How far is Sacramento, CA from Poway, CA?
The driving distance from Sacramento, CA to Poway, CA is about 500.1 miles (804.9 km), with a travel time of about 09h 24m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 461.6 miles (742.8 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 18h 48m 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 24m.
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.
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Sacramento and Poway.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sacramento and Poway.
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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
4.1 mi · 5 min · Golden State Freeway
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10
Keep slight right to continue on I 405 South
1354 ft · 18 sec
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11
Keep slight left
24.7 mi · 29 min
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12
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
1.3 mi · 2 min · Golden State Freeway
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13
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
25.7 mi · 30 min · Santa Ana Freeway
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14
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1241 ft · 16 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
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15
Take the exit slight right toward Broadway, Main Street, Santa Ana
1.3 km · 57 sec
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16
Keep slight left
788 ft · 10 sec
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17
Keep slight left to continue on I 5 South
981 ft · 13 sec
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18
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
1.3 km · 54 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
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19
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1.2 km · 52 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
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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
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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
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25
Take the exit slight right toward I 5 South
1479 ft · 21 sec
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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
42.2 mi · 49 min · San Diego Freeway
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29
Take the exit slight right toward CA 78 East: Escondido, Vista Way
907 ft · 31 sec
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30
Keep slight right to continue on CA 78 East: Vista, Escondido
127 m · 18 sec
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31
Continue on Ronald Packard Parkway
16.1 mi · 19 min · Ronald Packard Parkway
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32
Take the exit slight right toward I 15 South: San Diego
1.1 km · 1 min
-
33
Merge slight left onto Escondido Freeway
1010 ft · 13 sec · Escondido Freeway
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34
Keep slight right to continue on Escondido Freeway
8.7 mi · 10 min · Escondido Freeway
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35
Take the exit slight right toward Camino Del Norte
1341 ft · 35 sec
-
36
Turn left onto Camino del Norte
1.6 mi · 3 min · Camino del Norte
-
37
Continue on Twin Peaks Road
1.4 mi · 3 min · Twin Peaks Road
-
38
Turn right onto Community Road
1326 ft · 32 sec · Community Road
-
39
Turn left onto Aubrey Street
1379 ft · 42 sec · Aubrey Street
-
40
Turn right onto Midland Road
3005 ft · 2 min · Midland Road
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41
Turn left onto Putney Road
30 m · 3 sec · Putney Road
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42
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Putney Road
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Sacramento and Poway.
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.
Sunny leaving Sacramento and Mostly Sunny near Poway.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Sacramento to Poway?
The road trip is about 500.1 miles (804.9 km) and usually takes 09h 24m 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 250.2 miles from Sacramento and 249.9 miles from Poway.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 461.6 miles (742.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 38.5 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 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 $101.82 one way or $203.65 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 156.9 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Sacramento and Mostly Sunny near Poway.
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 Poway. Straight-line distance: 461.57 mi (742.82 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 Poway
A city in San Diego County, California.
| Population | 49,246 |
| Coordinates | 32.9628200, -117.0358600 |
| Altitude | 157 |
| Country | United States |
End: Poway (-117.03586, 32.96282)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 805 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 16h 39m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 12h 30m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 10h 00m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 08h 20m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 07h 08m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 06h 14m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $101.82 | $203.65 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $107.06 | $214.13 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $110.19 | $220.38 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $133.56 | $267.12 |
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.