Trip from Westmorland, CA to Sacramento, CA

Drive Time

10h 36m

Distance

573.2 mi

923 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$133

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 28 min
4 AM
10h 27m ★
6 AM
10h 36m
8 AM
10h 55m
10 AM
10h 43m
12 PM
10h 41m
3 PM
10h 44m
5 PM
10h 54m
8 PM
10h 31m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Sacramento, CA, CA

Sacramento, CA

Stephen Leonardi

Trip Overview

The drive from Westmorland, CA to Sacramento, CA covers 573.2 miles and takes about 10h 36m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.

The route leans on Westside Freeway, Foothill Freeway, Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-distance drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 298.7 miles on Westside Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $132.74 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Best split across 2 days

Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.

Break Rhythm

3 planned breaks

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

Midpoint

286.6 miles from Westmorland, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5h 25m into the drive .

Drive Character

At 573.2 miles and 10h 36m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are Westside Freeway and Foothill Freeway.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 30 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 Foothill Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 165.2 miles in.

Route Complexity 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 25 significant decision points across 573.2 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 165.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 188.5 miles (I 210 / Foothill Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 273.6 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 25 key points

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

7
165.2 mi into trip | ~3h 5m in

Keep slight right at fork toward CA 57 North

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward CA 57 North
8
188.5 mi into trip | ~3h 34m in | I 210 / Foothill Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 210 / Foothill Freeway toward I 210 West: Sacramento

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 26A Toward I 210 West: Sacramento
7
273.6 mi into trip | ~5h 11m 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
572.3 mi into trip | ~10h 34m 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
572.7 mi into trip | ~10h 35m in | 5th Street

Turn left onto 5th Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Westside Freeway 298.7 mi 5h 22m
Foothill Freeway 43.9 mi 50m
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway 39.9 mi 43m
I 5 Truck 37.1 mi 42m
Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway 32.6 mi 34m
CA 86 32.5 mi 37m
East Main Street 30.8 mi 35m
Golden State Freeway 22.3 mi 25m
Longest stretch: Westside Freeway — 298.7 mi, about 5h 22m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on CA 78; CA 86

31 mi · 35 min · East Main Street
Use the straight lane.
2

Continue on CA 86

32 mi · 37 min · CA 86
Use the straight lane.
3

Merge onto I 10

33 mi · 34 min · Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4

Continue on I 10

40 mi · 43 min · Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5

Continue on I 10

14 mi · 15 min · San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 EXPR

9.3 mi · 9 min · I-10 Metro ExpressLanes
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Merge onto I 10

1.2 mi · 1 min · San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Keep slight right at fork onto I 10

0.9 mi · 1 min · San Bernardino Freeway
9

Keep slight right at fork onto I 10

1.3 mi · 1 min · San Bernardino Freeway
10

Keep slight right at fork onto I 10

1.9 mi · 2 min · San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Keep slight right at fork onto I 10

0.8 mi · 55 sec · San Bernardino Freeway
12

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 26 sec
Toward CA 57: Santa Ana Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 55 sec
Toward CA 57 North Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
14

Continue on CA 57

3.4 mi · 3 min · CA 57
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Keep slight left at fork

1.1 mi · 2 min
Exit 25C Toward I 210 West: Pasadena
16

Merge onto I 210

18 mi · 21 min · Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Keep slight right at fork onto I 210

26 mi · 29 min · Foothill Freeway
Exit 26A Toward I 210 West: Sacramento Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

Keep slight right at fork

0.1 mi · 9 sec
Use the slight right lane.
19

Merge onto I 5 Truck

1.0 mi · 1 min · I 5 Truck
Exit 161A
20

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck

36 mi · 41 min · I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

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

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.
23

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5

26 mi · 27 min · Westside Freeway
24

Keep left at fork onto I 5

48 mi · 52 min · Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 34 sec
Exit 519B Toward J Street, Downtown Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26

Turn right onto J Street

0.2 mi · 25 sec · J Street
27

Turn left onto 5th Street

0.2 mi · 19 sec · 5th Street
Use the straight lane.
28

Turn right onto H Street

0.3 mi · 40 sec · H Street
29

Turn right onto 9th Street

490 ft · 15 sec · 9th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
30

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.

This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 3 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 286.6 miles from Westmorland, CA, or about 5h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 298.7 miles.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 126 miles or 2h 21m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 286.6 miles or 5h 25m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Overnight split

Day 1 wrap after about 286.6 miles or 5h 25m

Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 9h 28m

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 Westmorland, 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.

+

Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.

+

Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Westmorland, CA

Aim for roughly 287 miles and 5.3 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Sacramento, CA

Aim for roughly 287 miles and 5.3 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 126 miles from Westmorland, CA.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 3 real breaks 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 286.6 mi from Westmorland, CA · 5h 25m into the drive

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

Anaheim, CA

189 mi into the route

Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch

This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.

Popular next leg

Anaheim, CA to Sacramento, CA

410.4 mi · 6h 32m

Downtown Bakersfield, CA, CA

Second major stop

Overnight candidate

Bakersfield, CA

378 mi into the route

Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start

This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.

Find hotels in Bakersfield, CA

Popular next leg

Bakersfield, CA to Sacramento, CA

291.7 mi · 4h 37m

Overnight Options

Night 1

Santa Clarita, CA

287 mi · about 5.3h in

A practical overnight split lands near Santa Clarita, CA after about 287 miles or 5.3 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Moreno Valley, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 126 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Bakersfield, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 286.6 miles from Westmorland, 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.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 287 miles or 5.3 hours on the road.

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.

On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Sacramento, CA with some flexibility left in the schedule.

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...

22 mi from route ~55 min detour Free near mile 217.4
View on nps.gov
Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree National Park

National Park

Two distinct desert ecosystems, the Mojave and the Colorado, come together in Joshua Tree National Park. A fascinating variety of plants and animals make their homes in a land sculpted by strong winds...

24 mi from route ~61 min detour $30 near mile 59.3
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 ~67 min detour Free near mile 276.7
View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$132.74 one way

$265.48 round trip

$5.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 201 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.07 $136.89 $273.78
premium $6.24 $140.89 $281.77
diesel $5.64 $127.35 $254.69

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$133

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$263–$373

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 200.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $60 in charging · 2 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 172 2 $60.19 $27.51
Efficient EV 143.3 1 $50.16 $22.93
EV Truck/SUV 229.3 2 $80.25 $36.68

Gas CO2

201 kg

EV CO2

67 kg (67% less)

Plan for 2 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Westmorland, CA

Morning in Westmorland on Monday

Local time

9:44 AM

PDT

Current temp

59°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Sacramento, CA

Morning in Sacramento on Monday

Local time

9:44 AM

PDT

Current temp

51°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.

For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.

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

8 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

10h 36m on the road

This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Westmorland, CA to Sacramento, CA covers 573.2 miles and takes about 10h 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Westside Freeway, Foothill Freeway, Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 287 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 286.6 miles from Westmorland, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $132.74 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 3 meaningful breaks 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 25 significant decision points across 573.2 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 165.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 188.5 miles (I 210 / Foothill Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 273.6 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Westmorland, CA to Sacramento, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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