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Trip from Napa, CA to Sacramento, CA

Drive Time

1h 13m

Distance

59.6 mi

96 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$14

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

6 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 18 min
4 AM
1h 7m ★
6 AM
1h 13m
8 AM
1h 25m
10 AM
1h 17m
12 PM
1h 16m
3 PM
1h 18m
5 PM
1h 24m
8 PM
1h 10m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Napa, CA, CA

Napa, CA

Stephen Leonardi

Downtown Sacramento, CA, CA

Sacramento, CA

Stephen Leonardi

Trip Overview

The drive from Napa, CA to Sacramento, CA covers 59.6 miles and takes about 1h 13m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, Jameson Canyon Road, Yolo Causeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 38.2 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.80 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

29.8 miles from Napa, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 37m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 1h 13m drive with frequent turns across 59.6 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 38.2 miles.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

286 ft 19 ft

Total Climb

425 ft

Total Descent

416 ft

Highest Point

286 ft

~8.5 mi in

Elevation Range

267 ft

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 54.1 miles in near US 50; I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway.

Route Complexity 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 59.6 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 54.1 miles (US 50; I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 57.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 57.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 18 key points

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

9
54.1 mi into trip | ~1h 5m in | US 50; I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto US 50; I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway toward Sacramento, South Lake Tahoe

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the none lane. Exit 82 Toward Sacramento, South Lake Tahoe
8
57.4 mi into trip | ~1h 9m in

Take the exit toward I 5 North, I 5 South: Redding, Los Angeles

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 4A Toward I 5 North, I 5 South: Redding, Los Angel...
9
57.6 mi into trip | ~1h 9m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 5 North: Redding

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Exit 4A Toward I 5 North: Redding
7
57.8 mi into trip | ~1h 9m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 5 North: Redding

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Exit 4A Toward I 5 North: Redding
8
58.7 mi into trip | ~1h 10m in

Take the exit toward J Street, Downtown

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 J Street, Downtown

Towns Along This Route

Between Napa, CA and Sacramento, CA, road signs point toward Fairfield and Lake Tahoe.

Fairfield

4.3 mi in | ~7m

Lake Tahoe

54.1 mi in | ~1h 5m | via US 50; I 80 Business

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway 38.2 mi 44m
Jameson Canyon Road 6.2 mi 7m
Yolo Causeway 3.7 mi 4m
Capital City Freeway 3.3 mi 3m
Napa-Vallejo Highway 2.8 mi 4m
Soscol Avenue 1.3 mi 2m
Napa–Vallejo Highway 1.3 mi 1m
Westside Freeway 0.6 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway — 38.2 mi, about 44m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on 3rd Street

0.2 mi · 34 sec · 3rd Street
2

Turn right onto Soscol Avenue

1.3 mi · 2 min · Soscol Avenue
Use the right lane.
3

Continue on CA 221

2.7 mi · 4 min · Napa-Vallejo Highway
Use the none lane.
4

Keep slight right at fork onto CA 221

484 ft · 8 sec · Napa-Vallejo Highway
5

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 22 sec
Toward CA 29 South, CA 12 East: Vallejo, Fairfield
6

Continue on CA 12; CA 29

1.3 mi · 1 min · Napa–Vallejo Highway
7

Turn left onto CA 12

6.2 mi · 7 min · Jameson Canyon Road
Use the left / uturn lanes.
8

Keep slight left at fork onto CA 12

0.3 mi · 38 sec · CA 12
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
9

Merge onto I 80; CA 12

2.5 mi · 2 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the none / slight right lanes.
10

Keep slight left at fork onto I 80

27 mi · 31 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
11

Keep slight left at fork onto I 80

8.4 mi · 9 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
12

Continue on I 80

3.7 mi · 4 min · Yolo Causeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
13

Keep slight left at fork onto US 50; I 80 Business

3.3 mi · 3 min · Capital City Freeway
Exit 82 Toward Sacramento, South Lake Tahoe Use the none lane.
14

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 13 sec
Exit 4A Toward I 5 North, I 5 South: Redding, Los Angeles Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 29 sec
Exit 4A Toward I 5 North: Redding Use the slight left lane.
16

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 14 sec
Exit 4A Toward I 5 North: Redding
17

Merge onto I 5

0.6 mi · 44 sec · Westside Freeway
18

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 34 sec
Exit 519B Toward J Street, Downtown Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Turn right onto J Street

0.2 mi · 25 sec · J Street
20

Turn left onto 5th Street

0.2 mi · 19 sec · 5th Street
Use the straight / none lanes.
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 29.8 miles from Napa, CA, or about 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 38.2 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 59.6 miles or 1h 13m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 29.8 miles or 37m 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 1m

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 Napa, 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 Napa, CA

This is one driving day of about 59.6 miles and 1h 13m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Napa, 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 Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 38.2 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 29.8 mi from Napa, CA · 37m into the drive

Downtown Vallejo, CA, CA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Vallejo, CA

30 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

Vallejo, CA to Sacramento, CA

59.5 mi · 1h

Pacing Suggestions

Laguna, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 59.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Davis, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 29.8 miles from Napa, 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial

Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial

National Memorial

On July 17, 1944, a massive explosion jolted the San Francisco East Bay area, shattering windows and lighting up the night sky. At Port Chicago Naval Magazine, 320 men were killed instantly when two s...

12 mi from route ~31 min detour Free near mile 12.3
View on nps.gov
Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park

Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Celebrate and honor the contributions and sacrifices of American civilians on the WWII home front. Discover how diverse communities lived, worked, and interacted. Many faces, many stories, many truths...

22 mi from route ~56 min detour Free near mile 6.2
View on nps.gov
Muir Woods National Monument

Muir Woods National Monument

National Monument

Walk among old growth coast redwoods, cooling their roots in the fresh water of Redwood Creek and lifting their crowns to reach the sun and fog. Federally protected as a National Monument since 1908,...

29 mi from route ~72 min detour $15 near mile 6.2
View on nps.gov
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Established in 1988, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park celebrates America’s maritime heritage on the Pacific Coast. Our 50-acre park has grown around Aquatic Park Cove, a protected area...

30 mi from route ~75 min detour Free near mile 6.2
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$13.80 one way

$27.60 round trip

$5.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 21 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.07 $14.23 $28.47
premium $6.24 $14.65 $29.30
diesel $5.64 $13.24 $26.48

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$14

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$39–$64

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 20.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

EV Charging Along Route

6 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Napa Premium Outlet - Tesla Supercharger

Napa, CA

Tesla

20 DCFC

Bel Air Plaza - Tesla Supercharger

Napa, CA

Tesla

12 DCFC

Costco Napa (Napa, CA)

Napa, CA

Electrify America

10 DCFC

Simon Napa Premium Outlets (Napa, Ca)

Napa, CA

Electrify America

4 DCFC

Lucky

Napa, CA

eVgo Network

2 DCFC

SALVADOR CHEVRO NV- CPE250 ST 1

Napa, CA

ChargePoint Network

1 DCFC

Tesla: 2 Electrify America: 2 ChargePoint Network: 1 eVgo Network: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 17.9 0 $6.26 $2.86
Efficient EV 14.9 0 $5.22 $2.38
EV Truck/SUV 23.8 0 $8.34 $3.81

Gas CO2

21 kg

EV CO2

7 kg (67% 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 2 hours ago

Origin

Napa, CA

Evening in Napa on Sunday

Local time

5:51 PM

PDT

Current temp

58°F

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

SW 10 mph 57% chance Live forecast

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 12 at 3:17PM PDT until April 12 at 3:30PM PDT by NWS Sacramento CA

Wind Advisory

Wind Advisory issued April 12 at 2:16PM PDT until April 12 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Hanford CA

Destination

Sacramento, CA

Evening in Sacramento on Sunday

Local time

5:51 PM

PDT

Current temp

57°F

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

SSW 13 mph 65% chance Live forecast

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 12 at 3:17PM PDT until April 12 at 3:30PM PDT by NWS Sacramento CA

Wind Advisory

Wind Advisory issued April 12 at 2:16PM 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

1h 13m 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 Napa, CA to Sacramento, CA covers 59.6 miles and takes about 1h 13m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, Jameson Canyon Road, Yolo Causeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 29.8 miles from Napa, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.80 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 18 significant decision points across 59.6 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 54.1 miles (US 50; I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 57.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 57.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Napa, CA and Sacramento, CA, road signs point toward Fairfield and Lake Tahoe.

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