How far is Sacramento, CA from Palo Cedro, CA?

The driving distance from Sacramento, CA to Palo Cedro, CA is about 158.9 miles (255.7 km), with a travel time of about 02h 59m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 142.6 miles (229.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 59m 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
158.87 mi
02h 59m
Flight
142.58 mi
229.46 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
142.58 mi
Kilometers
229.46 km
Flight Time
00h 17m

Driving Distance

Road route
158.87 mi
Kilometers
255.67 km
Drive Time
02h 59m

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 59m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Palo Cedro
Thu, Apr 23, 2:17 AM PDT
Return by in Sacramento
Thu, Apr 23, 5:17 AM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Sacramento
2026-04-22T23:17
Arrive Palo Cedro
Thu, Apr 23, 2:17 AM PDT
Route Timing
02h 59m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
11:00 AM to 1:00 PM PDT

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

Leave by
12:30 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

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
Willows
CA

City in California, USA

From Sacramento
79.5 mi
01h 29m
To Palo Cedro
79.3 mi
01h 29m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
66°F
Wednesday

Chance Light Rain

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
7 mph SSW
Destination
63°F
Wednesday

Chance Light Rain

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
3 to 8 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Sacramento and Palo Cedro.

  1. 1

    Start on 9th Street

    106 m · 17 sec · 9th Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto J Street

    124 m · 14 sec · J Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto 10th Street

    128 m · 19 sec · 10th Street

  4. 4

    Turn left onto I Street

    2081 ft · 45 sec · I Street

  5. 5

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 5 North, CA 99 North: Redding, Yuba City

    2290 ft · 56 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway

    5.6 mi · 7 min · Westside Freeway

  7. 7

    Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway

    120.9 mi · 2 hr 10 min · Westside Freeway

  8. 8

    Continue on Cascade Wonderland Highway

    20.8 mi · 22 min · Cascade Wonderland Highway

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward Factory Outlet Drive, Deschutes Road

    911 ft · 22 sec

  10. 10

    Keep slight left

    65 m · 6 sec

  11. 11

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Deschutes Road

    33 m · 5 sec · Deschutes Road

  12. 12

    Exit the roundabout onto Deschutes Road

    10.2 mi · 18 min · Deschutes Road

  13. 13

    Turn left onto Old 44 Drive

    19 m · 2 sec · Old 44 Drive

  14. 14

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Old 44 Drive

Car Route Details

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

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
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
1 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Westside Freeway
127 mi · 80%
Cascade Wonderland Highway
20.8 mi · 13%
Deschutes Road
10.2 mi · 6%
I 5 North
0.43 mi
I Street
0.39 mi
Factory Outlet Drive
0.21 mi
Longest Stretch

Westside Freeway

Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway

121 mi · 02h 10m

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 59m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
06h 00m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+16.3 mi
142.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Willows
01h 29m from Sacramento
Leave By
12:30 PM PDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Chance Light Rain leaving Sacramento and Chance Light Rain near Palo Cedro.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Sacramento to Palo Cedro?

The road trip is about 158.9 miles (255.7 km) and usually takes 02h 59m 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?

Willows is a useful midpoint, sitting about 79.5 miles from Sacramento and 79.3 miles from Palo Cedro.

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

The direct path is about 142.6 miles (229.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 16.3 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 12:30 PM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $32.36 one way or $64.73 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 49.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Light Rain around Sacramento and Chance Light Rain near Palo Cedro.

Stop Ideas Near Willows

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

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

RAIL

Chico station

37 mi away
West 5th and Orange Streets
BUS

Corning, California

45 mi away
1081 Solano Street
BUS

Oroville, California

53 mi away
Hwy 70 and Grand Ave.
BUS

Marysville, California

67 mi away
I Street between 8th and 9th

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Sacramento and Palo Cedro. Straight-line distance: 142.58 mi (229.46 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
Palo Cedro

#2 Palo Cedro

Census-designated place in Shasta County, California

Population1,269
Coordinates40.5637600, -122.2388900
Altitude143
CountryUnited States
Start: Sacramento (-121.4944, 38.58157)
End: Palo Cedro (-122.23889, 40.56376)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 256 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 17m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 58m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 10m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 38m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 16m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 58m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.61 gal
21.22 L · about $32.36
Round trip
$64.73
11.22 gal · 42.44 L
Estimated CO2
49.9 kg one way
Round trip: 99.7 kg / 220 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $32.36 $64.73
Mid-grade $6.07 $34.03 $68.06
Premium $6.24 $35.02 $70.05
Diesel $7.57 $42.45 $84.90

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

There is no time difference between Sacramento and Palo Cedro. The current time is 23:17:42.

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.