Trip from Sacramento, CA to Azusa, CA

Drive Time

7h 21m

Distance

400 mi

644 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$93

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 31 min
4 AM
7h 11m ★
6 AM
7h 21m
8 AM
7h 42m
10 AM
7h 29m
12 PM
7h 26m
3 PM
7h 30m
5 PM
7h 41m
8 PM
7h 15m

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

Downtown Sacramento, CA, CA

Sacramento, CA

Stephen Leonardi

Downtown Azusa, CA, CA

Azusa, CA

Israyosoy S.

Trip Overview

The drive from Sacramento, CA to Azusa, CA covers 400 miles and takes about 7h 21m 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 $92.63 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

200 miles from Sacramento, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 37m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 7h 21m highway drive covering 400 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 15 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.

Elevation Profile

Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes

3,784 ft 14 ft

Total Climb

4,411 ft

Total Descent

3,829 ft

Highest Point

3,784 ft

~314.3 mi in

Elevation Range

3,770 ft

Notable High Points

3,784 ft at ~314.3 miles +2,426 ft prominence

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 12 significant decision points across 400 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 358.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 12 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 none / 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
383.6 mi into trip | ~7h 1m in | I 210 / Foothill Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 210 / Foothill Freeway toward CA 134 West, I 210 East: San Bernardino, Ventura

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

Use the slight right lane. Toward CA 134 West, I 210 East: San Bernardino,...
7
398.7 mi into trip | ~7h 18m in

Take the exit toward CA 39: Azusa Avenue

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 40 Toward CA 39: Azusa Avenue

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Westside Freeway 296.7 mi 5h 19m
I 5 Truck 58.4 mi 1h 6m
Foothill Freeway 39.6 mi 45m
Golden State Freeway 2 mi 2m
South Azusa Avenue 1 mi 1m
9th Street 0.5 mi 1m
P Street 0.5 mi 1m
North Azusa Avenue Unavailable Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: Westside Freeway — 296.7 mi, about 5h 19m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Sacramento, CA and Azusa, 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 none / 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 none / 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 none / straight / slight right lanes.
9

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

2.0 mi · 2 min · Golden State Freeway
Use the none lane.
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

24 mi · 28 min · Foothill Freeway
Use the none lane.
12

Keep slight right at fork onto I 210

15 mi · 17 min · Foothill Freeway
Toward CA 134 West, I 210 East: San Bernardino, Ventura Use the slight right lane.
13

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 44 sec
Exit 40 Toward CA 39: Azusa Avenue Use the slight right lane.
14

Turn left onto CA 39

1.0 mi · 1 min · South Azusa Avenue
Use the left lane.
15

Arrive at destination

CA 39

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 200 miles from Sacramento, CA, or about 3h 37m 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 88 miles or 1h 37m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 200 miles or 3h 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 6h 11m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Azusa, 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 400 miles and 7h 21m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 88 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 200 mi from Sacramento, CA · 3h 37m into the drive

Downtown Bakersfield, CA, CA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Bakersfield, CA

200 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

Manteca, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 88 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Fresno, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 200 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 Azusa, CA

The final approach into Azusa, 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 Azusa, 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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$92.63 one way

$185.26 round trip

$5.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 140 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.07 $95.53 $191.06
premium $6.24 $98.31 $196.63
diesel $5.64 $88.87 $177.73

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$93

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$118–$143

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 140 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $42 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 120 1 $42.00 $19.20
Efficient EV 100 1 $35.00 $16.00
EV Truck/SUV 160 1 $56.00 $25.60

Gas CO2

140 kg

EV CO2

47 kg (66% 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 4 hours ago

Origin

Sacramento, CA

Afternoon in Sacramento on Sunday

Local time

2:16 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

Destination

Azusa, CA

Afternoon in Azusa on Sunday

Local time

2:16 PM

PDT

Current temp

63°F

Rain

SW 10 mph 100% 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

4 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 21m 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 Azusa, CA covers 400 miles and takes about 7h 21m 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 200 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 $92.63 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 12 significant decision points across 400 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 358.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Sacramento, CA to Azusa, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes. The route ranges from 14 ft to 3,784 ft elevation with about 4,411 ft of total climbing. There is 1 notable high point along the way.

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Return Trip

Azusa, CA to Sacramento, CA

Plan the drive back the other way.

399.3 mi 7h 21m

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

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