Origin
Crescent City, CA
Evening in Crescent City on Sunday
Local time
6:35 PM
PDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Crescent City, CA to Sacramento, CA
Drive Time
7h 14m
Distance
372.9 mi
600 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$86
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
7h 4m
★
6 AM
7h 15m
8 AM
7h 36m
10 AM
7h 22m
12 PM
7h 20m
3 PM
7h 23m
5 PM
7h 35m
8 PM
7h 8m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Crescent City, CA
Michael Darnall
Sacramento, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Trip Overview
Traveling from Crescent City to Sacramento covers 372.9 miles of diverse California landscape. Expect a travel time of approximately 7 hours and 14 minutes, making this a long but manageable single-day commitment for most drivers. You will primarily navigate via CA 299, the Redwood Highway, and the Westside Freeway. With an estimated fuel cost of $86, it is wise to budget accordingly before heading out. While the route is technically feasible in one day, the duration requires a focused approach to stay fresh behind the wheel. Whether you are moving between the Pacific Coast regions or just passing through, this highway-focused drive offers a direct path across the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
186.5 miles from Crescent City, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 48m into the drive .
Drive Character
This journey transitions between different road types, with 71% of the trip spent on highways. You should prepare for a varied driving experience that shifts from the Redwood Highway to the more substantial stretches of the Westside Freeway. A significant portion of your time—136.3 miles—will be spent on CA 299, which serves as the longest uninterrupted segment of the trip. The route balances faster, high-capacity roads with sections that demand more attention. Expect the drive to feel like a steady, purposeful trek as you move away from the coast and toward the state capital.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
CA 299 is the longest continuous segment at about 136.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on CA 299 and Westside Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 74.5 miles in.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 372.9 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 74.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 212.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 371.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
74.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 36m in
Take the exit toward CA 299: Weaverville, Redding, Blue Lake, Willow Creek
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward CA 299: Weaverville, Redding, Blue Lake,...
7
212.9 mi into trip
|
~4h 20m in
Take the exit toward I 5 South: Sacramento
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 2A
Toward I 5 South: Sacramento
8
371.9 mi into trip
|
~7h 12m 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
372.4 mi into trip
|
~7h 13m in
|
5th Street
Turn left onto 5th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / none lanes.
7
372.8 mi into trip
|
~7h 14m in
|
9th Street
Turn right onto 9th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Towns Along This Route
Between Crescent City, CA and Sacramento, CA, road signs point toward Redding, Blue Lake and Willow Creek.
Redding
74.5 mi in
|
~1h 36m
Blue Lake
74.5 mi in
|
~1h 36m
Willow Creek
74.5 mi in
|
~1h 36m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| CA 299 | 136.3 mi | 2h 40m |
| Westside Freeway | 126.7 mi | 2h 16m |
| Redwood Highway | 73.7 mi | 1h 34m |
| Cascade Wonderland Highway | 31.8 mi | 34m |
| Tehama Street | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| L Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| 9th Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| H Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
CA 299
— 136.3 mi, about 2h 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Crescent City, CA and Sacramento, CA.
1
Start on 9th Street
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
9th Street
2
Turn right onto US 101
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
L Street
3
Continue on US 101
74 mi
·
1 hr 34 min
·
Redwood Highway
Use the none lane.
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward CA 299: Weaverville, Redding, Blue Lake, Willow Creek
Use the slight right lane.
5
Continue on CA 299
136 mi
·
2 hr 40 min
·
CA 299
Use the none lane.
6
Turn right onto Court Street
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Court Street
7
Turn left onto Tehama Street
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Tehama Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
55 sec
Exit 2A
Toward I 5 South: Sacramento
Use the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto I 5
32 mi
·
34 min
·
Cascade Wonderland Highway
10
Continue on I 5
93 mi
·
1 hr 39 min
·
Westside Freeway
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
16 mi
·
16 min
·
Westside Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Westside Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Exit 519B
Toward Downtown, J Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on J Street
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
J Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Turn left onto 5th Street
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
5th Street
Use the straight / none lanes.
16
Turn right onto H Street
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
H Street
17
Turn right onto 9th Street
490 ft
·
15 sec
·
9th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Arrive at destination
9th Street
Trip Plan
To keep your energy high, plan for at least two designated stops throughout the 7-hour drive. Leaving early in the morning is your best strategy to avoid fatigue and ensure you reach Sacramento before dark. Since you will be spending a significant amount of time on CA 299, verify your fuel levels before starting that 136.3-mile stretch, as services may be more limited there than on the main freeways. Keep your pace consistent to manage the total duration effectively. Because this is a highway-focused trip, utilize cruise control on the Westside Freeway sections to make the final miles feel less taxing.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 186.5 miles from Crescent City, CA, or about 3h 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 136.3 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 82 miles or 1h 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 186.5 miles or 3h 48m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 7m
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 Crescent City, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Crescent City, CA
This is one driving day of about 372.9 miles and 7h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 82 miles from Crescent City, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on CA 299 for about 136.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 186.5 mi from Crescent City, CA · 3h 48m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
186 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 82 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 186.5 miles from Crescent City, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before CA 299 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 136.3 miles.
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.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$86.35 one way
$172.71 round trip
$5.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
131 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $89.06 | $178.11 |
| premium | $6.24 | $91.65 | $183.31 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $82.85 | $165.69 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$86
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$111–$136
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 130.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $39 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 111.9 | 1 | $39.15 | $17.90 |
| Efficient EV | 93.2 | 1 | $32.63 | $14.92 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 149.2 | 1 | $52.21 | $23.87 |
Gas CO2
130 kg
EV CO2
44 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Sunday
Local time
6:35 PM
PDT
Current temp
51°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
12 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
7h 14m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Crescent City, CA to Sacramento, CA covers 372.9 miles and takes about 7h 14m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are CA 299, Westside Freeway, Redwood 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 186.5 miles from Crescent City, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $86.35 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 372.9 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 74.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 212.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 371.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Crescent City, CA and Sacramento, CA, road signs point toward Redding, Blue Lake and Willow Creek.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Sacramento, CA
More from Crescent City, CA
More trips to Sacramento, CA
Explore more options from Crescent City, CA or browse trips ending in Sacramento, CA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CA road trips.
Explore maps for Crescent City, CA or Sacramento, CA on MapSof.net.