How far is Big Pine, CA from Sacramento, CA?

The driving distance from Big Pine, CA to Sacramento, CA is about 288.2 miles (463.8 km), with a travel time of about 05h 14m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 200.3 miles (322.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 28m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
288.21 mi
05h 14m
Flight
200.31 mi
322.37 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Big Pine.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
200.31 mi
Kilometers
322.37 km
Flight Time
00h 24m

Driving Distance

Road route
288.21 mi
Kilometers
463.83 km
Drive Time
05h 14m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 05h 14m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Sacramento
Thu, Apr 23, 7:33 AM PDT
Return by in Big Pine
Thu, Apr 23, 12:47 PM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Big Pine
2026-04-23T02:19
Arrive Sacramento
Thu, Apr 23, 7:33 AM PDT
Route Timing
05h 14m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:14 AM to 1:14 PM PDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
6:32 AM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Big Pine
9:00 PM PDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
South Lake Tahoe
CA

City in California

From Big Pine
143.5 mi
02h 37m
To Sacramento
144.8 mi
02h 37m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
69°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
7 to 13 mph NNW
Destination
72°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
2 to 6 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Big Pine and Sacramento.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Big Pine and Sacramento.

  1. 1

    Start on Grand Army of the Republic Highway

    141 m · 11 sec · Grand Army of the Republic Highway

  2. 2

    Continue on North Main Street

    1317 ft · 32 sec · North Main Street

  3. 3

    Continue on Grand Army of the Republic Highway

    7.4 mi · 9 min · Grand Army of the Republic Highway

  4. 4

    Continue on El Camino Sierra

    5 mi · 6 min · El Camino Sierra

  5. 5

    Continue on South Main Street

    2.4 mi · 4 min · South Main Street

  6. 6

    Turn left onto West Line Street

    1.5 mi · 3 min · West Line Street

  7. 7

    Turn right onto North Barlow Lane

    1 mi · 2 min · North Barlow Lane

  8. 8

    Turn left onto North Sierra Highway

    87.4 mi · 1 hr 44 min · North Sierra Highway

  9. 9

    Turn right onto Sinclair Street

    549 ft · 13 sec · Sinclair Street

  10. 10

    Turn left onto Emigrant Street

    2635 ft · 41 sec · Emigrant Street

  11. 11

    Continue on Route 395

    39.8 mi · 51 min · Route 395

  12. 12

    Turn left

    17.6 mi · 25 min

  13. 13

    At the end of the road, turn right

    11.2 mi · 16 min

  14. 14

    Turn left

    5.8 mi · 8 min

  15. 15

    Turn right onto Luther Pass Road

    11.1 mi · 15 min · Luther Pass Road

  16. 16

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route

    66 m · 9 sec

  17. 17

    Exit the roundabout

    93.8 mi · 1 hr 58 min

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward CA 160: 16th Street

    1252 ft · 33 sec

  19. 19

    Turn right onto 16th Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · 16th Street

  20. 20

    Turn left onto I Street

    2891 ft · 1 min · I Street

  21. 21

    Turn left onto 9th Street

    22 m · 2 sec · 9th Street

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 9th Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Big Pine and Sacramento.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Straightforward drive

The saved road route has a manageable number of maneuvers and should be easy to follow with normal attention to signs.

Directions
22 steps
14 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
0 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Luther Pass Road
105 mi · 36%
North Sierra Highway
87.4 mi · 30%
Route 395
39.8 mi · 14%
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
7.46 mi · 3%
El Camino Sierra
5.01 mi · 2%
South Main Street
2.42 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Luther Pass Road

Exit the roundabout

93.8 mi · 01h 58m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
05h 14m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 28m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+87.9 mi
200.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
South Lake Tahoe
02h 37m from Big Pine
Leave By
6:32 AM PDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Big Pine and Sunny near Sacramento.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Big Pine to Sacramento?

The road trip is about 288.2 miles (463.8 km) and usually takes 05h 14m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

South Lake Tahoe is a useful midpoint, sitting about 143.5 miles from Big Pine and 144.8 miles from Sacramento.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 200.3 miles (322.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 87.9 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 6:32 AM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $58.67 one way or $117.34 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 90.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Big Pine and Sunny near Sacramento.

Stop Ideas Near South Lake Tahoe

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around South Lake Tahoe, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to South Lake Tahoe.

BUS

South Lake Tahoe, California

3 mi away
1000 Emerald Bay Road
BUS

Stateline Transit Center, California

5 mi away
4114 Lake Tahoe Blvd
BUS

Stateline, NV

6 mi away
169 Highway 50
RAIL

Truckee station

47 mi away
10065 Donner Pass Road

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Big Pine and Sacramento. Straight-line distance: 200.31 mi (322.37 km).

Big Pine

#1 Big Pine

Census-designated place in Inyo County, California

Population1,756
Coordinates37.1649300, -118.2895500
Altitude1216
CountryUnited States
Sacramento

#2 Sacramento

The sixth most populous city in California and the center of the Sacramento metropolitan area.

Population512,838
Coordinates38.5815700, -121.4944000
Altitude9
CountryUnited States
Start: Grand Army of the Republic Highway (-118.289525, 37.16493)
End: 9th Street (-121.49442, 38.581575)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 464 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 36m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 12m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 45m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 48m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 07m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 35m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.17 gal
38.5 L · about $58.67
Round trip
$117.34
20.34 gal · 77 L
Estimated CO2
90.4 kg one way
Round trip: 180.8 kg / 399 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $58.67 $117.34
Mid-grade $6.07 $61.69 $123.38
Premium $6.24 $63.49 $126.98
Diesel $7.57 $76.96 $153.91

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in California · Apr 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Big Pine and Sacramento. The current time is 02:19:08.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.