Best Time to Drive from Oakland to Sacramento

Right now (9:01 am PDT): about 78 minutes via I-80 East, usually 79 at this time.

On weekdays the 82-mile drive from Oakland to Sacramento (via I-80 East) usually takes as little as 76 minutes and up to 104 minutes, when leaving around 5 pm on Thursdays. The fastest times to leave are before 1:30 pm or after 7 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 83 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 12:30 pm on Saturdays (84 minutes).

Typical drive time by departure time

Minutes from Oakland to Sacramento by day and time you leave (local time)
Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	77	78	79	80	82	83	83	84	83	84	87	88	90	84	78	77	77
Tue	77	78	79	80	81	82	82	83	83	84	90	99	103	93	80	77	77
Wed	76	78	79	80	81	82	83	83	83	84	90	99	104	93	80	78	77
Thu	77	78	79	80	81	81	82	82	83	84	89	98	104	93	80	77	77
Fri	77	78	79	79	81	81	82	83	86	91	99	102	102	91	81	78	77
Sat	75	75	77	78	79	81	83	84	84	84	84	83	82	80	78	79	77
Sun	77	77	76	77	77	78	80	80	81	81	80	81	80	78	79	79	77

Simulated from typical freeway speeds at each point of the drive for the time you would reach it, from every 5-minute reading we have recorded. Surface streets at each end are estimated.

Questions

What is the best time to drive from Oakland to Sacramento?

On weekdays, leave before 1:30 pm or after 7 pm. The drive usually takes about 76 minutes then, versus up to 104 minutes at the worst times.

How long does it take to drive from Oakland to Sacramento?

The 82-mile drive usually takes 76 to 104 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 83 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Oakland to Sacramento?

Leaving around 5 pm on Thursdays is usually slowest, about 104 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

Sacramento to Oakland (return trip) · Oakland to San Jose · Oakland to Palo Alto · Oakland to Fremont · Oakland to Walnut Creek · Oakland to San Mateo · Oakland to Hayward · Oakland to Mountain View · Oakland to Pleasanton · Oakland to Santa Clara · Oakland to Richmond

Open the live traffic map →

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	77	78	79	80	82	83	83	84	83	84	87	88	90	84	78	77	77
Tue	77	78	79	80	81	82	82	83	83	84	90	99	103	93	80	77	77
Wed	76	78	79	80	81	82	83	83	83	84	90	99	104	93	80	78	77
Thu	77	78	79	80	81	81	82	82	83	84	89	98	104	93	80	77	77
Fri	77	78	79	79	81	81	82	83	86	91	99	102	102	91	81	78	77
Sat	75	75	77	78	79	81	83	84	84	84	84	83	82	80	78	79	77
Sun	77	77	76	77	77	78	80	80	81	81	80	81	80	78	79	79	77

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	77	78	79	80	82	83	83	84	83	84	87	88	90	84	78	77	77
Tue	77	78	79	80	81	82	82	83	83	84	90	99	103	93	80	77	77
Wed	76	78	79	80	81	82	83	83	83	84	90	99	104	93	80	78	77
Thu	77	78	79	80	81	81	82	82	83	84	89	98	104	93	80	77	77
Fri	77	78	79	79	81	81	82	83	86	91	99	102	102	91	81	78	77
Sat	75	75	77	78	79	81	83	84	84	84	84	83	82	80	78	79	77
Sun	77	77	76	77	77	78	80	80	81	81	80	81	80	78	79	79	77

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	77	78	79	80	82	83	83	84	83	84	87	88	90	84	78	77	77
Tue	77	78	79	80	81	82	82	83	83	84	90	99	103	93	80	77	77
Wed	76	78	79	80	81	82	83	83	83	84	90	99	104	93	80	78	77
Thu	77	78	79	80	81	81	82	82	83	84	89	98	104	93	80	77	77
Fri	77	78	79	79	81	81	82	83	86	91	99	102	102	91	81	78	77
Sat	75	75	77	78	79	81	83	84	84	84	84	83	82	80	78	79	77
Sun	77	77	76	77	77	78	80	80	81	81	80	81	80	78	79	79	77