Sacramento to San Francisco Fuel Cost
Driving distance and fuel cost for a trip from Sacramento, CA to San Francisco, CA: 86.4 miles (139.1 km) one way. Use the calculator below with your own vehicle and fuel price.
Calculator Parameters
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Your Calculation Results
Average Consumption (5.5 - 8.5 L/100km)- Total Fuel Needed (for this trip)
- 2.88 US gallons (10.9 liters total)
- Total Fuel Cost (for this trip)
- $4.32
- Cost breakdown per distance unit
- $0.050 per mile • $0.031 per km
Fuel economy in every unit
- L/100km
- 7.8
- MPG US
- 30.0
- MPG UK
- 36.0
- km/L
- 12.8
Cost by vehicle type
One way trip cost at $1.50 per US gallon (placeholder price), using one representative vehicle from each category in the 30 vehicle dataset tracked on this site.
| Category | Vehicle | Combined | Fuel needed | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | Hyundai Elantra | 34 MPG | 2.5 US gallons | $3.81 |
| Midsize Sedan | Nissan Altima | 31 MPG | 2.8 US gallons | $4.18 |
| Compact SUV | Toyota RAV4 | 30 MPG | 2.9 US gallons | $4.32 |
| Midsize SUV | Chevrolet Traverse | 23 MPG | 3.8 US gallons | $5.63 |
| Truck | Ford F-150 | 21 MPG | 4.1 US gallons | $6.17 |
| Hybrid | Honda CR-V Hybrid | 40 MPG | 2.2 US gallons | $3.24 |
| Electric | Tesla Model Y | 120 MPGe | 0.7 US gallons | $1.08 |
About this route & highway corridor
At 86.4 miles (139.1 km) and approximately 1.8 hours of continuous driving via Interstate 80 East across the Carquinez Bridge and Yolo Causeway, the drive from Sacramento to San Francisco is a short regional trip suitable for daily commutes or day visits. Road conditions alternate between city streets and open interstate, so real-world fuel economy typically balances between your vehicle's city and highway ratings.
Driving southwest from Sacramento toward San Francisco, top off your tank in Sacramento or Davis. Gas prices in San Francisco city limits are typically 25 to 45 cents higher per gallon. This route traverses Flat coastal bays and Sacramento Valley agricultural flatlands.. Toll considerations: Carquinez Bridge toll (I-80 eastbound).
Because this journey stays within CA, state gasoline taxes remain uniform, though retail prices can vary by 20 to 40 cents per gallon between rural highway exits and congested metropolitan centers. Stations along I-80 in Vacaville and Dixon offer lower pump prices than either downtown San Francisco or Sacramento.
With a total distance of 86 miles, almost all modern passenger cars and SUVs can cover the Sacramento to San Francisco route on a single full tank of fuel.
Most standard passenger vehicles can complete the full Sacramento to San Francisco trip on less than half a tank of fuel. Planning fuel stops in advance is rarely necessary unless you begin with an empty tank.
Distance and driving time source: OpenStreetMap Nominatim geocoding and OSRM driving routing. Last updated July 24, 2026.
Gas Prices & Fuel Planning for Sacramento to San Francisco
Fuel prices vary along this driving corridor. Check current average fuel benchmarks at both ends of your trip to plan the most economical fill-ups:
Specialized Fuel Calculators for This Trip
Reverse route
San Francisco to Sacramento Trip CostNearby routes
Frequently asked questions
The standard highway driving route from Sacramento to San Francisco covers 86.4 miles (139.1 km) and takes approximately 1.8 hours in typical traffic conditions, traveling primarily via Interstate 80 East across the Carquinez Bridge and Yolo Causeway.
Divide the trip distance of 86.4 miles by your car's combined MPG rating to find the gallons of fuel required, then multiply by the average pump price along your route. For example, a 30 MPG vehicle will burn roughly 2.9 gallons of fuel.
Carquinez Bridge toll (I-80 eastbound). Terrain notes: Flat coastal bays and Sacramento Valley agricultural flatlands..
Stations along I-80 in Vacaville and Dixon offer lower pump prices than either downtown San Francisco or Sacramento.
With a total distance of 86 miles, almost all modern passenger cars and SUVs can cover the Sacramento to San Francisco route on a single full tank of fuel.
The physical road distance is identical in both directions. However, fuel costs may vary depending on where you purchase gas, as state fuel tax rates and prevailing winds (such as headwinds when driving west) can slightly influence consumption and spending.