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Trip from Sherman Oaks, CA to Sacramento, CA

Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026

Drive Time

6h 49m

Distance

372.4 mi

599 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$86

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 35 min
4 AM
6h 38m ★
6 AM
6h 50m
8 AM
7h 13m
10 AM
6h 58m
12 PM
6h 55m
3 PM
6h 59m
5 PM
7h 12m
8 PM
6h 43m

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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Downtown Sherman Oaks, CA, CA

Sherman Oaks, CA

Wikimedia Commons

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

Sacramento, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Sherman Oaks, CA to Sacramento, CA covers 372.4 miles and takes about 6h 49m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Westside Freeway, I 5 Truck, Golden State Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 298.7 miles on Westside Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $85.59 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

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

186.2 miles from Sherman Oaks, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 26m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 49m. Total distance: 372.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

6h 49m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Drive Character

This is a 6h 49m highway drive covering 372.4 miles, with most of the trip on Westside Freeway and I 5 Truck. The longest continuous stretch is about 298.7 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 21 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 298.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and I 5 Truck. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 372.4 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 1.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.8 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 19 key points

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

8
1.4 mi into trip | ~2m in

Take the exit toward I 405 South, I 405 North: Santa Monica, Sacramento

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 19A Toward I 405 South, I 405 North: Santa Monica,...
8
1.6 mi into trip | ~3m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 405 North: Sacramento

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward I 405 North: Sacramento
9
12.8 mi into trip | ~16m in | I 5 Truck

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 161A Toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
7
72.8 mi into trip | ~1h 25m in | I 5 / Westside Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 / Westside Freeway toward I 5 North

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 5 North
8
371.4 mi into trip | ~6h 47m in

Take the exit toward J Street, Downtown

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 519B Toward J Street, Downtown

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Westside Freeway 298.7 mi 5h 22m
I 5 Truck 39.3 mi 45m
Golden State Freeway 22.3 mi 25m
San Diego Freeway 9.4 mi 10m
Ventura Freeway 0.6 mi <1m
Van Nuys Boulevard 0.4 mi 1m
H Street 0.3 mi <1m
J Street 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Westside Freeway — 298.7 mi, about 5h 22m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on this road

37 ft · 8 sec · this road
2

Turn left onto Ventura Boulevard

157 ft · 12 sec · Ventura Boulevard
3

Turn left onto Van Nuys Boulevard

0.4 mi · 1 min · Van Nuys Boulevard
Use the left lane.
4

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 35 sec
Toward US 101 North: Ventura Use the left lane.
5

Merge onto US 101

0.6 mi · 43 sec · Ventura Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 27 sec
Exit 19A Toward I 405 South, I 405 North: Santa Monica, Sacramento Use the slight right lane.
7

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 28 sec
Toward I 405 North: Sacramento Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
8

Merge onto I 405

9.4 mi · 10 min · San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / sharp right lanes.
9

Merge onto I 5 Truck

1.6 mi · 1 min · I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck

1.5 mi · 1 min · I 5 Truck
Exit 161A Toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck

36 mi · 41 min · I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

22 mi · 25 min · Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5

226 mi · 4 hr 1 min · Westside Freeway
Toward I 5 North Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5

26 mi · 27 min · Westside Freeway
15

Keep left at fork onto I 5

48 mi · 52 min · Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 34 sec
Exit 519B Toward J Street, Downtown Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Turn right onto J Street

0.2 mi · 25 sec · J Street
18

Turn left onto 5th Street

0.2 mi · 19 sec · 5th Street
Use the straight lane.
19

Turn right onto H Street

0.3 mi · 40 sec · H Street
20

Turn right onto 9th Street

490 ft · 15 sec · 9th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
21

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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 186.2 miles from Sherman Oaks, CA, or about 3h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 298.7 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 35m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 186.2 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 42m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sacramento, CA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Sherman Oaks, 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 Sherman Oaks, CA

This is one driving day of about 372.4 miles and 6h 49m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 82 miles from Sherman Oaks, 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 Westside Freeway for about 298.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 186.2 mi from Sherman Oaks, CA · 3h 26m into the drive

city in Kings County, California, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Avenal, CA

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

Bakersfield, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 82 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Mendota, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 186.2 miles from Sherman Oaks, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Westside Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 298.7 miles.

Arriving in Sacramento, CA

The final approach into Sacramento, 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 Sacramento, 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

National Recreation Area

The Santa Monica Mountains offer easy access to surprisingly wild places. Experience the famous beaches of Malibu or explore more than 500 miles of trails. The park abounds with historical and cultura...

19 mi from route ~47 min detour Free
View on nps.gov
César E. Chávez National Monument

César E. Chávez National Monument

National Monument

Yes, we can! Widely recognized as the most important Latino leader in the United States during the twentieth century, Cesar Chavez led farm workers and supporters in the establishment of the country's...

27 mi from route ~68 min detour Free near mile 77
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$85.59 one way

$171.19 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 130 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $88.20 $176.41
premium $6.18 $90.56 $181.13
diesel $5.61 $82.22 $164.44

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: 130.3 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 111.7 1 $39.10 $17.88
Efficient EV 93.1 1 $32.58 $14.90
EV Truck/SUV 149 1 $52.14 $23.83

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.

Forecast as of Apr 10, 2026

Origin

Sherman Oaks, CA

Night in Sherman Oaks on Thursday

Local time

9:16 PM

PDT

Current temp

52°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Sacramento, CA

Night in Sacramento on Thursday

Local time

9:16 PM

PDT

Current temp

68°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

16 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

6h 49m 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 Sherman Oaks, CA to Sacramento, CA covers 372.4 miles and takes about 6h 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Westside Freeway, I 5 Truck, Golden State Freeway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 186.2 miles from Sherman Oaks, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $85.59 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 1 meaningful break 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 19 significant decision points across 372.4 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 1.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.8 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Sherman Oaks, CA to Sacramento, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and César E. Chávez National Monument.

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