How far is Sacramento, CA from California City, CA?

The driving distance from Sacramento, CA to California City, CA is about 345.4 miles (555.9 km), with a travel time of about 06h 33m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 307.6 miles (495 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 13h 07m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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
345.44 mi
06h 33m
Flight
307.57 mi
494.99 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Sacramento.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
307.57 mi
Kilometers
494.99 km
Flight Time
00h 37m

Driving Distance

Road route
345.44 mi
Kilometers
555.93 km
Drive Time
06h 33m

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 33m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in California City
Sun, Apr 19, 10:27 AM PDT
Return by in Sacramento
Sun, Apr 19, 5:01 PM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Sacramento
2026-04-19T03:53
Arrive California City
Sun, Apr 19, 10:27 AM PDT
Route Timing
06h 33m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM PDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
12:34 PM to 2:04 PM PDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
10:52 PM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Sacramento
8:00 PM PDT
Overnight-style route

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
Malaga
CA

Census-designated place in California, United States

From Sacramento
172.7 mi
03h 16m
To California City
172.7 mi
03h 16m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
71°F
Sunday

Chance Light Rain

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SSW
Destination
81°F
Sunday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Sacramento and California City.

  1. 1

    Start on 9th Street

    106 m · 17 sec · 9th Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto J Street

    2493 ft · 56 sec · J Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto 15th Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · 15th Street

  4. 4

    Turn left onto X Street

    122 m · 9 sec · X Street

  5. 5

    Take the ramp slight left toward I 80 East, CA 99 South: Reno, Placerville, Fresno

    1287 ft · 31 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Capital City Freeway

    1856 ft · 23 sec · Capital City Freeway

  7. 7

    Keep slight right to continue on I 80 Business East, CA 99 South: Reno, Fresno

    1383 ft · 18 sec

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward CA 99 South: Fresno

    2281 ft · 34 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto South Sacramento Freeway

    56.4 mi · 1 hr 5 min · South Sacramento Freeway

  10. 10

    Keep slight left

    109.3 mi · 2 hr 5 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight left

    41 mi · 44 min

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Highway

    58.6 mi · 1 hr 3 min · Golden State Highway

  13. 13

    Continue on Golden State Freeway

    5.2 mi · 6 min · Golden State Freeway

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway

    3.3 mi · 4 min · Golden State Freeway

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward CA 58 East: Stockdale, Mojave, Tehachapi

    671 ft · 9 sec

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on CA 58 East: Mojave, Tehachapi

    3110 ft · 41 sec

  17. 17

    Continue on Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway

    1711 ft · 22 sec · Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway

  18. 18

    Keep slight left to continue on Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway

    55 mi · 1 hr 3 min · Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway

  19. 19

    Continue on Barstow–Bakersfield Highway

    2.2 mi · 3 min · Barstow–Bakersfield Highway

  20. 20

    Take the exit slight right toward CA 14: Bishop, Mojave

    2375 ft · 54 sec

  21. 21

    Merge slight right onto Aerospace Highway

    1.9 mi · 2 min · Aerospace Highway

  22. 22

    Take the exit slight right toward California City Boulevard

    1757 ft · 23 sec

  23. 23

    Keep slight right

    125 m · 6 sec

  24. 24

    Turn straight onto California City Boulevard

    7.7 mi · 11 min · California City Boulevard

  25. 25

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · California City Boulevard

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
25 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
3 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
South Sacramento Freeway
207 mi · 60%
Golden State Highway
58.6 mi · 17%
Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway
55.3 mi · 16%
Golden State Freeway
8.47 mi · 2%
California City Boulevard
8.11 mi · 2%
Barstow–Bakersfield Highway
2.2 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

South Sacramento Freeway

Keep slight left

109 mi · 02h 05m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
06h 33m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
13h 08m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+37.8 mi
307.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Malaga
03h 16m from Sacramento
Leave By
10:52 PM PDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Chance Light Rain leaving Sacramento and Mostly Sunny near California City.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Sacramento to California City?

The road trip is about 345.4 miles (555.9 km) and usually takes 06h 33m 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?

Malaga is a useful midpoint, sitting about 172.7 miles from Sacramento and 172.7 miles from California City.

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

The direct path is about 307.6 miles (495 km), while the road route adds roughly 37.8 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 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 $70.32 one way or $140.65 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 108.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Light Rain around Sacramento and Mostly Sunny near California City.

Stop Ideas Near Malaga

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

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

RAIL

Fresno station

7 mi away
2650 Tulare St.
BUS

Lemoore (Naval Air Station), California

37 mi away
25th Ave and Highway 198
RAIL

Hanford station

40 mi away
200 Santa Fe Avenue #A
RAIL

Madera

41 mi away
Avenue 15 1/2 at 29th Road

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Sacramento and California City. Straight-line distance: 307.57 mi (494.99 km).

Sacramento

#1 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
California City

#2 California City

City in Kern County, California

Population14,198
Coordinates35.1258000, -117.9859000
Altitude733
CountryUnited States
Start: Sacramento (-121.4944, 38.58157)
End: California City (-117.9859, 35.1258)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 556 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)11h 30m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 38m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 54m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 45m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 56m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 18m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
12.19 gal
46.14 L · about $70.32
Round trip
$140.65
24.38 gal · 92.28 L
Estimated CO2
108.3 kg one way
Round trip: 216.7 kg / 478 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $70.32 $140.65
Mid-grade $6.07 $73.94 $147.89
Premium $6.24 $76.10 $152.20
Diesel $7.57 $92.24 $184.48

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 Sacramento and California City. The current time is 03:53:22.

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.