Origin
Valley Springs, CA
Late night in Valley Springs on Saturday
Local time
1:41 AM
PDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Valley Springs, CA to Sacramento, CA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 22m
Distance
58 mi
93 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 16m
★
6 AM
1h 22m
8 AM
1h 35m
10 AM
1h 27m
12 PM
1h 25m
3 PM
1h 27m
5 PM
1h 34m
8 PM
1h 18m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Valley Springs, CA
Meriç Tuna
Sacramento, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 58-mile drive from Valley Springs to Sacramento, California, is easily manageable in about 1 hour and 22 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. The route is predominantly highway, with 83% of the journey on major roads, and is estimated to cost around $13 in fuel. As you travel from the Pacific Coast region into the heart of the state's capital, you'll find this drive to be efficient and practical. With no recommended stops, you can focus on getting to your destination smoothly.
About the Cities
Arriving in Sacramento, CA
Full guide →Founded 1849
Sacramento is the state capital of California in the United States. It is the regional center for the Greater Sacramento metropolitan area, which dominates much of the surrounding Sacramento Valley and stretches into parts of Gold Country. Sacramento is the oldest incorporated city in California, settled between the confluences of the Sacramento and American rivers. The city has been the site of many important historic events that have shaped California and U.S. history, most notably the California Gold Rush and location of the original terminus of the First Transcontinental Railroad. Much of this historical legacy has been preserved, especially in the historic Old Sacramento district, where buildings and railroads from that era continue to attract visitors. However, Sacramento is not a city that is stuck in the past. As the capital of the most populous U.S.
Top landmarks
- • California State Capitol — state capitol building of the U.S. state of California
- • Crocker Art Museum — art museum in Sacramento, California
- • Sacramento Valley Station — main railroad and light rail station in Sacramento, California
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 22m. Total distance: 58 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this 58-mile trip, with 83% of the drive on main roads like CA 99 and CA 12. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 28.2 miles on CA 99, offering a consistent pace. While primarily highway, the inclusion of East Peltier Road suggests some transition to more local thoroughfares as you approach Sacramento. This route generally offers a predictable driving experience, prioritizing speed and directness over scenic detours.
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 28.2 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
671 ft
10 ft
Total Climb
20 ft
Total Descent
664 ft
Highest Point
671 ft
Elevation Range
661 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on CA 99 and CA 12. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 19.5 miles in near J5 / Elliot Road.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 22m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 19.5 miles (J5 / Elliot Road): Navigation decision point; at 27 miles (CA 99): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 55.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
19.5 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
J5 / Elliot Road
Turn right onto J5 / Elliot Road
Navigation decision point
5
27 mi into trip
|
~44m in
|
CA 99
Merge onto CA 99
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
55.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 17m in
Take the exit toward N Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 7A
Toward N Street
5
56.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 18m in
|
L Street
Turn left onto L Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
57.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 20m in
|
I Street
Turn left onto I Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| CA 99 | 28.2 mi | 32m |
| CA 12 | 19.5 mi | 29m |
| East Peltier Road | 4.9 mi | 8m |
| Elliot Road | 2.3 mi | 5m |
| L Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| I Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Capital City Freeway | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| 16th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
CA 99
— 28.2 mi, about 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Valley Springs, CA and Sacramento, CA.
1
Start on Laurel Street
22 ft
·
2 sec
·
Laurel Street
2
Turn right onto CA 12
19 mi
·
29 min
·
CA 12
3
Turn right onto J5
2.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Elliot Road
4
Turn left onto J12
4.9 mi
·
8 min
·
East Peltier Road
5
Turn right onto 99 Frontage Road
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
99 Frontage Road
6
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
7
Merge onto CA 99
28 mi
·
32 min
·
CA 99
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on Capital City Freeway
0.5 mi
·
32 sec
·
Capital City Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 7A
Toward N Street
Use the slight right lane.
10
Turn left onto 30th Street
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
30th Street
11
Turn left onto L Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
L Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
12
Turn right onto US 40 Historic
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
16th Street
13
Turn left onto I Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
14
Turn left onto 9th Street
71 ft
·
1 sec
·
9th Street
15
Arrive at destination
9th Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 29 mi from Valley Springs, CA · 46m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
29 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 29 miles from Valley Springs, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.33 one way
$26.66 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $13.74 | $27.47 |
| premium | $6.18 | $14.10 | $28.21 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.81 | $25.61 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$13
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.4 | 0 | $6.09 | $2.78 |
| Efficient EV | 14.5 | 0 | $5.07 | $2.32 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.2 | 0 | $8.12 | $3.71 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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
Sacramento, CA
Late night in Sacramento on Saturday
Local time
1:41 AM
PDT
Current temp
45°F
Clear
NNW 13 to 16 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 16 at 8:46PM PDT until April 17 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS Eureka CA
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 16 at 8:09PM PDT until April 17 at 2:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
50°F
Woodlake, CA
29 mi in
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
2 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 22m 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 Valley Springs, CA to Sacramento, CA covers 58 miles and takes about 1h 22m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are CA 99, CA 12, East Peltier Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 29 miles from Valley Springs, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.33 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 is a straightforward 1h 22m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 19.5 miles (J5 / Elliot Road): Navigation decision point; at 27 miles (CA 99): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 55.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Valley Springs, CA to Sacramento, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 10 ft to 671 ft elevation with about 20 ft of total climbing.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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