How far is Santa Maria, CA from Sacramento, CA?
The driving distance from Santa Maria, CA to Sacramento, CA is about 386.1 miles (621.4 km), with a travel time of about 06h 13m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 347.7 miles (559.6 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 26m 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 13m.
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
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Santa Maria and Sacramento.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Santa Maria and Sacramento.
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1
Start on Santa Maria Road
3083 ft · 2 min · Santa Maria Road
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2
Continue on Mulholland Drive
1.1 mi · 3 min · Mulholland Drive
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3
Turn right onto Alhama Drive
130 m · 16 sec · Alhama Drive
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4
Turn left onto Golondrina Street
809 ft · 36 sec · Golondrina Street
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5
Turn right onto Saltillo Street
2534 ft · 1 min · Saltillo Street
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6
At the end of the road, turn right onto Canoga Avenue
1.2 mi · 3 min · Canoga Avenue
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7
Take the ramp right toward US 101 South: Ventura Freeway, Los Angeles
1042 ft · 17 sec
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8
Merge slight left onto Ventura Freeway
7.3 mi · 8 min · Ventura Freeway
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9
Take the exit slight right toward I 405 North, I 405 South: Sacramento, Santa Monica
758 ft · 19 sec
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10
Keep slight left to continue on I 405 North: Sacramento
2233 ft · 54 sec
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11
Merge slight left onto San Diego Freeway
9.6 mi · 11 min · San Diego Freeway
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12
Merge slight right
1.6 mi · 2 min
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13
Keep slight right to continue on I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
1.5 mi · 2 min
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14
Keep slight left
36.1 mi · 42 min
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15
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
22.3 mi · 25 min · Golden State Freeway
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16
Keep slight right to continue on Westside Freeway
225.6 mi · 4 hr 2 min · Westside Freeway
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17
Keep slight right to continue on Westside Freeway
25.5 mi · 28 min · Westside Freeway
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18
Keep left to continue on Westside Freeway
47.5 mi · 53 min · Westside Freeway
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19
Take the exit slight right toward J Street, Downtown
1300 ft · 34 sec
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20
Turn right onto J Street
822 ft · 25 sec · J Street
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21
Turn left onto 5th Street
814 ft · 19 sec · 5th Street
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22
Turn right onto H Street
1602 ft · 40 sec · H Street
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23
Turn right onto 9th Street
149 m · 15 sec · 9th Street
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24
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · 9th Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Santa Maria 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
Keep slight right to continue on Westside Freeway
226 mi · 04h 02m
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 Maria and Mostly Sunny near Sacramento.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Santa Maria to Sacramento?
The road trip is about 386.1 miles (621.4 km) and usually takes 06h 13m 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 191.3 miles from Santa Maria and 194.8 miles from Sacramento.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 347.7 miles (559.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 38.4 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 $78.63 one way or $157.26 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 121.1 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Santa Maria and Mostly Sunny 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 Maria and Sacramento. Straight-line distance: 347.71 mi (559.59 km).
#1 Santa Maria
The third most populous city in Santa Barbara County, California.
| Population | 105,851 |
| Coordinates | 34.1314000, -118.5745300 |
| Altitude | 426 |
| 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: 621 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 12h 51m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 09h 39m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 07h 43m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 06h 26m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 05h 30m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 49m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $78.63 | $157.26 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $82.68 | $165.36 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $85.09 | $170.18 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $103.14 | $206.28 |
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.