San Francisco to Sacramento Fuel Cost

Driving distance and fuel cost for a trip from San Francisco, CA to Sacramento, CA: 86.4 miles (139.1 km) one way. Use the calculator below with your own vehicle and fuel price.

Calculator Parameters

Distance unit
Fuel economy unit
$per US gallon

This is an estimated default price. Automatic price detection only applies to visitors in the United States. Everyone else can select their own currency and enter a local price below for an accurate result.

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Enter total travelers to split gas cost fairly.

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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
Total Distance (for this trip)
86.4 miles

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.

CategoryVehicleCombinedFuel neededCost
EconomyHyundai Elantra34 MPG2.5 US gallons$3.81
Midsize SedanNissan Altima31 MPG2.8 US gallons$4.18
Compact SUVToyota RAV430 MPG2.9 US gallons$4.32
Midsize SUVChevrolet Traverse23 MPG3.8 US gallons$5.63
TruckFord F-15021 MPG4.1 US gallons$6.17
HybridHonda CR-V Hybrid40 MPG2.2 US gallons$3.24
ElectricTesla Model Y120 MPGe0.7 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 San Francisco to Sacramento 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 northeast from San Francisco to Sacramento on I-80, fuel prices are highest in the urban Bay Area and drop moderately in Solano and Yolo counties (Fairfield, Vacaville, Davis). 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 San Francisco to Sacramento route on a single full tank of fuel.

Most standard passenger vehicles can complete the full San Francisco to Sacramento 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 San Francisco to Sacramento

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:

Frequently asked questions

The standard highway driving route from San Francisco to Sacramento 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 San Francisco to Sacramento 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.