Best Time to Drive from Riverbank to Sacramento

Right now (7:51 pm PST): about 90 minutes via I-5 North, usually 90 at this time.

Only 17% of this drive is measured by working traffic sensors right now. The rest is estimated from nearby sensors, typical speeds and street traffic, so times can be off. Why so few sensors work.

Typical drive time by departure time

Minutes from Riverbank 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	90	91	92	91	91	91	91	91	92	91	94	92	90	90	90	90	90
Tue	91	95	99	92	92	92	92	92	92	92	96	97	91	90	90	90	90
Wed	91	94	98	92	92	92	92	92	92	93	98	98	92	90	90	90	90
Thu	91	94	97	92	92	92	92	92	92	94	100	99	91	90	90	90	90
Fri	91	91	91	91	91	91	91	91	92	94	97	94	92	91	90	90	90
Sat	90	90	90	90	90	90	91	91	91	91	91	90	90	90	90	90	89
Sun	89	89	89	90	90	90	90	90	90	90	90	90	90	89	90	89	89

About this drive

On weekdays the 77-mile drive from Riverbank to Sacramento (via I-5 North) usually takes as little as 90 minutes and up to 101 minutes, when leaving around 6:30 am on Tuesdays. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 92 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 12 pm on Saturdays (91 minutes).

About 25 miles of it is freeway, where times follow typical and live traffic from our sensors, and about 52 miles surface streets (43 to 44 minutes on weekdays), estimated from how jammed the freeways around them are at that time. Drive times are measured from central Riverbank to downtown Sacramento (the Capitol) along the route on the map. Starting or ending elsewhere in a big city can add or save several minutes.

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. We don't have sensors on surface streets yet, so the time on them is estimated from how congested the freeways around each end of the drive are at that time, in both directions: streets jam when the freeways do.

Questions

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

On weekdays, leave early in the morning or late in the evening. The drive usually takes about 90 minutes then, versus up to 101 minutes at the worst times.

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

The 77-mile drive usually takes 90 to 101 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 92 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Riverbank to Sacramento?

Leaving around 6:30 am on Tuesdays is usually slowest, about 101 minutes.

Freeways on this drive

I-5 North in Bay Area (13 miles) · I-5 North in Sacramento (12 miles)

Sacramento traffic right now · Sacramento traffic tomorrow

More drives

Sacramento to Riverbank (return trip) · Riverbank to San Jose

Open the live traffic map →

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	90	91	92	91	91	91	91	91	92	91	94	92	90	90	90	90	90
Tue	91	95	99	92	92	92	92	92	92	92	96	97	91	90	90	90	90
Wed	91	94	98	92	92	92	92	92	92	93	98	98	92	90	90	90	90
Thu	91	94	97	92	92	92	92	92	92	94	100	99	91	90	90	90	90
Fri	91	91	91	91	91	91	91	91	92	94	97	94	92	91	90	90	90
Sat	90	90	90	90	90	90	91	91	91	91	91	90	90	90	90	90	89
Sun	89	89	89	90	90	90	90	90	90	90	90	90	90	89	90	89	89

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	90	91	92	91	91	91	91	91	92	91	94	92	90	90	90	90	90
Tue	91	95	99	92	92	92	92	92	92	92	96	97	91	90	90	90	90
Wed	91	94	98	92	92	92	92	92	92	93	98	98	92	90	90	90	90
Thu	91	94	97	92	92	92	92	92	92	94	100	99	91	90	90	90	90
Fri	91	91	91	91	91	91	91	91	92	94	97	94	92	91	90	90	90
Sat	90	90	90	90	90	90	91	91	91	91	91	90	90	90	90	90	89
Sun	89	89	89	90	90	90	90	90	90	90	90	90	90	89	90	89	89

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	90	91	92	91	91	91	91	91	92	91	94	92	90	90	90	90	90
Tue	91	95	99	92	92	92	92	92	92	92	96	97	91	90	90	90	90
Wed	91	94	98	92	92	92	92	92	92	93	98	98	92	90	90	90	90
Thu	91	94	97	92	92	92	92	92	92	94	100	99	91	90	90	90	90
Fri	91	91	91	91	91	91	91	91	92	94	97	94	92	91	90	90	90
Sat	90	90	90	90	90	90	91	91	91	91	91	90	90	90	90	90	89
Sun	89	89	89	90	90	90	90	90	90	90	90	90	90	89	90	89	89