How far is Sacramento, CA from Santa Ynez, CA?
The driving distance from Sacramento, CA to Santa Ynez, CA is about 354.7 miles (570.8 km), with a travel time of about 06h 50m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 285.1 miles (458.8 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 13h 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 06h 50m.
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.
City in Fresno County, California, United States
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 Santa Ynez.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sacramento and Santa Ynez.
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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
138.4 mi · 2 hr 28 min · Westside Freeway
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8
Take the exit slight right toward CA 269: Lassen Avenue
1419 ft · 37 sec
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9
Turn right onto South Lassen Avenue
2081 ft · 34 sec · South Lassen Avenue
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10
Continue on Skyline Boulevard
5.6 mi · 9 min · Skyline Boulevard
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11
At the end of the road, turn left onto East Laneva Boulevard
9.3 mi · 13 min · East Laneva Boulevard
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12
Turn right
18.7 mi · 25 min
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13
Keep slight right
2.1 mi · 2 min
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14
Keep slight right
24.5 mi · 29 min
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15
Take the exit left toward US 101
940 ft · 23 sec
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16
Merge slight left onto El Camino Real
28.6 mi · 33 min · El Camino Real
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17
Continue on Cabrillo Highway
11.8 mi · 14 min · Cabrillo Highway
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18
Continue on El Camino Real
44.8 mi · 52 min · El Camino Real
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19
Take the exit slight right toward CA 154: Los Olivos, Lake Cachuma
1266 ft · 39 sec
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20
Turn left onto Chumash Highway
6.4 mi · 10 min · Chumash Highway
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21
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Edison Street
13 m · 1 sec · Edison Street
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22
Exit the roundabout onto Edison Street
40 m · 9 sec · Edison Street
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23
Continue on Edison Street
1.4 mi · 3 min · Edison Street
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24
Turn left onto Tivola Street
573 ft · 25 sec · Tivola Street
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25
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Tivola Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Sacramento and Santa Ynez.
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
138 mi · 02h 28m
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 Santa Ynez.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Sacramento to Santa Ynez?
The road trip is about 354.7 miles (570.8 km) and usually takes 06h 50m 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?
Coalinga is a useful midpoint, sitting about 177.4 miles from Sacramento and 177.2 miles from Santa Ynez.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 285.1 miles (458.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 69.6 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 $72.17 one way or $144.34 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 111.2 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Chance Light Rain around Sacramento and Mostly Sunny near Santa Ynez.
Stop Ideas Near Coalinga
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 Coalinga.
Kettleman City, California
Lemoore (Naval Air Station), California
Lemoore, California
Paso Robles station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Sacramento and Santa Ynez. Straight-line distance: 285.1 mi (458.83 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 Santa Ynez
Town in Santa Barbara County, California, United States
| Population | 4,418 |
| Coordinates | 34.6144300, -120.0798700 |
| Altitude | 185 |
| Country | United States |
End: Santa Ynez (-120.07987, 34.61443)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 571 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 11h 49m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 08h 52m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 07h 05m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 54m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 05h 04m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 25m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $72.17 | $144.34 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $75.89 | $151.77 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $78.10 | $156.20 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $94.66 | $189.33 |
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.