Sacramento's main freeways and where they go

The big picture

Think of the city as a hub. Two long-distance routes, I-5 and I-80, carry traffic north, south, east and west, and both stay close to the edge of the central city. US 50 cuts straight across the south side of downtown and heads east. Highway 99 brings traffic up the Central Valley from the south. Business 80, which locals usually call the Capital City Freeway, closes the loop between US 50 and I-80 on the east side.

Interstate 5

I-5 is the main north-south interstate on the West Coast, and in Sacramento it runs right along the Sacramento River, on the west edge of downtown. It passes Old Sacramento and the riverfront, so it is often the quickest way to reach the west side of the central city.

Heading north, I-5 passes through Natomas, meets I-80 and continues to Sacramento International Airport and on toward Woodland and Redding. Heading south, it follows the river past the Pocket neighborhood and the western side of Elk Grove before continuing to Stockton. For a few miles north of downtown, Highway 99 shares the road with I-5 before it splits off toward Yuba City.

Interstate 80

I-80 links the Bay Area to Reno and points east, and it goes around Sacramento instead of through it. Coming from the west, it crosses the Yolo Bypass on a long causeway, enters West Sacramento and then curves north. It crosses the Sacramento River, meets I-5 in Natomas and heads northeast toward Roseville, Auburn and the Sierra Nevada.

Many drivers from the Bay Area want downtown, not the bypass. In West Sacramento, signs for US 50 point the way across the river into the city, while I-80 continues north. The split comes up quickly, so read the overhead signs early. More on this in how they connect.

US 50

US 50 starts at I-80 in West Sacramento, crosses the Sacramento River and runs east along the south side of downtown. East of downtown it meets Highway 99 and Business 80 at one large interchange, then heads out through Rancho Cordova and Folsom, past El Dorado Hills and up through Placerville to South Lake Tahoe.

Older maps may show Business 80 running with US 50 across the south side of downtown. However a map labels that stretch, the overhead signs are what count: follow the route numbers and city names on them.

Highway 99

State Route 99 is the old main road of the Central Valley, running from the south valley up through Fresno, Modesto, Stockton and Lodi. It reaches Sacramento from the south, passing through south Sacramento and the eastern side of Elk Grove, and meets US 50 east of downtown.

Through the middle of the city, 99 does not have lanes of its own. It shares US 50 west to I-5, then shares I-5 north, and finally splits away toward Yuba City. If directions tell you to "stay on 99" through town, you will be following US 50 and I-5 signs for a while.

Business 80, the Capital City Freeway

Business 80 begins at the junction with US 50 and Highway 99 east of downtown. It runs north and east, crosses the American River and passes through the Arden area before rejoining I-80 northeast of the city. Its shield is green and shaped like an interstate shield with the word "Business" on top.

For trips between downtown or midtown and the northeast suburbs, it is often the more direct of the two ways to reach I-80 east.

Reading the signs

• Overhead signs list the route number and the next major city. Learn the city names on this page and the signs become easy: Davis and San Francisco for I-80 west, Reno for I-80 east, South Lake Tahoe or Placerville for US 50 east, Stockton for I-5 or 99 south, Redding for I-5 north.
• Some exits leave from the left lane. Watch for "left exit" panels on the overhead signs.
• When two routes share lanes, both shields appear on the signs. Follow either one.

Freeway questions