How far is Sacramento, CA from Chowchilla, CA?

The driving distance from Sacramento, CA to Chowchilla, CA is about 131.4 miles (211.4 km), with a travel time of about 02h 33m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 121.2 miles (195.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 07m 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
131.38 mi
02h 33m
Flight
121.2 mi
195.05 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Sacramento.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
121.2 mi
Kilometers
195.05 km
Flight Time
00h 14m

Driving Distance

Road route
131.38 mi
Kilometers
211.43 km
Drive Time
02h 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 02h 33m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Chowchilla
Sun, May 31, 12:14 PM PDT
Return by in Sacramento
Sun, May 31, 2:48 PM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Sacramento
2026-05-31T09:40
Arrive Chowchilla
Sun, May 31, 12:14 PM PDT
Route Timing
02h 33m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:34 AM to 12:34 PM PDT

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

Leave by
1:22 PM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Sacramento
9:30 PM PDT
Morning start is best

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Ripon
CA

City in California

From Sacramento
65.7 mi
01h 16m
To Chowchilla
65.7 mi
01h 16m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
90°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
1 to 6 mph NW
Destination
88°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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 Capital City Freeway

    1383 ft · 18 sec · Capital City Freeway

  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

    71.4 mi · 1 hr 22 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward CA 233: Avenue 26

    924 ft · 23 sec

  12. 12

    Turn right onto East Robertson Boulevard

    2025 ft · 38 sec · East Robertson Boulevard

  13. 13

    Turn right onto North 2nd Street

    19 m · 3 sec · North 2nd Street

  14. 14

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North 2nd Street

Car Route Details

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

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
14 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
South Sacramento Freeway
128 mi · 97%
15th Street
1.12 mi · 1%
Capital City Freeway
0.61 mi
J Street
0.47 mi
CA 99 South
0.43 mi
East Robertson Boulevard
0.38 mi
Longest Stretch

South Sacramento Freeway

Keep slight left

71.4 mi · 01h 22m

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 33m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 08m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+10.2 mi
121.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Ripon
01h 16m from Sacramento
Leave By
1:22 PM PDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Sacramento and Sunny near Chowchilla.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Sacramento to Chowchilla?

The road trip is about 131.4 miles (211.4 km) and usually takes 02h 33m 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?

Ripon is a useful midpoint, sitting about 65.7 miles from Sacramento and 65.7 miles from Chowchilla.

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

The direct path is about 121.2 miles (195.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 10.2 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 1:22 PM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $26.77 one way or $53.54 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 41.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Sacramento and Sunny near Chowchilla.

Stop Ideas Near Ripon

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

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

RAIL

Manteca, CA

14 mi away
17800 Shideler Parkway
RAIL

Modesto station

20 mi away
1700 Held Drive
RAIL

Stockton – San Joaquin Street

27 mi away
735 S. San Joaquin St
RAIL

Robert J. Cabral Station

27 mi away
949 East Channel St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Sacramento and Chowchilla. Straight-line distance: 121.2 mi (195.05 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
Chowchilla

#2 Chowchilla

City in Madera County, California, United States

Population18,153
Coordinates37.1230000, -120.2601800
Altitude73
CountryUnited States
Start: Sacramento (-121.4944, 38.58157)
End: Chowchilla (-120.26018, 37.123)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 211 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 22m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 17m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 37m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 11m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 52m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 38m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
4.64 gal
17.55 L · about $26.77
Round trip
$53.54
9.28 gal · 35.1 L
Estimated CO2
41.2 kg one way
Round trip: 82.5 kg / 182 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $26.77 $53.54
Mid-grade $6.07 $28.15 $56.29
Premium $6.24 $28.97 $57.94
Diesel $7.57 $35.11 $70.22

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 31, 2026

There is no time difference between Sacramento and Chowchilla. The current time is 09:40:53.

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.