Sacramento

Sacramento is California's capital, known for the 1850s streets of Old Sacramento, a large urban forest and farm-to-fork dining.

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Sacramento is California's capital, set on the Sacramento Valley floor where the Sacramento and American Rivers join. The governor and the state legislature sit here, so the State Capitol and many state agencies are in town. The city is nicknamed the City of Trees for its large urban forest, and since 2012 it has marketed itself as America's Farm-to-Fork Capital, because many restaurants buy from nearby farms and certified farmers' markets.

Start with Old Sacramento, which has cobbled streets and buildings from the 1850s and 1860s, then visit Sutter's Fort, built by John Sutter in 1840 and the oldest part of the town besides Old Sacramento. Plan outdoor sightseeing for June to September, when measurable rain is rare. Summers are hot, with about 76 days a year reaching 90°F (32°C) or higher, so pack for heat. In December and January, dense tule fog can cut visibility below 100 feet and make driving extremely hazardous.

Sacramento in five

Plan the Railroad Museum around its 5 pm closeThe California State Railroad Museum is open daily 10 am to 5 pm, with last admission at 4:30 pm. The museum lists adult tickets at $12 and ages 6 to 17 at $6; children 5 and under are free.Museum hours and tickets
Arrive at Sacramento Valley StationThe station at 401 I Street is a short walk from the museum and Old Sacramento. Capitol Corridor and Gold Runner trains stop here, so a rental car is optional for the city itself.Trains in the USA
Use SacRT or Yolobus from the airportSacRT runs an Airport Express bus (Route 142) and Yolobus runs routes 42A and 42B. Transfers to and from SacRT bus and light rail are free within 90 minutes; pay with cash, a Connect Card or the Transit Connect app.SacRT airport service
Add Berkeley or San Jose by Capitol CorridorThe Capitol Corridor line runs from Auburn through Sacramento and Davis to Berkeley, Oakland and San Jose Diridon. It is a car-free way to pair the capital with a Bay Area stop.Berkeley travel guide
Treat Tahoe and Napa as road tripsLake Tahoe and the wine country are drives from Sacramento, not rail trips. Check road and chain conditions before any winter drive toward the Sierra.Lake Tahoe travel guide

Things to do in Sacramento

See all attractions in Sacramento

Stadium · SacramentoGolden 1 CenterArrive early on game and concert nights, since security check-in can have long lines.

Sight · SacramentoAmerican River Parkway

Park · SacramentoCalifornia State Capitol Park

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to SacramentoPut the places you like in Sacramento on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Sacramento International (SMF); SacRT Route 142 and Yolobus 42A/42B
Getting there: Capitol Corridor and Amtrak to Sacramento Valley Station, 401 I Street
Getting around: Walk Old Sacramento and downtown; SacRT bus and light rail beyond
Best base: Downtown or Old Sacramento, near the station and museum
Time needed: 1 to 2 days; 3 with a Tahoe or Napa day

Weather by month

Rainy days

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh14°Low6°Cool, foggy
FebruaryPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh16°Low6°Mild, rainy
MarchPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh17°Low7°Spring, green
AprilClear5 rainy daysHigh22°Low9°Mild, ideal
MayClear3 rainy daysHigh28°Low13°Warm, ideal
JuneClear1 rainy dayHigh34°Low15°Hot, dry
JulyClear0 rainy daysHigh36°Low16°Very hot
AugustClear0 rainy daysHigh36°Low17°Very hot
SeptemberClear1 rainy dayHigh33°Low16°Warm, easing
OctoberClear3 rainy daysHigh27°Low13°Warm, clear
NovemberClear6 rainy daysHigh18°Low8°Cool, fog
DecemberRain10 rainy daysHigh14°Low6°Cool, rainy

Average daily high and low in Sacramento, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Sacramento

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 17°
Humidity: 46%
Wind: 11 km/h
Chance of rain: 2%

Sacramento

01:57 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT-8

Today20°6°2%Monday: Cloudy. High 20°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 2%.
Tue15°8°63%Tuesday: Rain. High 15°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 63%.
Wed20°9°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 20°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 0%.
Thu22°12°0%Thursday: Cloudy. High 22°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 0%.
Fri22°12°0%Friday: Cloudy. High 22°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 0%.
Sat24°13°0%Saturday: Clear. High 24°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 0%.
Sun24°13°0%Sunday: Cloudy. High 24°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 0%.

Updated 01:57 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 EUR = 1.116 USD

Amount

Converted to

USD · US Dollar

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Sacramento

Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city

Events calendar

Coming up

Day trips by train

Before you go to Sacramento

Rooms near Old SacramentoWalk to the museum and stationCheck availability

Old Sacramento history toursGuided walks and local-history tripsCompare day trips

eSIM for SacramentoTransit app and rail alerts on arrivalRead the guide

Insurance for a California loopCover for rail-plus-drive delaysRead the guide

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Rules for Sacramento, checked

California State Railroad Museum: open daily 10 am to 5 pm, last admission 4:30 pm; adults $12, ages 6 to 17 $6, ages 5 and under free.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
Capitol Corridor stations include Auburn, Roseville, Sacramento, Davis, Berkeley, Oakland Jack London and San Jose-Diridon.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
SacRT Airport Express (Route 142) and Yolobus 42A and 42B serve the airport; transfers to SacRT bus and light rail are free within 90 minutes.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source

Plan around Sacramento

San Francisco travel guide

Bay Area base, reached by Capitol Corridor and bus

Read the guide Lake Tahoe travel guide

Alpine lake and ski towns east of Sacramento

Read the guide Napa Valley travel guide

Wine country, a drive west of the capital

Read the guide Reno travel guide

Nevada's next big stop along I-80

Read the guide ESTA, before a California route

Sort it before you book flights in

Read the guide All of the USA

Parks, cities and trip planning for visitors

Read the guide

Sacramento FAQ

Is the California State Railroad Museum worth visiting?

Yes, if trains or Gold Rush history interest you. The museum describes 225,000 square feet of exhibits and restored locomotives and cars. Plan two to three hours, and arrive before the 4:30 pm last admission.

How do you get from Sacramento airport to downtown?

Take SacRT's Airport Express bus (Route 142) or a Yolobus 42A or 42B. SacRT says transfers to SacRT bus and light rail are free within 90 minutes. A taxi or rideshare is the simplest option with luggage or late arrivals.

Can you take the train from Sacramento to the Bay Area?

Yes. Capitol Corridor trains run to Davis, Berkeley, Oakland and San Jose Diridon. San Francisco is reached by a Capitol Corridor connecting bus from the Bay Area stations, so allow extra time for the transfer.

How many days do you need in Sacramento?

One full day covers Old Sacramento, the railroad museum and the Capitol area. Two days leave room for a slower evening downtown, or add a third for a Lake Tahoe or Napa Valley day trip by car.

When is the best time to visit Sacramento?

April, May, September and October offer warm, dry days without summer's heat. July and August are very hot, which makes museums and early evening walks the better use of those days.