
518 ft
·
30 sec
·
East 5th Street
2
Turn left onto Broadway Street
0.2 mi
·
48 sec
·
Broadway Street
3
Turn slight left onto Oroville Avenue
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
Oroville Avenue
Use the straight lane.
4
Continue on Park Avenue
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Park Avenue
5
Continue on East Park Avenue
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
·
East Park Avenue
6
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
32 sec
7
Merge onto CA 99
8.0 mi
·
9 min
·
CA 99
Use the straight lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 149
5.5 mi
·
6 min
·
CA 149
Toward Oroville, Marysville
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto CA 70
19 mi
·
22 min
·
CA 70
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on CA 70
11 mi
·
12 min
·
CA 70
11
Continue on CA 70
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
CA 70
Use the straight lane.
12
Turn right onto 5th Street
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
5th Street
13
Turn left onto CA 70
4.2 mi
·
5 min
·
E Street
14
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 70
18 mi
·
20 min
·
CA 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto CA 99
4.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Bernie Richter Memorial Highway
16
Continue on CA 99
7.7 mi
·
8 min
·
Golden State Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Merge onto I 5
5.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Exit 519B
Toward Downtown, J Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on J Street
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
J Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Turn left onto 5th Street
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
5th Street
Use the straight lane.
21
Turn right onto H Street
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
H Street
22
Turn right onto 9th Street
490 ft
·
15 sec
·
9th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
23
Arrive at destination
9th Street
Trip Plan
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 44.5 miles from Chico, CA, or about 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 49.2 miles.
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 20 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 44.5 miles or 54m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 32m
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 Chico, CA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Chico, CA
This is one driving day of about 89 miles and 1h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Chico, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on CA 70 for about 49.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 44.5 mi from Chico, CA · 54m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
45 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 20 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 44.5 miles from Chico, 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.46 one way
$40.91 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
31 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $21.08 | $42.16 |
| premium | $6.18 | $21.64 | $43.29 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $19.65 | $39.30 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 26.7 | 0 | $9.34 | $4.27 |
| Efficient EV | 22.3 | 0 | $7.79 | $3.56 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 35.6 | 0 | $12.46 | $5.70 |
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (68% 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 Friday
Local time
4:36 AM
PDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Marysville, CA
45 mi in
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
1h 49m 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 Chico, CA to Sacramento, CA covers 89 miles and takes about 1h 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are CA 70, CA 99, Golden State Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 44.5 miles from Chico, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $20.46 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 89 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 10.7 miles (CA 149): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 52.3 miles (CA 70): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 88 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Chico, CA and Sacramento, CA, road signs point toward Oroville and Marysville.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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