Sacramento itinerary: 1 to 2 days
Plans for one and two days in Sacramento, day by day: the California State Railroad Museum, Old Sacramento, Tower Bridge, the Crocker Art Museum and the State Capitol first, then the Governor's Mansion, the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, the California Museum, the Automobile Museum and the arboretum as you add a day. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 2 days
Sacramento in 1 day
Day 1
California State Railroad Museum
One of the largest railroad museums in North America, with restored locomotives and train cars in Old Sacramento.
Old Sacramento State Historic Park
Restored Gold Rush waterfront district with wooden boardwalks, shops, museums, horse-drawn carriages and Sacramento River views.
Tower Bridge
Gold-painted 1935 vertical-lift bridge over the Sacramento River, linking Sacramento with West Sacramento beside Old Sacramento.
Crocker Art Museum
One of the oldest art museums in the western United States, with California art and Old Master drawings in a historic mansion and modern wing.
California State Capitol
Neoclassical 1874 seat of the state government, with a dome and a rotunda, set in Capitol Park with free tours.
Sacramento in 2 days
Day 1
Governor's Mansion State Historic Park
Large Victorian house of 1877 that served as the residence of California's governors, shown on guided visits.
Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament
Roman Catholic cathedral of 1889 on 11th Street, a Renaissance-style building with a tall dome and a bright interior.
California State Railroad Museum
One of the largest railroad museums in North America, with restored locomotives and train cars in Old Sacramento.
Sacramento History Museum
Museum on the Old Sacramento waterfront about the city's Gold Rush story, with a re-created Gold Rush street and exhibits.
Old Sacramento State Historic Park
Restored Gold Rush waterfront district with wooden boardwalks, shops, museums, horse-drawn carriages and Sacramento River views.
Tower Bridge
Gold-painted 1935 vertical-lift bridge over the Sacramento River, linking Sacramento with West Sacramento beside Old Sacramento.
University Arboretum at California State University, Sacramento
Tree and plant collection spread across the university campus, with signed paths and a quiet atmosphere.
Day 2
Crocker Art Museum
One of the oldest art museums in the western United States, with California art and Old Master drawings in a historic mansion and modern wing.
California Automobile Museum
Museum of historic cars south of downtown, with a changing collection of vehicles from the early 1900s onward.
The California Museum
State history museum with the California Hall of Fame, exhibits on the state's people and changing displays.
California State Capitol
Neoclassical 1874 seat of the state government, with a dome and a rotunda, set in Capitol Park with free tours.
California State Indian Museum
State park museum beside Sutter's Fort on the culture and history of California's Native peoples, with baskets and regalia.
Watch: Sacramento
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
When to go to Sacramento
Spring and autumn are the most comfortable, with mild weather and little rain. Summers are hot and dry, with highs often above 35 degrees Celsius. Winters are cool and wetter, with fog on some mornings. The California State Fair takes place in July at Cal Expo.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Sacramento on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Sacramento on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Sacramento on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for United States from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Sacramento
- The California State Capitol and its museum are free to visit on weekdays, with tours; weekend opening is limited, so check before fixing a day.
- Old Sacramento, the Railroad Museum, Tower Bridge and the Crocker Art Museum are within about a mile of each other and can be walked.
- The Crocker Art Museum closes one or two days a week, so check its hours before choosing the day.
- Summers are very hot and dry; plan outdoor stops for the morning and use the shaded Capitol Park.
- Midtown and downtown are flat, and walking or cycling is easy; the state offices around the Capitol are quiet on weekends.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- California Automobile Museum: Almondox, CC BY 3.0
- California State Capitol: Andre m, CC BY-SA 3.0
- California State Indian Museum: User:Ronbo76, CC BY-SA 3.0
- California State Railroad Museum: The original uploader was Swampyank at English Wikipedia ., CC BY-SA 3.0
- Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament: The original uploader was SCUMATT at English Wikipedia ., CC BY-SA 2.5
- Crocker Art Museum: Amadscientist, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Governor's Mansion State Historic Park: Daderot., Public domain
- Old Sacramento State Historic Park: Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0
- Sacramento History Museum: Janannwa, CC BY-SA 3.0
- The California Museum: Ldabrahams at English Wikipedia, Public domain
- Tower Bridge: Michael Grindstaff of Sacramento, CA, edited by Fir0002, Public domain
- University Arboretum at California State University, Sacramento: DevinCook at English Wikipedia, Public domain
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
