How far is Sacramento, CA from La Quinta, CA?
The driving distance from Sacramento, CA to La Quinta, CA is about 378.8 miles (609.7 km), with a travel time of about 07h 38m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 333.9 miles (537.4 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 15h 17m 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 07h 38m.
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.
Small city in Fresno County, California
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Chance Light Rain
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Sacramento and La Quinta.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sacramento and La Quinta.
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1
Start on 9th Street
2904 ft · 2 min · 9th Street
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2
Turn right onto P Street
2746 ft · 1 min · P Street
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3
Take the ramp straight toward US 50, I 5 South: South Lake Tahoe, San Francisco, Los Angeles
1146 ft · 17 sec
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4
Keep slight right to continue on I 5 South: Los Angeles
2877 ft · 38 sec
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5
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
59.4 mi · 1 hr 6 min · Westside Freeway
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6
Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway
1.2 km · 49 sec · Westside Freeway
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7
Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway
236.6 mi · 4 hr 14 min · Westside Freeway
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8
Keep slight right
58.4 mi · 1 hr 7 min
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9
Keep slight right to continue on CA 14: Truck Route I 5
3199 ft · 39 sec
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10
Take the exit slight right toward Sierra Highway
1631 ft · 40 sec
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11
Turn right onto Sierra Highway
109 m · 11 sec · Sierra Highway
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12
At the end of the road, turn left onto San Fernando Road
1.1 mi · 2 min · San Fernando Road
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13
Turn right onto Balboa Road
944 ft · 35 sec · Balboa Road
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14
Turn straight onto Balboa Boulevard
2.8 mi · 5 min · Balboa Boulevard
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15
Take the ramp right toward CA 118 West
1880 ft · 48 sec
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16
Merge slight left onto Ronald Reagan Freeway
1.8 mi · 2 min · Ronald Reagan Freeway
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17
Keep slight right to continue on Ronald Reagan Freeway
1.2 mi · 1 min · Ronald Reagan Freeway
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18
Keep slight right to continue on Ronald Reagan Freeway
1.9 mi · 2 min · Ronald Reagan Freeway
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19
Keep slight right to continue on Ronald Reagan Freeway
5.3 mi · 6 min · Ronald Reagan Freeway
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20
Take the exit slight right toward Yosemite Avenue
1649 ft · 44 sec
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21
Turn right onto Yosemite Avenue
1.2 mi · 3 min · Yosemite Avenue
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22
Turn right onto Evening Sky Drive
2689 ft · 2 min · Evening Sky Drive
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23
Turn left onto Las Llajas Canyon Trail
128 m · 32 sec · Las Llajas Canyon Trail
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24
Continue on Las Llajas Canyon Trail
4.2 mi · 41 min · Las Llajas Canyon Trail
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25
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Las Llajas Canyon Trail
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Sacramento and La Quinta.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Westside Freeway
Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway
237 mi · 04h 14m
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.
Chance Light Rain leaving Sacramento and Sunny near La Quinta.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Sacramento to La Quinta?
The road trip is about 378.8 miles (609.7 km) and usually takes 07h 38m 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?
Huron is a useful midpoint, sitting about 189.5 miles from Sacramento and 189.3 miles from La Quinta.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 333.9 miles (537.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 44.9 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 $77.13 one way or $154.26 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 118.8 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Chance Light Rain around Sacramento and Sunny near La Quinta.
Stop Ideas Near Huron
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 Huron.
Lemoore (Naval Air Station), California
Kettleman City, California
Lemoore, California
Hanford station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Sacramento and La Quinta. Straight-line distance: 333.92 mi (537.39 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 La Quinta
Town in Riverside County, California, United States
| Population | 42,271 |
| Coordinates | 34.3277800, -118.6406400 |
| Altitude | 594 |
| Country | United States |
End: La Quinta (-118.64064, 34.32778)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 610 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 12h 37m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 09h 28m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 07h 34m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 06h 18m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 05h 24m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 43m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $77.13 | $154.26 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $81.10 | $162.20 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $83.47 | $166.94 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $101.17 | $202.34 |
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
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.