How far is Sacramento, CA from Petaluma, CA?

The driving distance from Sacramento, CA to Petaluma, CA is about 78.9 miles (127 km), with a travel time of about 01h 42m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 66.4 miles (106.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 24m 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
78.91 mi
01h 42m
Flight
66.38 mi
106.83 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
66.38 mi
Kilometers
106.83 km
Flight Time
00h 08m

Driving Distance

Road route
78.91 mi
Kilometers
126.99 km
Drive Time
01h 42m

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 01h 42m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Petaluma
Tue, May 5, 1:58 PM PDT
Return by in Sacramento
Tue, May 5, 3:40 PM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Sacramento
2026-05-05T12:15
Arrive Petaluma
Tue, May 5, 1:58 PM PDT
Route Timing
01h 42m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:42 AM to 11:42 AM PDT

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

Leave by
3:06 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
Fairfield
CA

Town in Connecticut, United States of America

From Sacramento
39.4 mi
00h 51m
To Petaluma
39.5 mi
00h 51m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
71°F
Tuesday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 5 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
5 mph SSW
Destination
56°F
Tuesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 5 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
8 to 13 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on 9th Street

    2904 ft · 2 min · 9th Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto P Street

    2746 ft · 1 min · P Street

  3. 3

    Take the ramp straight toward US 50, I 5 South: South Lake Tahoe, San Francisco, Los Angeles

    1146 ft · 17 sec

  4. 4

    Keep slight left to continue on US 50: South Lake Tahoe, San Francisco

    912 ft · 12 sec

  5. 5

    Keep slight right to continue on US 50 West: San Francisco

    2188 ft · 40 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Capital City Freeway

    3.2 mi · 4 min · Capital City Freeway

  7. 7

    Continue on Yolo Causeway

    3.9 mi · 4 min · Yolo Causeway

  8. 8

    Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    37.9 mi · 44 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right

    6.7 mi · 8 min

  10. 10

    Continue on Airport Boulevard

    59 m · 7 sec · Airport Boulevard

  11. 11

    Turn right onto Napa–Vallejo Highway

    1.3 mi · 1 min · Napa–Vallejo Highway

  12. 12

    Continue on Saint Helena Highway

    2.6 mi · 3 min · Saint Helena Highway

  13. 13

    Turn left onto Carneros Highway

    4.4 mi · 6 min · Carneros Highway

  14. 14

    Continue on Fremont Drive

    4.9 mi · 7 min · Fremont Drive

  15. 15

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Arnold Drive

    6 m · 1 sec · Arnold Drive

  16. 16

    Exit the roundabout onto Arnold Drive

    1.6 mi · 2 min · Arnold Drive

  17. 17

    Continue on Stage Gulch Road

    3.3 mi · 5 min · Stage Gulch Road

  18. 18

    Turn straight onto Adobe Road

    3.2 mi · 4 min · Adobe Road

  19. 19

    Turn straight onto Frates Road

    1.4 mi · 3 min · Frates Road

  20. 20

    Turn right onto Lakeville Highway

    1.5 mi · 2 min · Lakeville Highway

  21. 21

    Continue on Lakeville Street

    1.3 km · 2 min · Lakeville Street

  22. 22

    Turn left onto East D Street

    1839 ft · 1 min · East D Street

  23. 23

    Turn left onto Petaluma Boulevard South

    23 m · 2 sec · Petaluma Boulevard South

  24. 24

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Petaluma Boulevard South

Car Route Details

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

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
24 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
1 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
30.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
44.5 mi · 56%
Fremont Drive
4.93 mi · 6%
Carneros Highway
4.37 mi · 6%
Yolo Causeway
3.88 mi · 5%
Stage Gulch Road
3.27 mi · 4%
Adobe Road
3.22 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

37.9 mi · 00h 44m

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
01h 42m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 24m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+12.5 mi
66.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Fairfield
00h 51m from Sacramento
Leave By
3:06 PM PDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving Sacramento and Mostly Sunny near Petaluma.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 78.9 miles (127 km) and usually takes 01h 42m 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?

Fairfield is a useful midpoint, sitting about 39.4 miles from Sacramento and 39.5 miles from Petaluma.

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

The direct path is about 66.4 miles (106.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 12.5 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 3:06 PM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $16.04 one way or $32.08 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 24.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Sacramento and Mostly Sunny near Petaluma.

Stop Ideas Near Fairfield

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

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

RAIL

Suisun–Fairfield station

1 mi away
177 Main Street
BUS

Marine World (Seasonal), Vallejo, California

21 mi away
Highway 37 and Fairgrounds Drive
BUS

Vallejo, California

23 mi away
4355 Sonoma Blvd.
RAIL

Martinez station

27 mi away
601 Marina Vista Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Sacramento and Petaluma. Straight-line distance: 66.38 mi (106.83 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
Petaluma

#2 Petaluma

The most populous city in Sonoma County, California.

Population60,632
Coordinates38.2324200, -122.6366500
Altitude9
CountryUnited States
Start: Sacramento (-121.4944, 38.58157)
End: Petaluma (-122.63665, 38.23242)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 127 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 37m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 58m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 34m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 18m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 07m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 59m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.78 gal
10.54 L · about $16.04
Round trip
$32.08
5.56 gal · 21.08 L
Estimated CO2
24.7 kg one way
Round trip: 49.4 kg / 109 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $16.04 $32.08
Mid-grade $6.07 $16.86 $33.73
Premium $6.24 $17.36 $34.71
Diesel $7.57 $21.04 $42.07

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 05, 2026

There is no time difference between Sacramento and Petaluma. The current time is 12:15:41.

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.