How far is Santa Barbara, CA from Sacramento, CA?
The driving distance from Santa Barbara, CA to Sacramento, CA is about 385.1 miles (619.8 km), with a travel time of about 06h 16m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 304.3 miles (489.7 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 32m 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 16m.
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.
Small city in Fresno County, California
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Chance Light Rain
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Santa Barbara and Sacramento.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Santa Barbara and Sacramento.
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1
Start on Anacapa Street
550 ft · 23 sec · Anacapa Street
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2
Turn right onto East Ortega Street
1042 ft · 55 sec · East Ortega Street
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3
Turn left onto Chapala Street
1027 ft · 35 sec · Chapala Street
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4
Turn right onto West Haley Street
1491 ft · 49 sec · West Haley Street
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5
Take the ramp straight toward US 101 North
142 m · 11 sec
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6
Merge slight left onto El Camino Real
3.5 mi · 4 min · El Camino Real
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7
Take the exit slight right toward CA 154: State Street, Cachuma Lake
1127 ft · 29 sec
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8
Continue on Calle Real
1672 ft · 40 sec · Calle Real
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9
Turn right onto Chumash Highway
23.9 mi · 33 min · Chumash Highway
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10
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Chumash Highway
35 m · 2 sec · Chumash Highway
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11
Exit the roundabout onto Chumash Highway
2.2 mi · 3 min · Chumash Highway
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12
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Chumash Highway
43 m · 2 sec · Chumash Highway
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13
Exit the roundabout onto Chumash Highway
6.3 mi · 10 min · Chumash Highway
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14
Take the ramp right toward US 101 North
1138 ft · 31 sec
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15
Merge slight left
85.2 mi · 1 hr 38 min
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16
Take the exit slight right toward CA 46 East: Fresno, Bakersfield
1044 ft · 28 sec
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17
Turn right
24.4 mi · 29 min
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18
Merge slight left
1.4 mi · 2 min
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19
Turn slight right
149 m · 6 sec
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20
Keep slight right
19.4 mi · 26 min
-
21
Turn left
9.3 mi · 13 min
-
22
Turn right onto Skyline Boulevard
5.6 mi · 9 min · Skyline Boulevard
-
23
Continue on South Lassen Avenue
2873 ft · 52 sec · South Lassen Avenue
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24
Take the ramp left toward I 5 North
1031 ft · 25 sec
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25
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
126.3 mi · 2 hr 15 min · Westside Freeway
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26
Keep slight right to continue on Westside Freeway
25.5 mi · 28 min · Westside Freeway
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27
Keep left to continue on Westside Freeway
47.5 mi · 53 min · Westside Freeway
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28
Take the exit slight right toward J Street, Downtown
1300 ft · 34 sec
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29
Turn right onto J Street
822 ft · 25 sec · J Street
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30
Turn left onto 5th Street
814 ft · 19 sec · 5th Street
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31
Turn right onto H Street
1602 ft · 40 sec · H Street
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32
Turn right onto 9th Street
149 m · 15 sec · 9th Street
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33
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · 9th Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Santa Barbara and Sacramento.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Westside Freeway
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
126 mi · 02h 15m
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.
Mostly Sunny leaving Santa Barbara and Chance Light Rain near Sacramento.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Santa Barbara to Sacramento?
The road trip is about 385.1 miles (619.8 km) and usually takes 06h 16m 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?
Huron is a useful midpoint, sitting about 192.3 miles from Santa Barbara and 192.9 miles from Sacramento.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 304.3 miles (489.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 80.8 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 $78.40 one way or $156.80 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 120.8 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Santa Barbara and Chance Light Rain near Sacramento.
Stop Ideas Near Huron
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 Huron.
Lemoore (Naval Air Station), California
Kettleman City, California
Lemoore, California
Hanford station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Santa Barbara and Sacramento. Straight-line distance: 304.28 mi (489.69 km).
#1 Santa Barbara
The most populous city in Santa Barbara County, California.
| Population | 90,254 |
| Coordinates | 34.4208300, -119.6981900 |
| Altitude | 15 |
| Country | United States |
#2 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 |
End: 9th Street (-121.49442, 38.581575)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 620 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 12h 49m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 09h 37m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 07h 42m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 06h 25m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 05h 30m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 48m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $78.40 | $156.80 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $82.44 | $164.87 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $84.84 | $169.68 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $102.84 | $205.67 |
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.