Origin
Colfax, CA
Evening in Colfax on Tuesday
Local time
8:56 PM
PDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Colfax, CA to Sacramento, CA
Data updated 5 hours ago
Drive Time
57m
Distance
49 mi
79 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
None
0 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 53m
★
6 AM
0h 58m
8 AM
1h 7m
10 AM
1h 1m
12 PM
1h 0m
3 PM
1h 2m
5 PM
1h 7m
8 PM
0h 55m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Colfax, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Sacramento, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This easy 49-mile drive from Colfax to Sacramento, California, will take you about 57 minutes to complete. It's a perfect candidate for a day trip, with no need to break it up or plan an overnight stay. You'll be spending most of your time on major freeways, making for a straightforward journey. Expect to spend around $11 on fuel for this trip. Both Colfax and Sacramento are located within the Pacific Coast region, so you won't be crossing any major geographical boundaries.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
24.5 miles from Colfax, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 29m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 81% of the journey taking place on major roadways like the Alan S. Hart Freeway, Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, and Capital City Freeway. You'll encounter one significant stretch of uninterrupted driving that lasts 32.3 miles on the Alan S. Hart Freeway. The character of the road is consistently that of a freeway, designed for efficient travel rather than scenic meandering.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Alan S. Hart Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 32.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Alan S. Hart Freeway and Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 49 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 40 miles (I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 44.9 miles (CA 160 / North Sacramento Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Enter roundabout toward I 80 West
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Toward I 80 West
8
40 mi into trip
|
~47m in
|
I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway toward I 80 Business West: Sacramento
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 95
Toward I 80 Business West: Sacramento
7
44.9 mi into trip
|
~52m 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
48.2 mi into trip
|
~56m 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
48.8 mi into trip
|
~57m in
|
I Street
Turn right onto I Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Alan S. Hart Freeway | 32.3 mi | 37m |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 7.1 mi | 8m |
| Capital City Freeway | 4.9 mi | 5m |
| North Sacramento Freeway | 2.6 mi | 2m |
| 12th Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| North 12th Street | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| South Auburn Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| I Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Alan S. Hart Freeway
— 32.3 mi, about 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Colfax, CA and Sacramento, CA.
1
Start on this road
33 ft
·
7 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto US 40 Hist
130 ft
·
11 sec
·
South Main Street
3
Turn left onto US 40 Hist
498 ft
·
13 sec
·
Grassvalley Street
4
Turn right onto US 40 Hist
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
South Auburn Avenue
5
Continue on CA 174
460 ft
·
10 sec
·
South Auburn Street
6
Enter roundabout
155 ft
·
3 sec
Toward I 80 West
7
Continue
492 ft
·
12 sec
Toward I 80 West
8
Merge onto I 80
32 mi
·
37 min
·
Alan S. Hart Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 80
7.1 mi
·
8 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 Business
4.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Capital City Freeway
Exit 95
Toward I 80 Business West: Sacramento
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
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.
12
Continue on CA 160; US 40 Historic
0.6 mi
·
56 sec
·
North 12th Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 160; US 40 Historic
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
12th Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
14
Turn right onto I Street
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
I Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Turn left onto 9th Street
71 ft
·
1 sec
·
9th Street
16
Arrive at destination
9th Street
Trip Plan
Given the short 57-minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving Colfax in the morning or mid-afternoon will likely allow you to avoid the worst of any potential traffic as you approach Sacramento. With no designated stops and a total of only 49 miles, you can easily complete this trip on a single tank of gas, with an estimated fuel cost of $11. Keep an eye out for the transition onto the Capital City Freeway as you get closer to 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.
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 24.5 miles from Colfax, CA, or about 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 32.3 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 49 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 24.5 miles or 29m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 48m
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 Colfax, 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 Colfax, CA
This is one driving day of about 49 miles and 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Colfax, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Alan S. Hart Freeway for about 32.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 24.5 mi from Colfax, CA · 29m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 49 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.5 miles from Colfax, 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
$11.26 one way
$22.52 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $11.61 | $23.21 |
| premium | $6.18 | $11.92 | $23.83 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.82 | $21.64 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.7 | 0 | $5.15 | $2.35 |
| Efficient EV | 12.3 | 0 | $4.29 | $1.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.6 | 0 | $6.86 | $3.14 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Evening in Sacramento on Tuesday
Local time
8:56 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
10 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
57m 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 Colfax, CA to Sacramento, CA covers 49 miles and takes about 57m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Alan S. Hart Freeway, Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, Capital City Freeway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 24.5 miles from Colfax, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.26 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 demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 49 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 40 miles (I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 44.9 miles (CA 160 / North Sacramento Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Colfax, CA to Sacramento, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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