How far is Costa Mesa, CA from Sacramento, CA?
The driving distance from Costa Mesa, CA to Sacramento, CA is about 428.7 miles (690 km), with a travel time of about 06h 42m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 395.3 miles (636.2 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 13h 24m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM PDT.
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 06h 42m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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.
Census-designated place in Kings County, California
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Chance Light Rain
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Costa Mesa and Sacramento.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Costa Mesa and Sacramento.
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1
Start on Newport Boulevard
1503 ft · 34 sec · Newport Boulevard
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2
Continue on Costa Mesa Freeway
7.6 mi · 9 min · Costa Mesa Freeway
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3
Keep slight right to continue on Costa Mesa Freeway
2136 ft · 28 sec · Costa Mesa Freeway
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4
Take the exit slight right toward I 5 North: Santa Ana
1.1 km · 47 sec
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5
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
2756 ft · 36 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
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6
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1.7 mi · 2 min · Santa Ana Freeway
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7
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
9.4 mi · 11 min · Santa Ana Freeway
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8
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
18 mi · 21 min · Santa Ana Freeway
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9
Keep slight right to continue on Golden State Freeway
25.5 mi · 30 min · Golden State Freeway
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10
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
2.2 mi · 3 min · Golden State Freeway
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11
Keep slight right to continue on I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
1.5 mi · 2 min
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12
Keep slight left
36.1 mi · 42 min
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13
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
22.3 mi · 25 min · Golden State Freeway
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14
Keep slight right to continue on Westside Freeway
225.6 mi · 4 hr 2 min · Westside Freeway
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15
Keep slight right to continue on Westside Freeway
25.5 mi · 28 min · Westside Freeway
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16
Keep left to continue on Westside Freeway
47.5 mi · 53 min · Westside Freeway
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17
Take the exit slight right toward J Street, Downtown
1300 ft · 34 sec
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18
Turn right onto J Street
822 ft · 25 sec · J Street
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19
Turn left onto 5th Street
814 ft · 19 sec · 5th Street
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20
Turn right onto H Street
1602 ft · 40 sec · H Street
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21
Turn right onto 9th Street
149 m · 15 sec · 9th Street
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22
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · 9th Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Costa Mesa and Sacramento.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Westside Freeway
Keep slight right to continue on Westside Freeway
226 mi · 04h 02m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
Better with a longer stop
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
Mostly Sunny leaving Costa Mesa and Chance Light Rain near Sacramento.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Costa Mesa to Sacramento?
The road trip is about 428.7 miles (690 km) and usually takes 06h 42m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Kettleman City is a useful midpoint, sitting about 213 miles from Costa Mesa and 215.7 miles from Sacramento.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 395.3 miles (636.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 33.4 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 7:30 AM PDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $87.28 one way or $174.57 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 134.5 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Costa Mesa and Chance Light Rain near Sacramento.
Stop Ideas Near Kettleman City
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Kettleman City.
Kettleman City, California
Lemoore, California
Corcoran station
Lemoore (Naval Air Station), California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Costa Mesa and Sacramento. Straight-line distance: 395.33 mi (636.23 km).
#1 Costa Mesa
The most populous city in Orange County, California.
| Population | 112,366 |
| Coordinates | 33.6411300, -117.9186700 |
| Altitude | 30 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Sacramento
The sixth most populous city in California and the center of the Sacramento metropolitan area.
| Population | 512,838 |
| Coordinates | 38.5815700, -121.4944000 |
| Altitude | 9 |
| Country | United States |
End: 9th Street (-121.49442, 38.581575)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 690 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 14h 17m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 10h 43m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 08h 34m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 07h 08m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 06h 07m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 05h 20m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $87.28 | $174.57 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $91.78 | $183.56 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $94.46 | $188.91 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $114.49 | $228.98 |
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 22, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.