Origin
Folsom, CA
Afternoon in Folsom on Sunday
Local time
4:06 PM
PDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Folsom, CA to Sacramento, CA
Drive Time
30m
Distance
23 mi
37 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 28m
★
6 AM
0h 31m
8 AM
0h 36m
10 AM
0h 32m
12 PM
0h 32m
3 PM
0h 33m
5 PM
0h 36m
8 PM
0h 29m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Folsom, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Sacramento, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Trip Overview
The drive from Folsom, CA to Sacramento, CA covers 23 miles and takes about 30m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on El Dorado Freeway, Folsom Boulevard, 16th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 17.2 miles on El Dorado Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $5.33 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
11.5 miles from Folsom, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 15m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 30m highway drive covering 23 miles, with most of the trip on El Dorado Freeway and Folsom Boulevard. The longest continuous stretch is about 17.2 miles on El Dorado Freeway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
El Dorado Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 17.2 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
220 ft
8 ft
Total Climb
90 ft
Total Descent
282 ft
Highest Point
220 ft
Elevation Range
212 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on El Dorado Freeway and Folsom Boulevard. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Leidesdorff Street.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 23 miles you will encounter 10 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 0.2 miles (Leidesdorff Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3.6 miles (US 50 / El Dorado Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Leidesdorff Street
Turn left onto Leidesdorff Street
Navigation decision point
5
3.1 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the ramp toward US 50 West: Sacramento
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward US 50 West: Sacramento
5
3.6 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
US 50 / El Dorado Freeway
Merge onto US 50 / El Dorado Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
21.1 mi into trip
|
~26m in
Take the exit toward CA 160: 16th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 5
Toward CA 160: 16th Street
5
21.3 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
16th Street
Turn right onto 16th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| El Dorado Freeway | 17.2 mi | 19m |
| Folsom Boulevard | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| 16th Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| I Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Capital City Freeway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Leidesdorff Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Sutter Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Wool Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
El Dorado Freeway
— 17.2 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Folsom, CA and Sacramento, CA.
1
Start on Sutter Street
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
Sutter Street
2
Turn right onto Wool Street
366 ft
·
18 sec
·
Wool Street
3
Turn left onto Leidesdorff Street
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
Leidesdorff Street
4
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
5
Turn straight onto Folsom Boulevard
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Folsom Boulevard
Use the left lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 50 West: Sacramento
Use the right lane.
7
Merge onto US 50
17 mi
·
19 min
·
El Dorado Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on US 50
0.3 mi
·
18 sec
·
Capital City Freeway
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 5
Toward CA 160: 16th Street
Use the slight right lane.
10
Turn right onto 16th Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
16th Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
11
Turn left onto I Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
12
Turn left onto 9th Street
71 ft
·
1 sec
·
9th Street
13
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 11.5 miles from Folsom, CA, or about 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 17.2 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 23 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 11.5 miles or 15m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 25m
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 Folsom, 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 Folsom, CA
This is one driving day of about 23 miles and 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Folsom, 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 El Dorado Freeway for about 17.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 11.5 mi from Folsom, CA · 15m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
12 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 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 11.5 miles from Folsom, 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
$5.33 one way
$10.65 round trip
$5.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $5.49 | $10.99 |
| premium | $6.24 | $5.65 | $11.31 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $5.11 | $10.22 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$30–$55
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.9 | 0 | $2.41 | $1.10 |
| Efficient EV | 5.8 | 0 | $2.01 | $0.92 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.2 | 0 | $3.22 | $1.47 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
Afternoon in Sacramento on Sunday
Local time
4:06 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
23 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
30m 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 Folsom, CA to Sacramento, CA covers 23 miles and takes about 30m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are El Dorado Freeway, Folsom Boulevard, 16th Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 11.5 miles from Folsom, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.33 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 23 miles you will encounter 10 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 0.2 miles (Leidesdorff Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3.6 miles (US 50 / El Dorado Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Folsom, CA to Sacramento, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 8 ft to 220 ft elevation with about 90 ft of total climbing.
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