How far is El Centro, CA from Sacramento, CA?
The driving distance from El Centro, CA to Sacramento, CA is about 596.3 miles (959.6 km), with a travel time of about 09h 29m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 520.1 miles (837.1 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 18h 59m 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 09h 29m.
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.
City in Kern County, California, United States
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 El Centro and Sacramento.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between El Centro and Sacramento.
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1
Start on West State Street
2101 ft · 1 min · West State Street
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2
Turn right onto South Imperial Avenue
13.3 mi · 18 min · South Imperial Avenue
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3
Continue on South 1st Street
1999 ft · 33 sec · South 1st Street
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4
Turn left onto West Main Street
37.6 mi · 45 min · West Main Street
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5
Continue straight
32.5 mi · 38 min
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6
Merge slight right onto Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway
32.6 mi · 35 min · Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway
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7
Continue on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
39.9 mi · 44 min · Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
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8
Continue on San Bernardino Freeway
13.9 mi · 16 min · San Bernardino Freeway
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9
Keep slight left to continue on I-10 Metro ExpressLanes
9.3 mi · 10 min · I-10 Metro ExpressLanes
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10
Merge slight right onto San Bernardino Freeway
1.2 mi · 1 min · San Bernardino Freeway
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11
Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway
1.4 km · 1 min · San Bernardino Freeway
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12
Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway
1.3 mi · 2 min · San Bernardino Freeway
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13
Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway
1.9 mi · 2 min · San Bernardino Freeway
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14
Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway
1.3 km · 55 sec · San Bernardino Freeway
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15
Take the exit slight right toward CA 57: Santa Ana
1086 ft · 27 sec
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16
Keep slight right to continue on CA 57 North
2267 ft · 55 sec
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17
Continue straight
3.4 mi · 4 min
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18
Keep slight left to continue on I 210 West: Pasadena
1.1 mi · 2 min
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19
Merge slight left onto Foothill Freeway
18.3 mi · 21 min · Foothill Freeway
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20
Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway
25.6 mi · 30 min · Foothill Freeway
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21
Keep slight right
686 ft · 9 sec
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22
Merge slight right
1.6 km · 1 min
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23
Keep slight left
36.1 mi · 42 min
-
24
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
22.3 mi · 25 min · Golden State Freeway
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25
Keep slight right to continue on Westside Freeway
225.6 mi · 4 hr 2 min · Westside Freeway
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26
Keep slight right to continue on Westside Freeway
25.5 mi · 28 min · Westside Freeway
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27
Keep left to continue on Westside Freeway
47.5 mi · 53 min · Westside Freeway
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28
Take the exit slight right toward J Street, Downtown
1300 ft · 34 sec
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29
Turn right onto J Street
822 ft · 25 sec · J Street
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30
Turn left onto 5th Street
814 ft · 19 sec · 5th Street
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31
Turn right onto H Street
1602 ft · 40 sec · H Street
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32
Turn right onto 9th Street
149 m · 15 sec · 9th Street
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33
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · 9th Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between El Centro 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 El Centro 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 El Centro to Sacramento?
The road trip is about 596.3 miles (959.6 km) and usually takes 09h 29m 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?
Arvin is a useful midpoint, sitting about 297.1 miles from El Centro and 299.1 miles from Sacramento.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 520.1 miles (837.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 76.2 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 $121.38 one way or $242.76 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 187 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around El Centro and Chance Light Rain near Sacramento.
Stop Ideas Near Arvin
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 Arvin.
Bakersfield
Tehachapi, California
Mojave, California
Wasco station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between El Centro and Sacramento. Straight-line distance: 520.13 mi (837.07 km).
#1 El Centro
A city in Imperial County, California.
| Population | 43,601 |
| Coordinates | 32.7920000, -115.5630500 |
| Altitude | -12 |
| 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: 960 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 19h 51m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 14h 54m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 11h 55m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 09h 56m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 08h 31m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 07h 26m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $121.38 | $242.76 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $127.63 | $255.26 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $131.35 | $262.71 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $159.21 | $318.42 |
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
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.