How far is Sacramento, CA from National City, CA?
The driving distance from Sacramento, CA to National City, CA is about 508.6 miles (818.5 km), with a travel time of about 09h 31m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 476.6 miles (767 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 19h 03m 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 09h 31m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
Place in Kern County California
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Chance Light Rain
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Sacramento and National City.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sacramento and National City.
-
1
Start on 9th Street
2904 ft · 2 min · 9th Street
-
2
Turn right onto P Street
2746 ft · 1 min · P Street
-
3
Take the ramp straight toward US 50, I 5 South: South Lake Tahoe, San Francisco, Los Angeles
1146 ft · 17 sec
-
4
Keep slight right to continue on I 5 South: Los Angeles
2877 ft · 38 sec
-
5
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
59.4 mi · 1 hr 6 min · Westside Freeway
-
6
Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway
1.2 km · 49 sec · Westside Freeway
-
7
Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway
236.6 mi · 4 hr 14 min · Westside Freeway
-
8
Keep slight right
58.4 mi · 1 hr 7 min
-
9
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
4.1 mi · 5 min · Golden State Freeway
-
10
Keep slight right to continue on I 405 South
1354 ft · 18 sec
-
11
Keep slight left
24.7 mi · 29 min
-
12
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
1.3 mi · 2 min · Golden State Freeway
-
13
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
25.7 mi · 30 min · Santa Ana Freeway
-
14
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1241 ft · 16 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
-
15
Take the exit slight right toward Broadway, Main Street, Santa Ana
1.3 km · 57 sec
-
16
Keep slight left
788 ft · 10 sec
-
17
Keep slight left to continue on I 5 South
981 ft · 13 sec
-
18
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
1.3 km · 54 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
-
19
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1.2 km · 52 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
-
20
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1.2 mi · 1 min · Santa Ana Freeway
-
21
Take the exit slight right toward Newport Avenue
1.2 km · 1 min
-
22
Turn right onto Newport Avenue
1943 ft · 44 sec · Newport Avenue
-
23
Turn left onto Walnut Avenue
2.2 mi · 4 min · Walnut Avenue
-
24
Turn left onto Jamboree Road
2595 ft · 38 sec · Jamboree Road
-
25
Take the exit slight right toward I 5 South
1479 ft · 21 sec
-
26
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
5.5 mi · 6 min · Santa Ana Freeway
-
27
Keep slight left to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1.3 km · 56 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
-
28
Merge slight right onto San Diego Freeway
62.4 mi · 1 hr 13 min · San Diego Freeway
-
29
Take the exit slight left
1.3 km · 55 sec
-
30
Continue on Jacob Dekema Freeway
16.4 mi · 19 min · Jacob Dekema Freeway
-
31
Take the exit slight right toward Palm Avenue, 47th Street
1652 ft · 40 sec
-
32
Keep slight right
50 m · 4 sec
-
33
Turn right onto South 47th Street
46 m · 3 sec · South 47th Street
-
34
Continue on North Palm Avenue
911 ft · 24 sec · North Palm Avenue
-
35
Turn right onto Division Street
2387 ft · 55 sec · Division Street
-
36
Turn left onto Highland Avenue
2659 ft · 51 sec · Highland Avenue
-
37
Turn right onto East 8th Street
42 m · 7 sec · East 8th Street
-
38
Turn right
12 m · 3 sec
-
39
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Sacramento and National City.
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 Mostly Sunny near National City.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Sacramento to National City?
The road trip is about 508.6 miles (818.5 km) and usually takes 09h 31m 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?
Buttonwillow is a useful midpoint, sitting about 254.5 miles from Sacramento and 254.1 miles from National City.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 476.6 miles (767 km), while the road route adds roughly 32 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 $103.55 one way or $207.11 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 159.5 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Chance Light Rain around Sacramento and Mostly Sunny near National City.
Stop Ideas Near Buttonwillow
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 Buttonwillow.
Wasco station
Bakersfield
Corcoran station
Kettleman City, California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Sacramento and National City. Straight-line distance: 476.6 mi (767.02 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 National City
The most populous city in San Diego County, California.
| Population | 61,394 |
| Coordinates | 32.6781100, -117.0992000 |
| Altitude | 21 |
| Country | United States |
End: National City (-117.0992, 32.67811)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 818 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 16h 56m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 12h 42m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 10h 10m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 08h 28m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 07h 15m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 06h 20m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $103.55 | $207.11 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $108.88 | $217.77 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $112.06 | $224.12 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $135.83 | $271.66 |
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.