Origin
Sacramento, CA
Afternoon in Sacramento on Thursday
Local time
1:13 PM
PDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sacramento, CA to Strawberry, CA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 48m
Distance
85.3 mi
137 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$20
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 40m
★
6 AM
1h 48m
8 AM
2h 4m
10 AM
1h 54m
12 PM
1h 52m
3 PM
1h 54m
5 PM
2h 3m
8 PM
1h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sacramento, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Strawberry, CA
Rashed Paykary
Trip Overview
This 85.3-mile drive from Sacramento to Strawberry, California, will take you about 1 hour and 48 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. You'll primarily navigate on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, John T. Knox Freeway, and Richmond Parkway, with about 24% of the journey on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this route is around $20. Given its relatively short distance and duration, you have plenty of flexibility to depart when you wish and take your time. The drive stays within the Pacific Coast region, offering a consistent regional experience throughout.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.7 miles from Sacramento, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 50m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 48m. Total distance: 85.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, rather than a straightforward interstate cruise. While 24% of the journey involves highway travel, the majority will be on more localized roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 50.1 miles on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. As you progress, the road character will likely shift between these faster highway sections and more intricate local street navigation, requiring your attention to turns and traffic signals.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 31 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 50.1 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 Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 85.3 miles you will encounter 21 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 66.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 21 key pointsThese 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
66.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 18m in
Take the exit toward San Rafael, Fitzgerald Drive
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 20
Toward San Rafael, Fitzgerald Drive
7
73.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 28m in
Take the ramp toward I 580 West: San Rafael
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 580 West: San Rafael
8
84.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 44m in
Take the exit toward CA 131: Tiburon Boulevard, East Blithedale Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 447
Toward CA 131: Tiburon Boulevard, East Blitheda...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Sacramento, CA to Strawberry, CA, road signs begin pointing toward San Rafael along the way.
San Rafael
66.6 mi in
|
~1h 18m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 50.1 mi | 58m |
| John T. Knox Freeway | 5.6 mi | 8m |
| Richmond Parkway | 5.1 mi | 6m |
| Yolo Causeway | 3.9 mi | 4m |
| Linus F. Claeys Freeway | 3.4 mi | 3m |
| Capital City Freeway | 3.2 mi | 3m |
| Eastshore Freeway | 3.2 mi | 3m |
| Redwood Highway | 2.5 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 50.1 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sacramento, CA and Strawberry, 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 Francisco
Use the slight left lane.
5
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
Exit 518
Toward US 50 West: San Francisco
Use 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
50 mi
·
58 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 80
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Carquinez Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 80
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
Eastshore Freeway
11
Continue on I 80
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Linus F. Claeys Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 80
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Eastshore Freeway
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 20
Toward San Rafael, Fitzgerald Drive
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn right onto Richmond Parkway
5.1 mi
·
6 min
·
Richmond Parkway
Use the right lane.
15
Turn slight right onto Castro Street
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Castro Street
Use the straight lane.
16
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward I 580 West: San Rafael
Use the left lane.
17
Merge onto I 580
5.6 mi
·
8 min
·
John T. Knox Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 2A
Toward Sir Francis Drake Boulevard
Use the slight right lane.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto Sir Francis Drake Boulevard East
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Sir Francis Drake Boulevard East
Use the straight lane.
20
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward US 101 South: San Francisco
Use the left / straight lanes.
21
Merge onto US 101
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Redwood Highway
Use the straight lane.
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 447
Toward CA 131: Tiburon Boulevard, East Blithedale Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
23
Turn left onto CA 131
263 ft
·
6 sec
·
East Blithedale Avenue
24
Continue on CA 131
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Tiburon Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
25
Turn slight right
181 ft
·
8 sec
Toward US 101 North: Eureka
Use the right lane.
26
Turn right onto Redwood Highway Frontage Road
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Redwood Highway Frontage Road
27
Turn left onto Reed Boulevard
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
Reed Boulevard
28
Continue on Reed Boulevard
34 ft
·
1 sec
·
Reed Boulevard
29
Continue on Reed Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
Reed Boulevard
30
Turn right onto Inez Place
308 ft
·
13 sec
·
Inez Place
31
Arrive at destination
Inez Place
Trip Plan
With a total duration of under two hours, this trip from Sacramento to Strawberry offers a relaxed pace. You can easily complete this drive in a single day, allowing for flexibility in your departure time. There are no recommended stops built into this route, so you can decide on breaks as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel; with an estimated cost of $20, it's a manageable expense, but it's always wise to start with a full tank. Pay close attention to the numerous turns indicated on your navigation, as this route is characterized by its 'turn-heavy local drive' profile.
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 42.7 miles from Sacramento, CA, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 50.1 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 19 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.7 miles or 50m 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 Strawberry, 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 85.3 miles and 1h 48m.
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 50.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 42.7 mi from Sacramento, CA · 50m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
43 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 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 42.7 miles from Sacramento, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Strawberry, CA
The final approach into Strawberry, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.61 one way
$39.21 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
30 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $20.20 | $40.41 |
| premium | $6.18 | $20.74 | $41.49 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $18.83 | $37.67 |
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: 29.8 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 | 25.6 | 0 | $8.96 | $4.09 |
| Efficient EV | 21.3 | 0 | $7.46 | $3.41 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 34.1 | 0 | $11.94 | $5.46 |
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.
Destination
Strawberry, CA
Afternoon in Strawberry on Thursday
Local time
1:13 PM
PDT
Current temp
64°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
4 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
1h 48m 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 Strawberry, CA covers 85.3 miles and takes about 1h 48m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, John T. Knox Freeway, Richmond Parkway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 42.7 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 $19.61 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 85.3 miles you will encounter 21 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 66.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Sacramento, CA to Strawberry, CA, road signs begin pointing toward San Rafael along the way.
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