How far is Sacramento, CA from Stanford, CA?
The driving distance from Sacramento, CA to Stanford, CA is about 117.1 miles (188.4 km), with a travel time of about 02h 30m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 87.9 miles (141.5 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 00m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT.
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.
This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.
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 02h 30m.
A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.
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.
The second most populous city in Solano County, California.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Sacramento and Stanford.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sacramento and Stanford.
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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 left to continue on US 50: South Lake Tahoe, San Francisco
912 ft · 12 sec
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5
Keep slight right to continue on US 50 West: San Francisco
2188 ft · 40 sec
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6
Merge slight left onto Capital City Freeway
3.2 mi · 4 min · Capital City Freeway
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7
Continue on Yolo Causeway
3.9 mi · 4 min · Yolo Causeway
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8
Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
50.1 mi · 58 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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9
Continue on Carquinez Bridge
1.6 km · 1 min · Carquinez Bridge
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10
Continue on Eastshore Freeway
1847 ft · 24 sec · Eastshore Freeway
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11
Continue on Linus F. Claeys Freeway
3.4 mi · 4 min · Linus F. Claeys Freeway
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12
Continue on Eastshore Freeway
14.3 mi · 17 min · Eastshore Freeway
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13
Keep slight left to continue on Interstate Highway 80
1321 ft · 21 sec · Interstate Highway 80
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14
Keep slight right to continue on Nimitz Freeway
14.3 mi · 18 min · Nimitz Freeway
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15
Keep slight left
5.6 mi · 6 min
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16
Keep slight left
2.4 mi · 3 min
-
17
Keep slight right to continue on Nimitz Freeway
2.5 mi · 3 min · Nimitz Freeway
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18
Take the exit slight right toward CA 84 West
1221 ft · 30 sec
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19
Keep slight right to continue on CA 84 West: Dumbarton Bridge
1092 ft · 27 sec
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20
Continue straight
1.3 km · 56 sec
-
21
Keep slight right
7.4 mi · 10 min
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22
Turn left onto Willow Road
2.1 mi · 6 min · Willow Road
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23
Turn left onto Middlefield Road
1218 ft · 45 sec · Middlefield Road
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24
Turn right onto Hawthorne Avenue
1 km · 2 min · Hawthorne Avenue
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25
At the end of the road, turn left onto Alma Street
1205 ft · 43 sec · Alma Street
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26
Turn left
84 m · 13 sec
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27
Turn slight right onto University Avenue
594 ft · 22 sec · University Avenue
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28
Continue on Palm Drive
2917 ft · 2 min · Palm Drive
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29
Turn left onto Campus Drive
1519 ft · 59 sec · Campus Drive
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30
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Campus Drive
33 m · 4 sec · Campus Drive
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31
Exit the roundabout onto Campus Drive
2183 ft · 1 min · Campus Drive
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32
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Campus Drive East
42 m · 4 sec · Campus Drive East
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33
Exit the roundabout onto Campus Drive East
879 ft · 30 sec · Campus Drive East
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34
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Campus Drive East
29 m · 3 sec · Campus Drive East
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35
Exit the roundabout onto Campus Drive East
566 ft · 19 sec · Campus Drive East
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36
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Campus Drive East
29 m · 3 sec · Campus Drive East
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37
Exit the roundabout onto Campus Drive East
1061 ft · 42 sec · Campus Drive East
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38
Turn right onto Arguello Mall
69 m · 17 sec · Arguello Mall
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39
Turn left onto Bowdoin Lane
99 m · 14 sec · Bowdoin Lane
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40
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Bowdoin Lane
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Sacramento and Stanford.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
50.1 mi · 00h 58m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Sunny leaving Sacramento and Sunny near Stanford.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Sacramento to Stanford?
The road trip is about 117.1 miles (188.4 km) and usually takes 02h 30m 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?
Vallejo is a useful midpoint, sitting about 58.5 miles from Sacramento and 58.5 miles from Stanford.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 87.9 miles (141.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 29.2 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 1:30 PM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $23.83 one way or $47.65 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 36.7 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Sacramento and Sunny near Stanford.
Stop Ideas Near Vallejo
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
BikeLink : Richmond City Hall
Berkeley Community Media
El Cerrito City Hall
Old Maple Hall
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Vallejo.
Vallejo, California
Marine World (Seasonal), Vallejo, California
Martinez station
Richmond station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Sacramento and Stanford. Straight-line distance: 87.94 mi (141.52 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 Stanford
Private research university located in Stanford, California, United States
| Population | 13,809 |
| Coordinates | 37.4241100, -122.1660800 |
| Altitude | 23 |
| Country | United States |
End: Stanford (-122.16608, 37.42411)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 188 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 03h 54m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 02h 55m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 02h 20m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 01h 57m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 01h 40m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 01h 27m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $23.83 | $47.65 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $25.05 | $50.11 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $25.78 | $51.57 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $31.25 | $62.50 |
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.