How far is Desert Shores, CA from Sacramento, CA?
The driving distance from Desert Shores, CA to Sacramento, CA is about 537.3 miles (864.7 km), with a travel time of about 08h 46m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 469.9 miles (756.2 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 17h 33m 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 08h 46m.
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.
Place in Kern County California
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Desert Shores and Sacramento.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Desert Shores and Sacramento.
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1
Start on Del Mar Drive
5 m · 3 sec · Del Mar Drive
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2
Turn right onto Hermosa Avenue
79 m · 17 sec · Hermosa Avenue
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3
Turn left onto Catalina Drive
79 m · 13 sec · Catalina Drive
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4
Turn right onto Malibu Avenue
1369 ft · 1 min · Malibu Avenue
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5
At the end of the road, turn right onto Scott Drive
616 ft · 32 sec · Scott Drive
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6
Turn left onto Desert Shores Drive
54 m · 12 sec · Desert Shores Drive
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7
Turn right
24.7 mi · 29 min
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8
Merge slight right onto Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway
32.6 mi · 35 min · Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway
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9
Continue on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
39.9 mi · 44 min · Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
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10
Continue on San Bernardino Freeway
13.9 mi · 16 min · San Bernardino Freeway
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11
Keep slight left to continue on I-10 Metro ExpressLanes
9.3 mi · 10 min · I-10 Metro ExpressLanes
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12
Merge slight right onto San Bernardino Freeway
1.2 mi · 1 min · San Bernardino Freeway
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13
Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway
1.4 km · 1 min · San Bernardino Freeway
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14
Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway
1.3 mi · 2 min · San Bernardino Freeway
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15
Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway
1.9 mi · 2 min · San Bernardino Freeway
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16
Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway
1.3 km · 55 sec · San Bernardino Freeway
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17
Take the exit slight right toward CA 57: Santa Ana
1086 ft · 27 sec
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18
Keep slight right to continue on CA 57 North
2267 ft · 55 sec
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19
Continue straight
3.4 mi · 4 min
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20
Keep slight left to continue on I 210 West: Pasadena
1.1 mi · 2 min
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21
Merge slight left onto Foothill Freeway
18.3 mi · 21 min · Foothill Freeway
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22
Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway
25.6 mi · 30 min · Foothill Freeway
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23
Keep slight right
686 ft · 9 sec
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24
Merge slight right
1.6 km · 1 min
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25
Keep slight left
36.1 mi · 42 min
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26
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
22.3 mi · 25 min · Golden State Freeway
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27
Keep slight right to continue on Westside Freeway
225.6 mi · 4 hr 2 min · Westside Freeway
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28
Keep slight right to continue on Westside Freeway
25.5 mi · 28 min · Westside Freeway
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29
Keep left to continue on Westside Freeway
47.5 mi · 53 min · Westside Freeway
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30
Take the exit slight right toward J Street, Downtown
1300 ft · 34 sec
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31
Turn right onto J Street
822 ft · 25 sec · J Street
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32
Turn left onto 5th Street
814 ft · 19 sec · 5th Street
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33
Turn right onto H Street
1602 ft · 40 sec · H Street
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34
Turn right onto 9th Street
149 m · 15 sec · 9th Street
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35
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · 9th Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Desert Shores 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.
Sunny leaving Desert Shores and Sunny near Sacramento.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Desert Shores to Sacramento?
The road trip is about 537.3 miles (864.7 km) and usually takes 08h 46m 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?
Buttonwillow is a useful midpoint, sitting about 267.4 miles from Desert Shores and 269.9 miles from Sacramento.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 469.9 miles (756.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 67.4 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 $118.71 one way or $237.42 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 168.5 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Desert Shores and Sunny near Sacramento.
Stop Ideas Near Buttonwillow
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 Buttonwillow.
Wasco station
Bakersfield
Corcoran station
Kettleman City, California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Desert Shores and Sacramento. Straight-line distance: 469.85 mi (756.15 km).
#1 Desert Shores
Located below sea level in Imperial County, this census-designated place sits on the northwest shoreline of the Salton Sea within the Colorado Desert.
| Population | 0 |
| Coordinates | 33.4042000, -116.0397200 |
| Altitude | -60 |
| 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: 865 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 17h 54m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 13h 26m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 10h 44m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 08h 57m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 07h 40m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 06h 42m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $6.26 | $118.71 | $237.42 |
| Mid-grade | $6.50 | $123.22 | $246.44 |
| Premium | $6.69 | $126.82 | $253.65 |
| Diesel | $8.41 | $159.51 | $319.02 |
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 · Oct 15, 2026