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Trip from Sacramento, CA to Fairmead, CA

Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026

Drive Time

2h 41m

Distance

136 mi

219 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$31

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 32 min
4 AM
2h 31m ★
6 AM
2h 42m
8 AM
3h 3m
10 AM
2h 49m
12 PM
2h 47m
3 PM
2h 50m
5 PM
3h 2m
8 PM
2h 35m

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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capital city of the U.S. state of California and seat of Sacramento County

Sacramento, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Fairmead, CA, CA

Fairmead, CA

Stephen Leonardi

Trip Overview

The drive from Sacramento, CA to Fairmead, CA covers 136 miles and takes about 2h 41m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on CA 99, South Sacramento Freeway, Fairmead Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 74.1 miles on CA 99. At current regular gas prices, budget about $31.26 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.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

68 miles from Sacramento, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 20m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 41m. Total distance: 136 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 2h 41m highway drive covering 136 miles, with most of the trip on CA 99 and South Sacramento Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 74.1 miles on CA 99.

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.
CA 99 is the longest continuous segment at about 74.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on CA 99 and South Sacramento Freeway. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near 15th Street.

Driving Effort 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 136 miles you will encounter 13 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 0.5 miles (15th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.7 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.3 miles (I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 key points

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

5
0.5 mi into trip | ~1m in | 15th Street

Turn right onto 15th Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
5
1.7 mi into trip | ~3m in

Take the ramp toward I 80 East, CA 99 South: Reno, Placerville, Fresno

Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 80 East, CA 99 South: Reno, Placervill...
8
2.3 mi into trip | ~4m in | I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway toward I 80 Business East, CA 99 South: Reno, Fresno

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

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 80 Business East, CA 99 South: Reno, F...
6
2.6 mi into trip | ~4m in

Take the exit toward CA 99 South: Fresno

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward CA 99 South: Fresno
5
3 mi into trip | ~5m in | CA 99 / South Sacramento Freeway

Merge onto CA 99 / South Sacramento Freeway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
CA 99 74.1 mi 1h 25m
South Sacramento Freeway 56.4 mi 1h 5m
Fairmead Boulevard 1.9 mi 4m
15th Street 1.1 mi 2m
Capital City Freeway 0.6 mi <1m
J Street 0.5 mi <1m
Avenue 22 1/2 0.3 mi <1m
Avenue 24 0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: CA 99 — 74.1 mi, about 1h 25m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on 9th Street

348 ft · 16 sec · 9th Street
2

Turn left onto J Street

0.5 mi · 55 sec · J Street
3

Turn right onto 15th Street

1.1 mi · 2 min · 15th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
4

Turn left onto X Street

400 ft · 8 sec · X Street
5

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 31 sec
Toward I 80 East, CA 99 South: Reno, Placerville, Fresno
6

Merge onto US 50; I 80 Business

0.4 mi · 22 sec · Capital City Freeway
7

Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 Business

0.3 mi · 18 sec · Capital City Freeway
Toward I 80 Business East, CA 99 South: Reno, Fresno Use the slight right lane.
8

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 34 sec
Toward CA 99 South: Fresno Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Merge onto CA 99

56 mi · 1 hr 5 min · South Sacramento Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99

74 mi · 1 hr 25 min · CA 99
11

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 32 sec
Toward Avenue 24
12

Turn left onto Avenue 24

0.1 mi · 11 sec · Avenue 24
13

Turn right onto Fairmead Boulevard

1.9 mi · 4 min · Fairmead Boulevard
14

Turn left onto Avenue 22 1/2

0.3 mi · 36 sec · Avenue 22 1/2
15

Arrive at destination

Avenue 22 1/2

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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 68 miles from Sacramento, CA, or about 1h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 74.1 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 30 miles or 36m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 68 miles or 1h 20m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 10m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fairmead, 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.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Sacramento, CA

This is one driving day of about 136 miles and 2h 41m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Sacramento, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on CA 99 for about 74.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 68 mi from Sacramento, CA · 1h 20m into the drive

city in and county seat of Stanislaus County, California, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Modesto, CA

68 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

Woodlake, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 30 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Salida, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 68 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 CA 99 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 74.1 miles.

Arriving in Fairmead, CA

The final approach into Fairmead, 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 Fairmead, CA.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$31.26 one way

$62.52 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 48 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $32.21 $64.42
premium $6.18 $33.07 $66.15
diesel $5.61 $30.03 $60.05

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$31

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$56–$81

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 47.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 40.8 0 $14.28 $6.53
Efficient EV 34 0 $11.90 $5.44
EV Truck/SUV 54.4 0 $19.04 $8.70

Gas CO2

48 kg

EV CO2

16 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 16, 2026

Origin

Sacramento, CA

Evening in Sacramento on Thursday

Local time

6:16 PM

PDT

Current temp

68°F

Sunny

NNW 13 to 18 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Freeze Warning

Freeze Warning issued April 16 at 10:43AM PDT until April 17 at 11:00AM PDT by NWS Medford OR

Wind Advisory

Wind Advisory issued April 16 at 10:32AM PDT until April 17 at 11:00AM PDT by NWS Hanford CA

Destination

Fairmead, CA

Evening in Fairmead on Thursday

Local time

6:16 PM

PDT

Current temp

82°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

14 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

2h 41m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

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 Fairmead, CA covers 136 miles and takes about 2h 41m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are CA 99, South Sacramento Freeway, Fairmead Boulevard. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 68 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 $31.26 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 136 miles you will encounter 13 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 0.5 miles (15th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.7 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.3 miles (I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Sacramento, CA to Fairmead, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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