Origin
Sacramento, CA
Night in Sacramento on Tuesday
Local time
11:07 PM
PDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sacramento, CA to Alta Sierra, CA
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
1h 7m
Distance
52.4 mi
84 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 2m
★
6 AM
1h 7m
8 AM
1h 18m
10 AM
1h 11m
12 PM
1h 10m
3 PM
1h 12m
5 PM
1h 18m
8 PM
1h 4m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sacramento, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Alta Sierra, CA
Patrick Gamelkoorn
Trip Overview
The drive from Sacramento, CA to Alta Sierra, CA covers 52.4 miles and takes about 1h 7m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on J Street, 16th Street, North Sacramento Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.04 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
26.2 miles from Sacramento, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 33m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 7m drive with frequent turns across 52.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
J Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Sacramento, CA to Alta Sierra, CA is easy. At 1h 7m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Sacramento, CA to Alta Sierra, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| J Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 16th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Sacramento Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Capital City Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Dwight D | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Alan S | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| CA 49 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Grass Valley Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
J Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sacramento, CA and Alta Sierra, CA.
1
Start on 9th Street
348 ft
·
17 sec
·
9th Street
2
Turn left onto J Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
J Street
3
Turn left onto 16th Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
16th Street
4
Keep slight left to continue on 16th Street
0.6 mi
·
58 sec
·
16th Street
5
Continue on North Sacramento Freeway
2.6 mi
·
2 min
·
North Sacramento Freeway
6
Merge slight left onto Capital City Freeway
4.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Capital City Freeway
7
Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
7.0 mi
·
8 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
8
Continue on Alan S. Hart Freeway
17 mi
·
19 min
·
Alan S. Hart Freeway
9
Take the exit slight right toward CA 49 North: Grass Valley, Placerville
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
CA 49 North: Grass Valley, Placerville
10
Turn left onto Grass Valley Highway
5.8 mi
·
9 min
·
Grass Valley Highway
11
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Grass Valley Highway
118 ft
·
3 sec
·
Grass Valley Highway
12
Exit the roundabout onto Grass Valley Highway
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Grass Valley Highway
13
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Grass Valley Highway
118 ft
·
3 sec
·
Grass Valley Highway
14
Exit the roundabout onto Grass Valley Highway
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Grass Valley Highway
15
Continue on State Highway 49
9.2 mi
·
12 min
·
State Highway 49
16
Turn right onto Alta Sierra Drive
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Alta Sierra Drive
17
Continue on Alta Sierra Drive
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Alta Sierra Drive
18
Turn left onto Francis Drive
344 ft
·
16 sec
·
Francis Drive
19
Turn right onto Upper Circle Drive
0.1 mi
·
34 sec
·
Upper Circle Drive
20
Arrive at your destination
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 26.2 miles from Sacramento, CA, or about 33m into the drive.
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 52.4 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 26.2 miles or 33m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alta Sierra, 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 52.4 miles and 1h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Sacramento, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 26.2 mi from Sacramento, CA · 33m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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 52.4 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 26.2 miles from Sacramento, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Alta Sierra, CA
The final approach into Alta Sierra, 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 Alta Sierra, 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
$12.04 one way
$24.09 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $12.41 | $24.82 |
| premium | $6.18 | $12.74 | $25.49 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.57 | $23.14 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.7 | 0 | $5.50 | $2.52 |
| Efficient EV | 13.1 | 0 | $4.59 | $2.10 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21 | 0 | $7.34 | $3.35 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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
Alta Sierra, CA
Night in Alta Sierra on Tuesday
Local time
11:07 PM
PDT
Current temp
59°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
9 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 7m 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 Alta Sierra, CA covers 52.4 miles and takes about 1h 7m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are J Street, 16th Street, North Sacramento Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 26.2 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 $12.04 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.
The drive from Sacramento, CA to Alta Sierra, CA is easy. At 1h 7m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Sacramento, CA to Alta Sierra, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Sacramento, CA to Alta Sierra, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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