How far is Sacramento, CA from Palm Desert, CA?
The driving distance from Sacramento, CA to Palm Desert, CA is about 504 miles (811.1 km), with a travel time of about 09h 20m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 440.6 miles (709 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 18h 41m 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 20m.
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.
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 Palm Desert.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sacramento and Palm Desert.
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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 left to continue on Golden State Freeway
2 mi · 2 min · Golden State Freeway
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10
Take the exit slight right toward I 210 East: Pasadena
1347 ft · 18 sec
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11
Continue on Foothill Freeway
24.4 mi · 28 min · Foothill Freeway
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12
Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway
19.1 mi · 22 min · Foothill Freeway
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13
Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway
2476 ft · 33 sec · Foothill Freeway
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14
Take the exit slight right toward CA 57 South: Santa Ana
1.4 km · 2 min
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15
Continue on Orange Freeway
3.4 mi · 4 min · Orange Freeway
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16
Take the exit slight right toward I 10 East, I 10 West: San Bernardino, Los Angeles
928 ft · 23 sec
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17
Keep slight left to continue on I 10 East: San Bernardino Freeway, San Bernardino
1.1 km · 1 min
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18
Merge slight left onto San Bernardino Freeway
1.9 mi · 2 min · San Bernardino Freeway
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19
Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway
4 mi · 5 min · San Bernardino Freeway
-
20
Keep slight left to continue on I-10 Metro ExpressLanes
9 mi · 10 min · I-10 Metro ExpressLanes
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21
Merge slight right onto San Bernardino Freeway
14.3 mi · 16 min · San Bernardino Freeway
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22
Continue on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
40.3 mi · 44 min · Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
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23
Keep slight left to continue on Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway
19.2 mi · 21 min · Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway
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24
Take the exit slight right toward I 10 West: Monterey Avenue
1354 ft · 19 sec
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25
Turn right onto Monterey Avenue
5.9 mi · 9 min · Monterey Avenue
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26
Turn left onto East Palm Canyon Drive
1.3 km · 2 min · East Palm Canyon Drive
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27
Turn left onto San Luis Rey Avenue
150 m · 24 sec · San Luis Rey Avenue
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28
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · San Luis Rey Avenue
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Sacramento and Palm Desert.
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 Palm Desert.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Sacramento to Palm Desert?
The road trip is about 504 miles (811.1 km) and usually takes 09h 20m 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 252 miles from Sacramento and 252 miles from Palm Desert.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 440.6 miles (709 km), while the road route adds roughly 63.4 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 $102.57 one way or $205.15 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 158 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Chance Light Rain around Sacramento and Mostly Sunny near Palm Desert.
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 Palm Desert. Straight-line distance: 440.54 mi (708.98 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 Palm Desert
A city in Riverside County, California.
| Population | 53,524 |
| Coordinates | 33.7225500, -116.3769700 |
| Altitude | 67 |
| Country | United States |
End: Palm Desert (-116.37697, 33.72255)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 811 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 16h 47m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 12h 36m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 10h 04m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 08h 23m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 07h 12m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 06h 17m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $102.57 | $205.15 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $107.85 | $215.71 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $111.00 | $222.00 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $134.54 | $269.08 |
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.