How far is Sacramento, CA from Big Pine, CA?
The driving distance from Sacramento, CA to Big Pine, CA is about 287 miles (461.9 km), with a travel time of about 06h 06m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 200.3 miles (322.4 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 12m 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 06m.
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 California
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Sacramento and Big Pine.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sacramento and Big Pine.
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1
Start on 9th Street
106 m · 17 sec · 9th Street
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2
Turn left onto J Street
2493 ft · 56 sec · J Street
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3
Turn right onto 15th Street
1.1 mi · 2 min · 15th Street
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4
Turn left onto X Street
122 m · 9 sec · X Street
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5
Take the ramp slight left toward I 80 East, CA 99 South: Reno, Placerville, Fresno
1287 ft · 31 sec
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6
Merge slight left onto Capital City Freeway
1856 ft · 23 sec · Capital City Freeway
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7
Keep slight left to continue on El Dorado Freeway
60.4 mi · 1 hr 12 min · El Dorado Freeway
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8
Continue straight
32.7 mi · 45 min
-
9
Continue straight
1795 ft · 34 sec
-
10
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward the route
10 m · 2 sec
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11
Exit the roundabout
17 mi · 23 min
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12
Turn right
11.2 mi · 16 min
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13
Turn left
17.6 mi · 25 min
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14
Turn right onto Route 395
39.8 mi · 51 min · Route 395
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15
Turn left onto Emigrant Street
2635 ft · 42 sec · Emigrant Street
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16
At the end of the road, turn right onto Sinclair Street
549 ft · 14 sec · Sinclair Street
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17
Turn left onto Main Street
43.8 mi · 53 min · Main Street
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18
Continue straight
43.6 mi · 51 min
-
19
Turn right onto North Barlow Lane
1 mi · 2 min · North Barlow Lane
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20
Turn left onto West Line Street
1.5 mi · 3 min · West Line Street
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21
Turn right onto South Main Street
2.4 mi · 4 min · South Main Street
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22
Continue on El Camino Sierra
5 mi · 6 min · El Camino Sierra
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23
Continue on Grand Army of the Republic Highway
7.4 mi · 9 min · Grand Army of the Republic Highway
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24
Continue on North Main Street
1317 ft · 32 sec · North Main Street
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25
Continue on Grand Army of the Republic Highway
141 m · 11 sec · Grand Army of the Republic Highway
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26
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Sacramento and Big Pine.
Straightforward drive
The saved road route has a manageable number of maneuvers and should be easy to follow with normal attention to signs.
El Dorado Freeway
Keep slight left to continue on El Dorado Freeway
60.4 mi · 01h 12m
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 Sacramento and Sunny near Big Pine.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Sacramento to Big Pine?
The road trip is about 287 miles (461.9 km) and usually takes 06h 06m 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?
South Lake Tahoe is a useful midpoint, sitting about 143.4 miles from Sacramento and 143.6 miles from Big Pine.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 200.3 miles (322.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 86.7 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 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 $58.44 one way or $116.88 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 90 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Sacramento and Sunny near Big Pine.
Stop Ideas Near South Lake Tahoe
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 South Lake Tahoe.
South Lake Tahoe, California
Stateline Transit Center, California
Stateline, NV
Truckee station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Sacramento and Big Pine. Straight-line distance: 200.31 mi (322.37 km).
#1 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 |
#2 Big Pine
Census-designated place in Inyo County, California
| Population | 1,756 |
| Coordinates | 37.1649300, -118.2895500 |
| Altitude | 1216 |
| Country | United States |
End: Big Pine (-118.28955, 37.16493)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 462 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 09h 33m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 07h 10m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 05h 44m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 04h 47m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 06m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 34m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $58.44 | $116.88 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $61.45 | $122.90 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $63.24 | $126.48 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $76.65 | $153.31 |
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.