Origin
Sacramento, CA
Late night in Sacramento on Wednesday
Local time
3:21 AM
PDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sacramento, CA to Crescent City, CA
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
7h 14m
Distance
372.9 mi
600 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$86
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
7h 4m
★
6 AM
7h 15m
8 AM
7h 36m
10 AM
7h 22m
12 PM
7h 20m
3 PM
7h 23m
5 PM
7h 35m
8 PM
7h 8m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sacramento, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Crescent City, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Sacramento, CA to Crescent City, CA covers 372.9 miles and takes about 7h 14m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Westside Freeway, CA 299, Redwood Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 126.6 miles on Westside Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $85.71 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
186.4 miles from Sacramento, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 26m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 7h 14m highway drive covering 372.9 miles, with most of the trip on Westside Freeway and CA 299. The longest continuous stretch is about 126.6 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 126.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and CA 299. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near I Street.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 372.9 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 0.2 miles (I Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.7 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
I Street
Turn left onto I Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the ramp toward I 5 North, CA 99 North: Redding, Yuba City
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 5 North, CA 99 North: Redding, Yuba Ci...
6
6.7 mi into trip
|
~9m 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
159.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 53m in
Take the exit toward CA 44: Eureka, Susanville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 678
Toward CA 44: Eureka, Susanville
7
159.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 53m in
Keep slight left at fork toward CA 44 West: Eureka, Whiskeytown National Recreation Area
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 678
Toward CA 44 West: Eureka, Whiskeytown National...
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 Crescent City, CA, road signs point toward Susanville and Whiskeytown National Recreation Area.
Susanville
159.3 mi in
|
~2h 53m
Whiskeytown National Recreation Area
159.4 mi in
|
~2h 53m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Westside Freeway | 126.6 mi | 2h 16m |
| CA 299 | 111.6 mi | 2h 11m |
| Redwood Highway | 73.5 mi | 1h 34m |
| Cascade Wonderland Highway | 31.6 mi | 34m |
| Eureka Way | 25 mi | 29m |
| CA 44 | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| M Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| I Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 126.6 mi, about 2h 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sacramento, CA and Crescent City, CA.
1
Start on 9th Street
348 ft
·
16 sec
·
9th Street
2
Turn left onto J Street
406 ft
·
14 sec
·
J Street
3
Turn left onto 10th Street
419 ft
·
18 sec
·
10th Street
4
Turn left onto I Street
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
I Street
Use the left lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
Toward I 5 North, CA 99 North: Redding, Yuba City
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto I 5
5.6 mi
·
6 min
·
Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
121 mi
·
2 hr 10 min
·
Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 5
32 mi
·
34 min
·
Cascade Wonderland Highway
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
Exit 678
Toward CA 44: Eureka, Susanville
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Exit 678
Toward CA 44 West: Eureka, Whiskeytown National Recreation Area
11
Merge onto CA 44
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
CA 44
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn right onto CA 44; CA 273; US 99 Hist
489 ft
·
17 sec
·
Pine Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Turn left onto CA 44; CA 273; US 99 Hist
25 mi
·
29 min
·
Eureka Way
Use the left lane.
14
Continue on CA 299
112 mi
·
2 hr 11 min
·
CA 299
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
16
Merge onto US 101
74 mi
·
1 hr 34 min
·
Redwood Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on US 101
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
M Street
18
Turn left onto 9th Street
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
9th Street
19
Arrive at destination
9th Street
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 186.4 miles from Sacramento, CA, or about 3h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 126.6 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 82 miles or 1h 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 186.4 miles or 3h 26m 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 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Crescent City, 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 372.9 miles and 7h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 82 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 126.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 186.4 mi from Sacramento, CA · 3h 26m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
186 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 82 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 186.4 miles from Sacramento, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Westside Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 126.6 miles.
Arriving in Crescent City, CA
The final approach into Crescent City, 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 Crescent City, 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
$85.71 one way
$171.42 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
131 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $88.32 | $176.64 |
| premium | $6.18 | $90.69 | $181.37 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $82.33 | $164.66 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$86
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$111–$136
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 130.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $39 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 111.9 | 1 | $39.15 | $17.90 |
| Efficient EV | 93.2 | 1 | $32.63 | $14.92 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 149.2 | 1 | $52.21 | $23.87 |
Gas CO2
130 kg
EV CO2
44 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.
Destination
Crescent City, CA
Late night in Crescent City on Wednesday
Local time
3:21 AM
PDT
Current temp
63°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
5 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
7h 14m 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 Crescent City, CA covers 372.9 miles and takes about 7h 14m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Westside Freeway, CA 299, Redwood Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 186.4 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 $85.71 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 14 significant decision points across 372.9 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 0.2 miles (I Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.7 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Sacramento, CA and Crescent City, CA, road signs point toward Susanville and Whiskeytown National Recreation Area.
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