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Trip from Sacramento, CA to Altadena, CA

Drive Time

7h 5m

Distance

384.6 mi

619 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$89

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

21 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 33 min
4 AM
6h 55m ★
6 AM
7h 6m
8 AM
7h 28m
10 AM
7h 14m
12 PM
7h 11m
3 PM
7h 15m
5 PM
7h 27m
8 PM
6h 59m

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 Sacramento, CA, CA

Sacramento, CA

Stephen Leonardi

Downtown Altadena, CA, CA

Altadena, CA

Stephen Leonardi

Trip Overview

The drive from Sacramento, CA to Altadena, CA covers 384.6 miles and takes about 7h 5m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Westside Freeway, I 5 Truck, Foothill Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 296.7 miles on Westside Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $89.06 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

192.3 miles from Sacramento, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 29m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 7h 5m highway drive covering 384.6 miles, with most of the trip on Westside Freeway and I 5 Truck. The longest continuous stretch is about 296.7 miles on Westside Freeway.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Westside Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 296.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and I 5 Truck. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.3 miles in.

Route Complexity 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 384.6 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 1.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 62 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 298.6 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 15 key points

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

7
1.3 mi into trip | ~2m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 5 South: Los Angeles

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 5 South: Los Angeles
6
62 mi into trip | ~1h 10m in | I 5 / Westside Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 / Westside Freeway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
298.6 mi into trip | ~5h 23m in | I 5 Truck

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
358.9 mi into trip | ~6h 32m in

Take the exit toward I 210 East: Pasadena

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 161A Toward I 210 East: Pasadena
8
381.5 mi into trip | ~6h 58m in

Take the exit toward Arroyo Boulevard, Windsor Avenue

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 22B Toward Arroyo Boulevard, Windsor Avenue

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Westside Freeway 296.7 mi 5h 19m
I 5 Truck 58.4 mi 1h 6m
Foothill Freeway 22.3 mi 25m
Golden State Freeway 2 mi 2m
West Woodbury Road 1.3 mi 2m
North Marengo Avenue 0.7 mi 1m
East Altadena Drive 0.6 mi 1m
9th Street 0.5 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Westside Freeway — 296.7 mi, about 5h 19m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on 9th Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · 9th Street
2

Turn right onto P Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · P Street
3

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 17 sec
Toward US 50, I 5 South: South Lake Tahoe, San Francisco, Los Angeles
4

Keep slight right at fork

0.5 mi · 37 sec
Toward I 5 South: Los Angeles Use the slight right lane.
5

Merge onto I 5

59 mi · 1 hr 5 min · Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

0.8 mi · 48 sec · Westside Freeway
7

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

237 mi · 4 hr 13 min · Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck

58 mi · 1 hr 6 min · I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

2.0 mi · 2 min · Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 17 sec
Exit 161A Toward I 210 East: Pasadena Use the slight right lane.
11

Continue on I 210

22 mi · 25 min · Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 31 sec
Exit 22B Toward Arroyo Boulevard, Windsor Avenue Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Turn left onto Arroyo Boulevard

426 ft · 17 sec · Arroyo Boulevard
14

Continue on Windsor Avenue

522 ft · 14 sec · Windsor Avenue
15

Turn right onto West Woodbury Road

1.3 mi · 2 min · West Woodbury Road
Use the right lane.
16

Turn left onto North Marengo Avenue

0.7 mi · 1 min · North Marengo Avenue
Use the left lane.
17

Turn right onto East Altadena Drive

0.6 mi · 1 min · East Altadena Drive
18

Turn right onto North Lake Avenue

154 ft · 3 sec · North Lake Avenue
19

Arrive at destination

North Lake Avenue

Trip Plan

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 192.3 miles from Sacramento, CA, or about 3h 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 296.7 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 85 miles or 1h 34m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 192.3 miles or 3h 29m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 5h 53m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Altadena, CA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Sacramento, 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 Sacramento, CA

This is one driving day of about 384.6 miles and 7h 5m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 85 miles from Sacramento, 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 Westside Freeway for about 296.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 192.3 mi from Sacramento, CA · 3h 29m into the drive

Downtown Bakersfield, CA, CA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Bakersfield, CA

192 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

Bakersfield, CA to Altadena, CA

112.7 mi · 2h 13m

Pacing Suggestions

Lathrop, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 85 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Modesto, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 192.3 miles from Sacramento, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Westside Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 296.7 miles.

Arriving in Altadena, CA

The final approach into Altadena, 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 Altadena, 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

National Recreation Area

The Santa Monica Mountains offer easy access to surprisingly wild places. Experience the famous beaches of Malibu or explore more than 500 miles of trails. The park abounds with historical and cultura...

22 mi from route ~55 min detour Free near mile 358
View on nps.gov
César E. Chávez National Monument

César E. Chávez National Monument

National Monument

Yes, we can! Widely recognized as the most important Latino leader in the United States during the twentieth century, Cesar Chavez led farm workers and supporters in the establishment of the country's...

28 mi from route ~71 min detour Free near mile 291.7
View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$89.06 one way

$178.13 round trip

$5.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 135 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.07 $91.85 $183.70
premium $6.24 $94.53 $189.06
diesel $5.64 $85.44 $170.89

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$89

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$114–$139

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 134.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

EV Charging Along Route

21 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Arden Fair Mall - Tesla Supercharger

Sacramento, CA

Tesla

19 DCFC

Doubletree by Hilton - Tesla Supercharger

Sacramento, CA

Tesla

16 DCFC

Promenade at Sacramento Gateway - Tesla Supercharger

Sacramento, CA

Tesla

10 DCFC

Costco Natomas (Sacramento, CA)

Sacramento, CA

Electrify America

10 DCFC

Surestay Sacramento

Sacramento, CA

EVGATEWAY

8 DCFC

Market Square at Arden Fair

Sacramento, CA

eVgo Network

8 DCFC

Sacramento, CA

Sacramento, CA

RIVIAN_ADVENTURE

8 DCFC

Fairfield Inn by Marriott Sacramento Cal Expo

Sacramento, CA

EVCS

4 DCFC

ChargePoint Network: 4 eVgo Network: 4 Tesla: 3 Electrify America: 3 EVCS: 2 EVGATEWAY: 1 Blink Network: 1 LOOP: 1 SHELL_RECHARGE: 1 RIVIAN_ADVENTURE: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $40 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 115.4 1 $40.38 $18.46
Efficient EV 96.2 1 $33.65 $15.38
EV Truck/SUV 153.8 1 $53.84 $24.61

Gas CO2

135 kg

EV CO2

45 kg (67% 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.

Forecast data refreshed 1 hour ago

Origin

Sacramento, CA

Late night in Sacramento on Monday

Local time

3:18 AM

PDT

Current temp

46°F

Partly Cloudy

S 3 mph 7% chance Live forecast

Winter Weather Advisory

Winter Weather Advisory issued April 13 at 12:17AM PDT until April 13 at 7:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA

Winter Weather Advisory

Winter Weather Advisory issued April 13 at 12:17AM PDT until April 13 at 7:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA

Destination

Altadena, CA

Late night in Altadena on Monday

Local time

3:18 AM

PDT

Current temp

54°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

8 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

7h 5m 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 Sacramento, CA to Altadena, CA covers 384.6 miles and takes about 7h 5m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Westside Freeway, I 5 Truck, Foothill Freeway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 192.3 miles from Sacramento, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $89.06 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 15 significant decision points across 384.6 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 1.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 62 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 298.6 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Sacramento, CA to Altadena, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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