How far is Portola, CA from Sacramento, CA?

The driving distance from Portola, CA to Sacramento, CA is about 147.9 miles (238 km), with a travel time of about 02h 39m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 101.1 miles (162.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 18m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
147.92 mi
02h 39m
Flight
101.11 mi
162.72 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Portola.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
101.11 mi
Kilometers
162.72 km
Flight Time
00h 12m

Driving Distance

Road route
147.92 mi
Kilometers
238.05 km
Drive Time
02h 39m

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 02h 39m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Sacramento
Sun, Apr 19, 5:57 AM PDT
Return by in Portola
Sun, Apr 19, 8:36 AM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Portola
2026-04-19T03:18
Arrive Sacramento
Sun, Apr 19, 5:57 AM PDT
Route Timing
02h 39m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:39 AM to 12:39 PM PDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
1:12 PM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Portola
9:30 PM PDT
Morning start is best

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
Washington
CA

Town in California

From Portola
73.9 mi
01h 19m
To Sacramento
74 mi
01h 19m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
64°F
Sunday

Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph S
Destination
71°F
Sunday

Chance Light Rain

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Portola and Sacramento.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    21 m · 7 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right onto East Sierra Avenue

    2774 ft · 59 sec · East Sierra Avenue

  3. 3

    Continue on Feather River Highway

    3.8 mi · 5 min · Feather River Highway

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Beckwourth Calpine Road

    8.6 mi · 10 min · Beckwourth Calpine Road

  5. 5

    Continue on Westside Road

    6.8 mi · 8 min · Westside Road

  6. 6

    At the end of the road, turn left

    4 mi · 6 min

  7. 7

    Turn right onto South Lincoln Street

    22.5 mi · 32 min · South Lincoln Street

  8. 8

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route

    42 m · 2 sec

  9. 9

    Exit the roundabout

    1494 ft · 24 sec

  10. 10

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Truckee Way

    9 m · 1 sec · Truckee Way

  11. 11

    Exit the roundabout onto Truckee Way

    797 ft · 15 sec · Truckee Way

  12. 12

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Truckee Way

    31 m · 2 sec · Truckee Way

  13. 13

    Exit the roundabout onto Truckee Way

    617 ft · 12 sec · Truckee Way

  14. 14

    Take the ramp right

    1 km · 1 min

  15. 15

    Merge slight left onto Alan S. Hart Freeway

    84.2 mi · 1 hr 37 min · Alan S. Hart Freeway

  16. 16

    Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    7.1 mi · 8 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  17. 17

    Keep slight right to continue on Capital City Freeway

    4.9 mi · 5 min · Capital City Freeway

  18. 18

    Keep slight right to continue on North Sacramento Freeway

    2.6 mi · 3 min · North Sacramento Freeway

  19. 19

    Continue on North 12th Street

    3108 ft · 56 sec · North 12th Street

  20. 20

    Keep slight left to continue on 12th Street

    3262 ft · 1 min · 12th Street

  21. 21

    Turn right onto I Street

    1200 ft · 31 sec · I Street

  22. 22

    Turn left onto 9th Street

    22 m · 2 sec · 9th Street

  23. 23

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 9th Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
23 steps
12 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
1 merges, 7 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
15.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Alan S. Hart Freeway
84.2 mi · 57%
South Lincoln Street
22.9 mi · 15%
Beckwourth Calpine Road
8.62 mi · 6%
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
7.06 mi · 5%
Westside Road
6.77 mi · 5%
Capital City Freeway
4.92 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

Alan S. Hart Freeway

Merge slight left onto Alan S. Hart Freeway

84.2 mi · 01h 37m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
02h 39m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 18m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+46.8 mi
101.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Washington
01h 19m from Portola
Leave By
1:12 PM PDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers leaving Portola 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 Portola to Sacramento?

The road trip is about 147.9 miles (238 km) and usually takes 02h 39m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Washington is a useful midpoint, sitting about 73.9 miles from Portola and 74 miles from Sacramento.

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

The direct path is about 101.1 miles (162.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 46.8 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 1:12 PM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $30.11 one way or $60.23 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 46.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers around Portola and Chance Light Rain near Sacramento.

Stop Ideas Near Washington

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Washington, 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 Washington.

BUS

Grass Valley, California

27 mi away
125 E. Main Street
RAIL

Colfax

32 mi away
99 Railroad St. at Church St.
BUS

Soda Springs, California

37 mi away
22002 Donner Pass Rd.
RAIL

Truckee station

53 mi away
10065 Donner Pass Road

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Portola and Sacramento. Straight-line distance: 101.11 mi (162.72 km).

Portola

#1 Portola

City in Plumas County, California, United States

Population1,913
Coordinates39.8104600, -120.4691000
Altitude1480
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: East Sierra Avenue (-120.469194, 39.81063)
End: 9th Street (-121.49442, 38.581575)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 238 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 55m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 41m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 57m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 27m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 06m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 50m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.22 gal
19.76 L · about $30.11
Round trip
$60.23
10.44 gal · 39.52 L
Estimated CO2
46.4 kg one way
Round trip: 92.8 kg / 205 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $30.11 $60.23
Mid-grade $6.07 $31.66 $63.33
Premium $6.24 $32.59 $65.18
Diesel $7.57 $39.50 $79.00

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 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Portola and Sacramento. The current time is 03:18:13.

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.