Here's a sample itinerary for a drive from Austin to Sacramento. If you're planning a road trip to Sacramento, you can research locations to stop along the way. Make sure you check road conditions to double check the weather. Traveling with a dog or cat? Find pet-friendly stops. Camping along the way? Search for RV campgrounds. Find the best hotels, restaurants, and attractions based on the most talked about places recommended by Trippy members.
9:00 am start in Austin
drive for about 3.5 hours
12:43 pm Caverns of Sonora
stay for about 1 hour
and leave at 1:43 pm
drive for about 2.5 hours
4:20 pm Fort Stockton
stay for about 1 hour
and leave at 5:20 pm
drive for about 3.5 hours
8:38 pm El Paso
stay overnight and leave the next day around 11:00 am
day 1 driving ≈ 9.5 hours
find more stops
11:00 am leave from El Paso
drive for about 5 hours
4:01 pm Sabino Canyon
stay overnight and leave the next day around 9:00 am
day 2 driving ≈ 5 hours
9:00 am leave from Sabino Canyon
drive for about 2 hours
11:14 am Phoenix
eat at Chelsea's Kitchen
stay for about 3 hours
and leave at 2:14 pm
drive for about 5 hours
7:21 pm Palm Springs
stay overnight at The Parker, Palm Springs
leave the next day around 9:00 am
day 3 driving ≈ 7.5 hours
9:00 am leave from The Parker, Palm Springs
drive for about 5 hours
2:09 pm San Luis Obispo
stay for about 3 hours
and leave at 5:09 pm
drive for about 4.5 hours
9:53 pm arrive in Sacramento
day 4 driving ≈ 10 hours
Debra from Elk Grove (California) asked:
Where to stop on road trip from Austin Texas to Sacramento California (1 answer)
Caverns of Sonora (3 mentions)
Fort Stockton (5 answers)
El Paso (43 answers)
questions about El Paso:
Best free things to do in El Paso?
Must-see spots & fun things to do for 4 guys in their mid twenties?
El Paso, TX
Sabino Canyon (7 mentions)
Phoenix (125 answers)
Piestewa Peak (3 mentions)
Dreamy Draw Recreation Area (2 mentions)
Phoenix Art Museum (2 mentions)
Bunky Boutique (2 mentions)
Frances (2 mentions)
restaurants around Phoenix:
Chelsea's Kitchen
SunUp Brewing Co
The Parlor Pizzeria
The Clever Koi
Crudo
questions about Phoenix:
What is your favorite restaurant in Phoenix?
Food and things to see in Phoenix and Tucson
Best restaurants in Phoenix?
Popular neighborhoods to stay in Phoenix?
Where are the best free things to do in Phoenix?
Palm Springs (55 answers)
Palm Springs Art Museum (4 mentions)
Indian Canyons (4 mentions)
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway (3 mentions)
Trina Turk (3 mentions)
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway (3 mentions)
restaurants around Palm Springs:
Cheeky's
Trio Restaurant
Jake's
Workshop Kitchen + Bar
Bar
Le Parker Meridien Palm Springs
hotels around Palm Springs:
The Parker, Palm Springs
The Saguaro Palm Springs, a Joie de Vivre Hotel
Viceroy Palm Springs
Ace Hotel
questions about Palm Springs:
Best hotel pools in Palm Springs?
Cheap eats/activities
Quick weekend gataway this winter
What to do in palm springs in November?
Moderately priced restaurants
San Luis Obispo (122 answers)
Bishop Peak (4 mentions)
San Luis Obispo Mission (3 mentions)
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (3 mentions)
Edna Valley (2 mentions)
F. McLintocks Saloon and Dining House (2 mentions)
restaurants around San Luis Obispo:
Firestone Grill
Novo Restaurant & Lounge
Bello Mundo
Splash Cafe
Avila Valley Barn
questions about San Luis Obispo:
What is your favorite restaurant in San Luis Obispo?
Lodging
Exploring SLO in March to scout moving there - what should I check out?
Where to stay outside of San Luis Obispo for Cal Poly graduation
Need some recommendations on somewhere to get food?
Trippy members suggest Ella Dining Room & Bar, which was mentioned 3 times.
Here are some more restaurants people talk about:
Want to research more popular restaurants in Sacramento? Click the blue button below.
This section could be endless, so rather than trying to suggest every local activity or attraction, we'll leave it open-ended.
These are some of the places people talk about on Trippy:
Of course, Trippy is the perfect place to ask questions because there's an entire community of travelers talking to each other and sharing tips and advice. Trippy is where you can get answers personalized for your tastes, budgets, trip dates & more!
For example, here are some questions people have asked about Sacramento. Click on any question to see answers from the community!
Katie from Los Angeles asked:
What is your favorite restaurant in Sacramento? (12 answers)
Peter from Munich asked:
Things to do and see in Sacramento (6 answers)
Debbie from San Francisco asked:
Hidden gems in Sacramento? (6 answers)
Evan from Virginia asked:
Me want food in Sacramento! (5 answers)
Jessica from asked:
Question about location for USA Outdoor Nationals (2 answers)
Click the button below to explore more questions and answers related to Sacramento.
Yes, even this step is optional, because if you're on vacation who wants the trip to end? It's okay, you can start planning your next trip!
Want to plan the trip back? Get the reverse directions for a Sacramento to Austin drive, or go to the main page to plan a new road trip.
You can also compare the travel time if you're flying or driving by calculating the distance from Austin to Sacramento. Or get a full Austin to Sacramento flight plan.
Don't forget about exploring your own hometown with a staycation. You can also find some cool day trips or get away for a weekend. Maybe try typing in a faraway location like London, Hong Kong, or Sydney, and get inspired for your dream trip around the world.
And if you know Austin well, please help your fellow travelers and answer their questions about Austin!
More info on this route: