Origin
Sunland, CA
Evening in Sunland on Thursday
Local time
7:04 PM
PDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sunland, CA to Sacramento, CA
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
6h 50m
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
4 AM
6h 39m
★
6 AM
6h 51m
8 AM
7h 14m
10 AM
6h 59m
12 PM
6h 57m
3 PM
7h 0m
5 PM
7h 13m
8 PM
6h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sunland, CA
Dominik Gryzbon
Sacramento, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 372.4-mile drive from Sunland, CA, to Sacramento, CA, is designed for a single day, taking approximately 6 hours and 50 minutes. You'll spend nearly all your time on major freeways, with a 99% highway share, making it a straightforward journey. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $86. Given the long, uninterrupted stretches, it's a manageable day trip for most drivers. This route keeps you within the Pacific Coast region throughout, offering a consistent driving experience as you head north.
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 Sunland, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 27m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 50m. Total distance: 372.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 50m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Drive Character
Expect a predominantly highway-focused drive on this route, with 99% of the journey on major freeways like the Westside Freeway, I-5 Truck, and Golden State Freeway. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 298.7 miles without needing to exit the main highway, indicating a consistent pace. The character of the drive is largely about covering distance efficiently, with minimal transitions to local roads. This means you'll be in a rhythm of highway travel for the majority of the trip.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 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 13.3 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 16 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 13.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 72.8 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 371.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
13.3 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
7
72.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 26m 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
371.5 mi into trip
|
~6h 48m 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
7
371.9 mi into trip
|
~6h 49m in
|
5th Street
Turn left onto 5th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
372.4 mi into trip
|
~6h 50m in
|
9th Street
Turn right onto 9th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Westside Freeway | 298.7 mi | 5h 22m |
| I 5 Truck | 37.1 mi | 42m |
| Golden State Freeway | 22.3 mi | 25m |
| Foothill Freeway | 10.9 mi | 12m |
| Foothill Boulevard | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Mount Gleason Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Sunland Boulevard | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| H Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 298.7 mi, about 5h 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sunland, CA and Sacramento, CA.
1
Start on Wentworth Street
117 ft
·
10 sec
·
Wentworth Street
2
Turn left onto Mount Gleason Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Mount Gleason Avenue
3
Turn right onto Summitrose Street
338 ft
·
9 sec
·
Summitrose Street
4
Turn straight onto Foothill Boulevard
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Foothill Boulevard
5
Continue on Sunland Boulevard
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
·
Sunland Boulevard
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward I 210 West: San Fernando
7
Merge onto I 210
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
Use the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto I 5 Truck
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
I 5 Truck
Exit 161A
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck
36 mi
·
41 min
·
I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
22 mi
·
25 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
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.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
26 mi
·
27 min
·
Westside Freeway
14
Keep left at fork onto I 5
48 mi
·
52 min
·
Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 519B
Toward J Street, Downtown
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Turn right onto J Street
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
J Street
17
Turn left onto 5th Street
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
5th Street
Use the straight lane.
18
Turn right onto H Street
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
H Street
19
Turn right onto 9th Street
490 ft
·
15 sec
·
9th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Arrive at destination
9th Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 6-hour, 50-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Sunland, CA, to avoid potential traffic delays, especially on the initial freeway segments. With a longest uninterrupted stretch of nearly 300 miles, plan your stops strategically, perhaps around the 200-mile mark, to stretch your legs and refuel. The estimated $86 fuel cost suggests keeping an eye on your gauge, particularly before entering longer, less populated highway sections. Since this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility in pacing, but remember to stay alert on the consistent highway sections.
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 Sunland, CA, or about 3h 27m 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 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 186.2 miles or 3h 27m 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 43m
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 Sunland, 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 Sunland, CA
This is one driving day of about 372.4 miles and 6h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 82 miles from Sunland, 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 Sunland, CA · 3h 27m 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 186.2 miles from Sunland, 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 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.
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.
Destination
Sacramento, CA
Evening in Sacramento on Thursday
Local time
7:04 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
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
18 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 50m 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 Sunland, CA to Sacramento, CA covers 372.4 miles and takes about 6h 50m 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 Sunland, 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 16 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 13.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 72.8 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 371.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Sunland, CA to Sacramento, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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