How far is Mammoth Lakes, CA from Sacramento, CA?

The driving distance from Mammoth Lakes, CA to Sacramento, CA is about 245.2 miles (394.6 km), with a travel time of about 04h 32m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 151.5 miles (243.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 04m 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
245.21 mi
04h 32m
Flight
151.51 mi
243.83 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Mammoth Lakes.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
151.51 mi
Kilometers
243.83 km
Flight Time
00h 18m

Driving Distance

Road route
245.21 mi
Kilometers
394.63 km
Drive Time
04h 32m

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 04h 32m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Sacramento
Fri, May 22, 3:46 PM PDT
Return by in Mammoth Lakes
Fri, May 22, 8:19 PM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Mammoth Lakes
2026-05-22T11:14
Arrive Sacramento
Fri, May 22, 3:46 PM PDT
Route Timing
04h 32m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:32 AM to 12:32 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
7:56 AM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Mammoth Lakes
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 Mammoth Lakes
118 mi
02h 16m
To Sacramento
127.2 mi
02h 16m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
68°F
Friday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Fri, May 22 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph SW
Destination
93°F
Friday

Sunny

Starts
Fri, May 22 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
3 to 12 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Mammoth Lakes and Sacramento.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Mammoth Lakes and Sacramento.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    90 m · 27 sec

  2. 2

    Turn left

    70 m · 22 sec

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Main Street

    3.3 mi · 6 min · Main Street

  4. 4

    Take the ramp sharp left

    1531 ft · 20 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left

    50.5 mi · 1 hr 1 min

  6. 6

    Turn right onto Sinclair Street

    549 ft · 13 sec · Sinclair Street

  7. 7

    Turn left onto Emigrant Street

    2635 ft · 41 sec · Emigrant Street

  8. 8

    Continue on Route 395

    39.8 mi · 51 min · Route 395

  9. 9

    Turn left

    17.6 mi · 25 min

  10. 10

    At the end of the road, turn right

    11.2 mi · 16 min

  11. 11

    Turn left

    5.8 mi · 8 min

  12. 12

    Turn right onto Luther Pass Road

    11.1 mi · 15 min · Luther Pass Road

  13. 13

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route

    66 m · 9 sec

  14. 14

    Exit the roundabout

    93.8 mi · 1 hr 58 min

  15. 15

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

    1252 ft · 33 sec

  16. 16

    Turn right onto 16th Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · 16th Street

  17. 17

    Turn left onto I Street

    2891 ft · 1 min · I Street

  18. 18

    Turn left onto 9th Street

    22 m · 2 sec · 9th Street

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 9th Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Mammoth Lakes and Sacramento.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
19 steps
13 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
1 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Luther Pass Road
105 mi · 43%
Main Street
54.1 mi · 22%
Route 395
39.8 mi · 16%
16th Street
1.12 mi
I Street
0.55 mi
Emigrant Street
0.5 mi
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
04h 32m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 04m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+93.7 mi
151.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
South Lake Tahoe
02h 16m from Mammoth Lakes
Leave By
7:56 AM PDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Mammoth Lakes and Sunny near Sacramento.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Mammoth Lakes to Sacramento?

The road trip is about 245.2 miles (394.6 km) and usually takes 04h 32m 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 118 miles from Mammoth Lakes and 127.2 miles from Sacramento.

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

The direct path is about 151.5 miles (243.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 93.7 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 7:56 AM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $49.90 one way or $99.80 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 76.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Mammoth Lakes 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 Mammoth Lakes and Sacramento. Straight-line distance: 151.51 mi (243.83 km).

Mammoth Lakes

#1 Mammoth Lakes

Town in Mono County, California, United States

Population8,317
Coordinates37.6485500, -118.9720800
Altitude2402
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: (-118.972028, 37.648712)
End: 9th Street (-121.49442, 38.581575)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 395 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 10m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 07m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 54m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 05m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 30m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 03m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.65 gal
32.75 L · about $49.90
Round trip
$99.80
17.3 gal · 65.5 L
Estimated CO2
76.9 kg one way
Round trip: 153.7 kg / 339 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $49.90 $99.80
Mid-grade $6.07 $52.47 $104.94
Premium $6.24 $54.00 $108.00
Diesel $7.57 $65.45 $130.91

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 · May 22, 2026

There is no time difference between Mammoth Lakes and Sacramento. The current time is 11:14:35.

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.