Getting Around Sacramento
Sacramento's street layout makes navigation straightforward for visitors. The central district is organized on a grid, with numbered streets running north and south and lettered streets running east and west. This logical system, combined with several transportation options, allows you to explore the city with ease.
Walking and Cycling
The downtown core is very walkable. Historic Old Sacramento, the Riverfront, and the California State Railroad Museum are all within a 5-minute walk of Sacramento Valley Station. The Capitol building is a pleasant 15-minute walk from Old Sacramento. Sacramento's abundance of street trees provides shade and makes walking through central areas pleasant.
Cycling is another relaxed way to explore downtown and midtown Sacramento. The wide, flat streets accommodate bike lanes on most grid streets, with bike routes clearly marked throughout the city. The American River Bike Trail connects to the region and is a major recreational resource. Lime bike offers bike-share rentals through a mobile app. However, once you venture beyond the central core, distances increase and you'll be traveling through less shaded suburban areas.
Light Rail
Sacramento Regional Transit operates light rail service with three lines. The Gold Line runs through downtown and connects to Sacramento Valley Station, the main train station, where train passengers can obtain a free transfer to the light rail.
Buses
Sacramento Regional Transit provides local bus service throughout the city. Regional buses also connect Sacramento to surrounding areas, though many routes operate primarily during weekday rush hours. Yolobus operates commuter and express buses from Davis, West Sacramento, and Woodland in Yolo County to the west, as well as service to the airport. FAST Transit provides regional service from Solano County communities.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis are available throughout the city and at Sacramento Valley Station.
Getting from the Airport
Sacramento International Airport is located northwest of downtown, approximately 15 minutes from the city along Interstate 5.
You have several options for traveling into the city:
- Taxi: Expect to pay approximately $34 one-way to downtown.
- Bus via Yolobus: Routes 42A and 42B run hourly from the airport, with 42A serving Sacramento. Service runs from 5:30 AM to 10:20 PM on weekdays and 8:20 AM to 10:20 PM on weekends. Fare is $2.25, and exact change is required as the buses do not make change.
- SacRT Express Bus: Route 142 provides express service every 30 minutes between the airport and downtown Sacramento.
Arriving by Train
Sacramento Valley Station, located at 401 I Street, sits within walking distance of downtown, Old Town, and numerous hotels. The station is served by Amtrak routes including the Coast Starlight (connecting Seattle and Los Angeles), the California Zephyr (running to the Bay Area, Reno, Salt Lake City, Denver, and Chicago), the Capitol Corridor (a regional service to the Bay Area), and the Gold Runner (serving the San Joaquin Valley to the south). Train passengers receive a free transfer to light rail service; consult the ticket collector on the train for details.
Arriving by Car
Sacramento is located at the intersection of Interstate 5 (running north-south) and Interstate 80 (running east-west), and marks the western terminus of U.S. Route 50. The city is accessible from the San Francisco Bay Area via Interstate 80 to the east, from Reno and North Lake Tahoe via Interstate 80 to the west, from South Lake Tahoe via U.S. Route 50 to the west, from Redding and the Pacific Northwest via Interstate 5 to the south, and from the San Joaquin Valley and Southern California via Interstate 5 or State Route 99 to the north.
Driving Within the City
For most travel beyond the walkable core and bikeable central areas, a car is the most practical option. However, parking can be expensive and difficult to find in some areas.