Origin
Rancho Cordova, CA
Afternoon in Rancho Cordova on Thursday
Local time
2:38 PM
PDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Rancho Cordova, CA to Carmichael, CA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
16m
Distance
9.2 mi
15 km
Drive Score
5/10
Practical drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 15m
★
6 AM
0h 17m
8 AM
0h 20m
10 AM
0h 18m
12 PM
0h 17m
3 PM
0h 18m
5 PM
0h 19m
8 PM
0h 16m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Rancho Cordova, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Carmichael, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Rancho Cordova, CA to Carmichael, CA covers 9.2 miles and takes about 16m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Fair Oaks Boulevard, Sunrise Boulevard, Folsom Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 4.5 miles on Fair Oaks Boulevard. At current regular gas prices, budget about $2.11 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 16m. Total distance: 9.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 16m drive with frequent turns across 9.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 7 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Fair Oaks Boulevard is the longest continuous segment at about 4.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Folsom Boulevard.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 16m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Folsom Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.1 miles (CR E2 / Sunrise Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.6 miles (Fair Oaks Boulevard): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 6 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
3
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Folsom Boulevard
Depart onto Folsom Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / uturn lanes.
4
2.1 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
CR E2 / Sunrise Boulevard
Turn left onto CR E2 / Sunrise Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
4.6 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
Fair Oaks Boulevard
Turn sharp left onto Fair Oaks Boulevard
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / uturn lanes.
4
7.8 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
Fair Oaks Boulevard
Turn left onto Fair Oaks Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
4
9.2 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
Palm Drive
Turn left onto Palm Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Fair Oaks Boulevard | 4.5 mi | 7m |
| Sunrise Boulevard | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| Folsom Boulevard | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Palm Drive | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Fair Oaks Boulevard
— 4.5 mi, about 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rancho Cordova, CA and Carmichael, CA.
1
Start on Folsom Boulevard
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Folsom Boulevard
Use the left / uturn lanes.
2
Turn left onto CR E2
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Sunrise Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
3
Turn sharp left onto Fair Oaks Boulevard
3.2 mi
·
5 min
·
Fair Oaks Boulevard
Use the left / uturn lanes.
4
Turn left onto Fair Oaks Boulevard
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Fair Oaks Boulevard
Use the straight / left lanes.
5
Turn left onto Palm Drive
290 ft
·
44 sec
·
Palm Drive
Use the left lane.
6
Continue on Palm Drive
139 ft
·
3 sec
·
Palm Drive
7
Arrive at destination
Palm Drive
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.11 one way
$4.23 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
3 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $2.18 | $4.36 |
| premium | $6.18 | $2.24 | $4.47 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.03 | $4.06 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 3.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2.8 | 0 | $0.97 | $0.44 |
| Efficient EV | 2.3 | 0 | $0.80 | $0.37 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 3.7 | 0 | $1.29 | $0.59 |
Gas CO2
3 kg
EV CO2
1 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.
Destination
Carmichael, CA
Afternoon in Carmichael on Thursday
Local time
2:38 PM
PDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
16m 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 Rancho Cordova, CA to Carmichael, CA covers 9.2 miles and takes about 16m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Fair Oaks Boulevard, Sunrise Boulevard, Folsom Boulevard. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 4.6 miles from Rancho Cordova, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.11 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 straightforward 16m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Folsom Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.1 miles (CR E2 / Sunrise Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.6 miles (Fair Oaks Boulevard): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Rancho Cordova, CA to Carmichael, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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