The drive from Sacramento, CA to Blackhawk, CA covers 86.2 miles and takes about 1h 49m 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, Luther E Gibson Freeway, Benicia-Martinez Bridge for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 37.2 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $19.81 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.
Midpoint
43.1 miles from Sacramento, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 51m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 49m. Total distance: 86.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 49m drive with frequent turns across 86.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 24 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 37.2 miles.
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 1.3 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 86.2 miles you will encounter 16 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: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 46.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
9
1.3 mi into trip|~2m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 50: South Lake Tahoe, San Francisco
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward US 50: South Lake Tahoe, San Francisco
8
1.5 mi into trip|~3m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 50 West: San Francisco
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 518
Toward US 50 West: San Francisco
8
46.2 mi into trip|~54m in
Take the exit toward I 680: Benicia, San Jose
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 40
Toward I 680: Benicia, San Jose
6
67.2 mi into trip|~1h 19m in|I 680 / Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 680 / Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
78.7 mi into trip|~1h 32m in
Take the exit toward Sycamore Valley Road East, Sycamore Valley Road West
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 38
Toward Sycamore Valley Road East, Sycamore Vall...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Sacramento, CA and Blackhawk, CA, road signs point toward San Jose, Sycamore Valley Road East and Sycamore Valley Road West.
San Jose
46.2 mi in|~54m
Sycamore Valley Road East
78.7 mi in|~1h 32m
Sycamore Valley Road West
78.7 mi in|~1h 32m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
37.2 mi
42m
Luther E Gibson Freeway
12.4 mi
14m
Benicia-Martinez Bridge
8 mi
9m
Donald D Doyle Highway
6.7 mi
7m
Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
4.8 mi
5m
Yolo Causeway
3.9 mi
4m
Capital City Freeway
3.2 mi
3m
Camino Tassajara
2.9 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 37.2 mi, about 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sacramento, CA and Blackhawk, 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 left at fork
0.2 mi·12 sec
Toward US 50: South Lake Tahoe, San FranciscoUse the slight left lane.
5
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·39 sec
Exit 518Toward US 50 West: San FranciscoUse the slight right lane.
6
Merge onto US 50; I 80 Business
3.2 mi·3 min·Capital City Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 80
3.9 mi·4 min·Yolo Causeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 80
37 mi·42 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 40Toward I 680: Benicia, San JoseUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 680
12 mi·14 min·Luther E Gibson Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 680
8.0 mi·9 min·Benicia-Martinez Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 680
4.8 mi·5 min·Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 680
1.4 mi·1 min·Donald D Doyle Highway
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 680
5.3 mi·6 min·Donald D Doyle Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
502 ft·12 sec
Exit 38Toward Sycamore Valley Road East, Sycamore Valley Road WestUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward Sycamore Valley Road East
17
Turn straight onto Sycamore Valley Road
1.5 mi·2 min·Sycamore Valley Road
Use the straight lane.
18
Continue on Camino Tassajara
2.9 mi·4 min·Camino Tassajara
19
Turn left onto Blackhawk Road
1.0 mi·2 min·Blackhawk Road
Use the left lane.
20
Turn right onto Blackhawk Drive
1.3 mi·3 min·Blackhawk Drive
21
Enter roundabout onto Eagle Nest Place
146 ft·12 sec·Eagle Nest Place
22
Continue on Eagle Nest Place
0.1 mi·24 sec·Eagle Nest Place
23
Turn left onto Eagle Ridge Drive
0.4 mi·1 min·Eagle Ridge Drive
24
Arrive at destination
Eagle Ridge Place
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 43.1 miles from Sacramento, CA, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 37.2 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 19 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.1 miles or 51m 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 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Blackhawk, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Sacramento, CA
This is one driving day of about 86.2 miles and 1h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Sacramento, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 37.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 43.1 mi from Sacramento, CA
· 51m into the drive
The midpoint is around 43.1 miles from Sacramento, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Blackhawk, CA
The final approach into Blackhawk, CA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
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
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...
4 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 62.4
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...
16 mi from route
~39 min detour
Free
near mile 59.5
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...
20 mi from route
~50 min detour
Free
near mile 71.3
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,...
27 mi from route
~67 min detour
$15
near mile 59.5
Experience a park so rich it supports 19 distinct ecosystems with over 2,000 plant and animal species. Go for a hike, enjoy a vista, have a picnic or learn about the centuries of overlapping history f...
29 mi from route
~72 min detour
Free
near mile 59.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.81 one way
$39.62 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$20.42
$40.83
premium
$6.18
$20.96
$41.93
diesel
$5.61
$19.03
$38.06
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.9
0
$9.05
$4.14
Efficient EV
21.6
0
$7.54
$3.45
EV Truck/SUV
34.5
0
$12.07
$5.52
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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 as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Sacramento, CA
Late night
in Sacramento on Friday
Local time
4:03 AM
PDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Blackhawk, CA
Late night
in Blackhawk on Friday
Local time
4:03 AM
PDT
Current temp
--
Unavailable
61°F
Martinez, CA
43 mi in
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.
Road read
1h 49m 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 Sacramento, CA to Blackhawk, CA covers 86.2 miles and takes about 1h 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, Luther E Gibson Freeway, Benicia-Martinez Bridge. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 43.1 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 $19.81 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 86.2 miles you will encounter 16 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: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 46.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Sacramento, CA and Blackhawk, CA, road signs point toward San Jose, Sycamore Valley Road East and Sycamore Valley Road West.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial, Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park and San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park. There are 5 parks within detour distance of this route.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
