How far is Sacramento, CA from Valley Center, CA?
The driving distance from Sacramento, CA to Valley Center, CA is about 493.8 miles (794.7 km), with a travel time of about 09h 12m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 446.6 miles (718.8 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 18h 25m 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 12m.
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.
Census-designated place in Kern 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 Valley Center.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sacramento and Valley Center.
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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
2 mi · 2 min · Golden State Freeway
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10
Take the exit slight right toward I 210 East: Pasadena
1347 ft · 18 sec
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11
Continue on Foothill Freeway
24.4 mi · 28 min · Foothill Freeway
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12
Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway
19.1 mi · 22 min · Foothill Freeway
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13
Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway
2476 ft · 33 sec · Foothill Freeway
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14
Take the exit slight right toward CA 57 South: Santa Ana
1.4 km · 2 min
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15
Continue on Orange Freeway
3.2 mi · 4 min · Orange Freeway
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16
Take the exit slight right toward CA 71: Corona
1.1 mi · 2 min
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17
Continue on Chino Valley Freeway
12.8 mi · 15 min · Chino Valley Freeway
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18
Continue on Corona Freeway
2.9 mi · 4 min · Corona Freeway
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19
Keep slight left to continue on CA 91 East: Riverside
1.2 km · 1 min
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20
Merge slight left onto Riverside Freeway
3.9 mi · 4 min · Riverside Freeway
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21
Take the exit slight right toward I 15 North, I 15 South: Barstow, San Diego
1.3 km · 55 sec · Corona Freeway
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22
Keep slight right to continue on Corona Freeway
2418 ft · 59 sec · Corona Freeway
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23
Merge slight left onto Corona Freeway
14.2 mi · 16 min · Corona Freeway
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24
Continue on Temecula Valley Freeway
19.1 mi · 20 min · Temecula Valley Freeway
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25
Merge slight right onto Escondido Freeway
5.8 mi · 6 min · Escondido Freeway
-
26
Continue on Avocado Highway
15.2 mi · 16 min · Avocado Highway
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27
Take the exit slight right toward Gopher Canyon Road, Old Castle Road
1006 ft · 29 sec
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28
Turn left onto Gopher Canyon Road
896 ft · 21 sec · Gopher Canyon Road
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29
At the end of the road, turn right onto Champagne Boulevard
855 ft · 21 sec · Champagne Boulevard
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30
Turn left onto Old Castle Road
5.5 mi · 10 min · Old Castle Road
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31
Continue on Lilac Road
3.3 mi · 5 min · Lilac Road
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32
Turn right onto Valley Center Road
1692 ft · 35 sec · Valley Center Road
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33
Turn right onto Old Road
45 m · 7 sec · Old Road
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34
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Old Road
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Sacramento and Valley Center.
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 Sunny near Valley Center.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Sacramento to Valley Center?
The road trip is about 493.8 miles (794.7 km) and usually takes 09h 12m 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?
Lost Hills is a useful midpoint, sitting about 247.1 miles from Sacramento and 246.7 miles from Valley Center.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 446.6 miles (718.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 47.2 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 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 $100.50 one way or $200.99 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 154.8 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Sacramento and Sunny near Valley Center.
Stop Ideas Near Lost Hills
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 Lost Hills.
Wasco station
Kettleman City, California
Corcoran station
Bakersfield
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Sacramento and Valley Center. Straight-line distance: 446.66 mi (718.83 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 Valley Center
City in Sedgwick County, Kansas, United States of America
| Population | 9,277 |
| Coordinates | 33.2183700, -117.0342000 |
| Altitude | 400 |
| Country | United States |
End: Valley Center (-117.0342, 33.21837)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 795 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 16h 27m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 12h 20m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 09h 52m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 08h 13m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 07h 03m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 06h 09m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $100.50 | $200.99 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $105.67 | $211.34 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $108.75 | $217.51 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $131.82 | $263.63 |
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 31, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.