Trip.ovh Logo
Trip.ovh

Trip from Lodi, CA to Sacramento, CA

Drive Time

45m

Distance

35.9 mi

58 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$8

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 12 min
4 AM
0h 41m ★
6 AM
0h 45m
8 AM
0h 53m
10 AM
0h 48m
12 PM
0h 47m
3 PM
0h 48m
5 PM
0h 52m
8 PM
0h 43m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
Downtown Lodi, CA, CA

Lodi, CA

Dominik Gryzbon

Downtown Sacramento, CA, CA

Sacramento, CA

Stephen Leonardi

Trip Overview

If you are looking to travel from Lodi to Sacramento, you are in for a quick 37.2-mile journey through the heart of the Pacific Coast region. Expect to spend about 42 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect day trip that requires no overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via East Lodi Avenue, Cherokee Lane, and CA 99 to reach your destination. With a fuel budget of approximately $9, this trip is highly economical for travelers moving between these two California cities. Since the entire route is contained within the same region, you will experience a consistent local atmosphere from start to finish.

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

18 miles from Lodi, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 22m into the drive .

Drive Character

This 37.2-mile trip is defined as a turn-heavy local drive, requiring your full attention as you transition between local roads and state highways. You will not find any long, monotonous highway stretches here, as the route relies on a mix of surface streets and CA 99 rather than a single interstate grind. The driving experience is characterized by frequent navigational changes rather than high-speed cruising. Because the highway share is 0%, you should prepare for a more hands-on driving experience that reflects the local infrastructure of the region. Expect a steady pace that keeps you engaged with the road rather than settling into a long-distance rhythm.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
CA 99 is the longest continuous segment at about 31.4 miles.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

64 ft 27 ft

Total Climb

17 ft

Total Descent

40 ft

Highest Point

64 ft

~5.1 mi in

Elevation Range

36 ft

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on CA 99 and L Street. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.3 miles in.

Route Complexity 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 35.9 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 1.3 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.8 miles (CA 99): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 33.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 10 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

4
1.3 mi into trip | ~2m in

Take the ramp toward CA 99: Sacramento, Lodi Lake

Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward CA 99: Sacramento, Lodi Lake
5
1.8 mi into trip | ~3m in | CA 99

Merge onto CA 99

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
33.6 mi into trip | ~40m in

Take the exit toward N Street

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 7A Toward N Street
5
34 mi into trip | ~41m in | L Street

Turn left onto L Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / straight lanes.
5
35.4 mi into trip | ~44m in | I Street

Turn left onto I Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / straight lanes.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
CA 99 31.4 mi 36m
L Street 1.1 mi 2m
Cherokee Lane 0.7 mi 1m
East Lodi Avenue 0.7 mi 1m
I Street 0.5 mi 1m
Capital City Freeway 0.5 mi <1m
16th Street 0.2 mi <1m
30th Street 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: CA 99 — 31.4 mi, about 36m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lodi, CA and Sacramento, CA.

1

Start on South Sacramento Street

50 ft · 4 sec · South Sacramento Street
2

Turn right onto East Lodi Avenue

0.7 mi · 1 min · East Lodi Avenue
3

Turn left onto CA 99 Business

0.7 mi · 1 min · Cherokee Lane
4

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 41 sec
Toward CA 99: Sacramento, Lodi Lake
5

Keep slight left at fork

0.1 mi · 15 sec
6

Merge onto CA 99

31 mi · 36 min · CA 99
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Continue on Capital City Freeway

0.5 mi · 32 sec · Capital City Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 33 sec
Exit 7A Toward N Street Use the slight right lane.
9

Turn left onto 30th Street

0.2 mi · 23 sec · 30th Street
10

Turn left onto L Street

1.1 mi · 2 min · L Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
11

Turn right onto US 40 Historic

0.2 mi · 32 sec · 16th Street
12

Turn left onto I Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · I Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
13

Turn left onto 9th Street

71 ft · 1 sec · 9th Street
14

Arrive at destination

9th Street

Trip Plan

Because this is a short 42-minute hop, you have plenty of flexibility in your scheduling, though it is wise to avoid peak local traffic hours to keep your commute efficient. You do not need to worry about planning for rest stops given the short duration of the drive. Keep your $9 fuel budget in mind when filling up, as local prices can vary depending on where you start in Lodi. A helpful tip for this specific route is to familiarize yourself with the transition points between Cherokee Lane and CA 99 before you depart. Since there are no stops scheduled, you can easily complete the entire trip in one go without any additional planning.

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 18 miles from Lodi, CA, or about 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 31.4 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 35.9 miles or 45m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 18 miles or 22m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 36m

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 Lodi, 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 Lodi, CA

This is one driving day of about 35.9 miles and 45m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Lodi, 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 CA 99 for about 31.4 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 18 mi from Lodi, CA · 22m into the drive

Downtown Laguna, CA, CA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Laguna, CA

18 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.

Popular next leg

Laguna, CA to Sacramento, CA

16.5 mi · 25m

Pacing Suggestions

Laguna, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 35.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Laguna, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 18 miles from Lodi, 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

$8.31 one way

$16.63 round trip

$5.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 13 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.07 $8.57 $17.15
premium $6.24 $8.82 $17.65
diesel $5.64 $7.98 $15.95

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$8

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$33–$58

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 12.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 10.8 0 $3.77 $1.72
Efficient EV 9 0 $3.14 $1.44
EV Truck/SUV 14.4 0 $5.03 $2.30

Gas CO2

13 kg

EV CO2

4 kg (69% 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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 hours ago

Origin

Lodi, CA

Afternoon in Lodi on Sunday

Local time

1:37 PM

PDT

Current temp

60°F

Showers And Thunderstorms

SSW 9 to 13 mph 86% chance Live forecast

Winter Weather Advisory

Winter Weather Advisory issued April 12 at 8:16AM PDT until April 12 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Eureka CA

Wind Advisory

Wind Advisory issued April 12 at 6:49AM PDT until April 12 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Hanford CA

Destination

Sacramento, CA

Afternoon in Sacramento on Sunday

Local time

1:37 PM

PDT

Current temp

59°F

Showers And Thunderstorms

S 10 to 14 mph 93% chance Live forecast

Winter Weather Advisory

Winter Weather Advisory issued April 12 at 8:16AM PDT until April 12 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Eureka CA

Wind Advisory

Wind Advisory issued April 12 at 6:49AM PDT until April 12 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Hanford CA

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 cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

45m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Lodi, CA to Sacramento, CA covers 35.9 miles and takes about 45m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are CA 99, L Street, Cherokee Lane. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 18 miles from Lodi, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.31 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 35.9 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 1.3 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.8 miles (CA 99): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 33.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Lodi, CA to Sacramento, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Continue From Sacramento, CA

San Diego, CA 504.8 mi · 9h 27m Anza, CA 500.4 mi · 9h 27m East Hemet, CA 469.5 mi · 8h 52m Riverside, CA 440.1 mi · 6h 58m

More from Lodi, CA

Chula Vista, CA 479.8 mi · 9h 3m San Diego, CA 472.7 mi · 8h 54m San Francisco, CA 84.3 mi · 1h 37m Stockton, CA 15.7 mi · 21m

More trips to Sacramento, CA

Jamul, CA 527.5 mi San Diego, CA 504.3 mi Hemet, CA 477.4 mi Cabazon, CA 471.7 mi East Hemet, CA 471.2 mi Murrieta Hot Springs, CA 464.8 mi

Explore more options from Lodi, CA or browse trips ending in Sacramento, CA.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CA road trips.

Explore maps for Lodi, CA or Sacramento, CA on MapSof.net.