Interstate 5 leaves San Joaquin County and enters Sacramento County upon crossing the Mokelumne River. Photo taken 04/02/05.
The first exit along Interstate 5 north in Sacramento County is Exit 498, Junction Sacramento County Route E-13, Twin Cities Road. Photo taken 04/02/05.
Use Sacramento County Route E-13/Twin Cities Road west to Walnut Grove and California 160. Photo taken 04/02/05.
Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 498, Junction Sacramento County Route E-13/Twin Cities Road to Walnut Grove (west) and Consumnes River Preserve, Galt, and California 104 to the east. The next exit is six miles ahead. Photo taken 04/02/05.
A mileage sign for Sacramento (20 miles) and Redding (182 miles) is posted under the Twin Cities Road overpass. Photo taken 04/02/05.
The next exit along northbound Interstate 5 is Exit 504, Hood Franklin Road, which serves the community of Hood. Hood sits to the west of the freeway close to the Sacramento River along California 160/River Road. Photo taken 04/02/05.
Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 504, Hood Franklin Road. This interchange is a partial cloverleaf. After this interchange, Interstate 5 passes by the eastern edge of the Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge. Photo taken 04/02/05.
The next exit along northbound Interstate 5 is Exit 506, Elk Grove Boulevard. At this point, Interstate 5 approaches the city of Elk Grove, which is the first city along Interstate 5 in Sacramento County. Elk Grove was incorporated on July 1, 2000, as a general law city, but has existed since 1850. The city sits at an elevation of 45 feet above sea level and sees about 22 inches of precipitation annually, mostly during the fall and winter months. The 2000 Census places the population of Elk Grove (prior to incorporation) at 59,984 people; by 2007, state estimates placed the city's population at 136,318 people (thus indicating a huge population gain during that time period). Housing development appears en masse along Interstate 5 for the first time since leaving Stockton. Photo taken 04/02/05.
The four-lane freeway enters the urban area of Elk Grove. Traffic may be impacted during commuting hours, when residents of Elk Grove commute to nearby downtown Sacramento. Photo taken 04/02/05.
Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 506, Junction Sacramento County Route E-12/Elk Grove Boulevard. Due to the presence of the national wildlife refuge west of Interstate 5, this interchange marks the western terminus of Sacramento County Route E-12. To the east, the county route extends through Elk Grove, connecting with California 99 at Exit 286. At the eastern edge of the city of Elk Grove, Sacramento County Route E-12 ends at Sacramento County Route E-2/Grant Line Road. Photo taken 04/02/05.
The next exit along northbound Interstate 5 is Exit 508, Laguna Boulevard, which also serves the city of Elk Grove. This interchange is a trumpet interchange. Photo taken 04/02/05.
Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 508, Laguna Boulevard. After this interchange, Interstate 5 leaves the city of Elk Grove and reenters unincorporated Sacramento County. Interstate 5 however will retain additional lanes as it continues north toward the city. The next exit is four miles ahead. Photo taken 04/02/05.
The next two exits along northbound Interstate 5 are Exit 512, Pocket Road and Meadowview Road to California 160/Freeport Boulevard (River Road) and Exit 513, Florin Road. This mileage sign is posted on the Stonecrest Avenue overpass, which is located within the city of Sacramento. Sacramento is the capital of the state of California and seat of Sacramento County. This major California city is located at the crossroads of three major highways: Interstate 5 from San Diego to Blaine, Interstate 80 from San Francisco to near New York City, and U.S. 50 from West Sacramento to Ocean City, Maryland. These highways converge near downtown Sacramento, with Interstate 80 splitting into a bypass and business alignment through the city. Sacramento was founded in 1849 and is the oldest incorporated city (on February 27, 1850). Voters adopted the current Sacramento City Charter in 1920. The Sacramento area (El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, and Yolo Counties) is the fourth largest metropolitan area in the state of California (behind Greater Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area, and San Diego County) with a population in excess of 2.1 million. As of the 2000 Census, 407,018 people lived in Sacramento city. Photo taken 04/02/05.
California 160 exists in two sections. The southern section begins in Antioch and generally follows the Sacramento River northeast to the southern city limits of Sacramento after passing the Freeport Bridge (Sacramento County Route E-9) and before crossing under Interstate 5. The northern section is the short North Sacramento Freeway segment leading from downtown Sacramento to Business 80/Capital City Freeway. The section in between was transferred to the city of Sacramento in 2003, when the section within the city of Sacramento was decommissioned. Photo taken 04/02/05.
Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 512, Pocket Road and Meadowview Road. Use Meadowview Road east to Freeport Boulevard, which is the former route of California 160. Turn south on Freeport Boulevard to California 160 south to Antioch or north on Freeport Boulevard to the Sacramento Executive Airport. Photo taken 04/02/05.
The next exit along Interstate 5 north is Exit 513, Florin Road. This modified cloverleaf interchange serves the southern parts of the city of Sacramento. From here, Interstate 5 will remain within the city of Sacramento until reaching Exit 525B, Junction California 99/El Centro Road north to Yuba City/Marysville. Photo taken 04/02/05.
The next two exits along northbound Interstate 5 are Exit 515, Seamas Avenue and Fruitridge Road and Exit 516, Sutterville Road. This mileage sign is posted on the Florin Road overpass. Photo taken 04/02/05.
After the Florin Road overpass, this diagrammatical sign was briefly posted for the upcoming Business 80 and U.S. 50 interchange (Exit 518, three miles ahead). However, the sign was gone by April 2005. Photo taken 12/28/04.
Northbound Interstate 5 approaches Exit 515, Seamas Avenue and Fruitridge Road in southern Sacramento. The freeway passes under 43rd Avenue at this point. Photo taken 04/02/05.
To William Land Park and the Sacramento Zoo, use Sutterville Road east (Exit 516, which is the second exit after the Seamas Avenue/Fruitridge Road interchange). The park includes the zoo, golf course, and Fairy Tale Town. Photo taken 04/02/05.
Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 515, Seamas Avenue and Fruitridge Road. Photo taken 04/02/05.
The next exit along northbound Interstate 5 is Exit 516, Sutterville Road. Use Sutterville Road east to the Sacramento Zoo, William Land Park, William Land Golf Course, Sacramento City College, Hughes Stadium, and the Sacramento Children's Home. This is a major interchange. Interstate 5 north retains four through lanes. Photo taken 04/02/05.
This mileage sign on Interstate 5 north provides the distance to Exit 516, Sutterville Road; Exit 518, Junction Business 80 and U.S. 50; and Exit 519A, Q Street. Photo taken 12/28/04.
Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 516, Sutterville Road. As a through road, Sutterville Road connects with Freeport Boulevard (former California 160), Sacramento County Route J-8/Franklin Road, and California 99 at Exit 297. East of California 99, Sutterville Road changes into 12th Avenue and 14th Avenue leading to unincorporated Fruitridge and Old U.S. 50-99/Stockton Boulevard. Photo taken 04/02/05.
The next exit along northbound Interstate 5 is Exit 518, Junction Business 80 and U.S. 50, the Capital City Freeway. This is a major interchange. This sign advises that Raley Field is accessible via westbound Business Loop I-80 and U.S. 50 ("San Francisco Exit"). Photo taken 04/02/05.
Passing under Sutterville Road, the first sign for Exit 518, Junction Business Loop I-80 and U.S. 50 appears. These signs were replaced in 2000 and are among the first reflective signs to be placed in the Sacramento area. No exit numbers were added since these signs were installed prior to the start of that initiative. Photo taken 04/02/05.
The left three lanes continue north along Interstate 5; the right two lanes connect to Business Loop I-80 and U.S. 50. Photo taken 04/02/05.
The exit to Broadway is part of this interchange, and the offramp to Q Street is located within the larger interchange complex (Exit 519A). Photo taken 12/28/04.
Business Loop I-80 was created in the early 1980s when mainline Interstate 80 was moved to the Sacramento Bypass. The business loop is completely freeway, but the section between U.S. 50 and Interstate 80 via the Arden area and Marconi Curve is not Interstate standard. As a result, Sacramento has two different freeways numbered 80: Interstate 80 bypass and the Business Loop. In 1996, the Business Loop was given an additional name, the Capital City Freeway. Photo taken 04/02/05.
To Sacramento International Airport, continue north on Interstate 5 to Exit 528/Airport Boulevard. Photo taken 04/02/05.
Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 518, Junction Business Loop I-80 and U.S. 50 (and secret Interstate 305). U.S. 50 is cosigned with Business Loop I-80 on its east-west section, and its western terminus is only a few miles west of here, at its junction with Interstate 80 (even though the signage here makes you think that U.S. 50 ends at Interstate 5). U.S. 50 spans the country, crossing the mid-section of the United States on its way to Ocean City, Maryland. A mileage sign to Ocean City is present at its western terminus along eastbound Business Loop I-80/U.S. 50. Photos taken 04/02/05 and by Joe Rouse (09/18/00).
Signage for the transition ramp to Exit 518 (to Business 80 and Broadway) is visible on this massive sign bridge. On the transition ramp to Business 80, the lanes split: left lane conects to Business 80/U.S. 50 west to San Francisco and the right two lanes connect to Business 80/U.S. 50 east to Broadway and to South Lake Tahoe/Reno. Note the absence of U.S. 50 shields for Business Loop I-80 west; the U.S. highway extends west of here to the merge with mainline Interstate 80 in West Sacramento. The next exit along Interstate 5 north is Exit 519A, Q Street. Photo taken 04/02/05.
Looking at the offramp to Business 80/U.S. 50 east, the ramp for Exit 518 splits, with the left lanes connecting to eastbound Business 80 and the right lane exiting to Broadway. Photos taken 04/02/05 and by Joe Rouse (09/18/00).
Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 519A, Q Street east to the California State Capitol. This exit ramp appears within the Business 80 and U.S. 50 interchange. There are two ways to get to Exit 519A, Q Street. One way is from mainline northbound Interstate 5 onto Q Street. Another way is from the transition ramp from eastbound Interstate 305/Business Loop I-80/U.S. 50 (WX Freeway) to northbound Interstate 5. This photo shows the second way to Q Street, via the slip ramp from the transition. The slip ramp feeds into the exit ramp from mainline northbound Interstate 5 to Q Street. Also note the presence of a California 99 shield here; most of these shields between Business Loop I-80 and California 99 were removed in 2000. Photo taken 04/02/05.
After the interchange with Business 80, Interstate 5 passes under the interchange and enters downtown Sacramento. Through traffic should use the left lanes, as there are several downtown exits ahead. Photo taken 04/02/05.
Looking at the offramp to Q Street (Exit 519A), the collector-distributor lanes split to Q Street east. Photo taken 04/02/05.
Interstate 5 (and California 99) north
Interstate 5 lowers in elevation after passing through the Business 80 (Capital City Freeway) interchange. Portions of the freeway between the WX Freeway Interchange (Hidden Interstate 305/Business Loop I-80/U.S. 50) and Old Sacramento (J Street) are so far below grade that the freeway is lower than the bed of the nearby Sacramento River. The Tower Bridge (California 275) is visible in the distance. Photo taken 01/15/06.
The Interstate 5 freeway stays below grade here as it approaches Exit 519B, J Street, along northbound. J Street leads to Old Sacramento and the State Capitol complex. Photo taken 01/15/06.
Exit 519B leads to Old Sacramento via J Street. Old Sacramento is wedged between the freeway and the Sacramento River, and the freeway rises up to a viaduct to pass over this historic area. Trucks are allowed to use the number two lane along this stretch of Interstate 5 due to the multiple exits along this stretch as well as potential exit-only lanes. Photo taken 01/15/06.
The right lane becomes exit only for Exit 519B, J Street. The left four lanes continue north on Interstate 5 toward the Natomas community of the city of Sacramento, the junction with Interstate 80 (Sacramento bypass), and Sacramento International Airport. Photo taken 01/15/06.
Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 519B, J Street. At the time this picture was taken, exit numbers had not found their way to many overhead signs in the capital city. Photo taken 01/15/06.
Interstate 5 leaves downtown on a viaduct as it approaches Exit 520, Richards Boulevard. Richards Boulevard is a fast east-west connection through industrial areas between Interstate 5, the northern California 160, and Business Loop I-80/California 51 (Capital City Freeway) near the Arden Mall area. Photo taken 01/15/06.
The next three exits along northbound Interstate 5 are Exit 520, Richards Boulevard; Exit 521A, Garden Highway; and Exit 521B, West El Camino Avenue. Photo taken 01/15/06.
Use Exit 520, Richards Boulevard to Discovery Park, which sits at the confluence of the American and Sacramento Rivers. Photo taken 01/15/06.
The next exit along Interstate 5 north is Exit 521A, Garden Highway, one-half mile. The freeway now crosses over the American River Bridge as it approaches the northern part of the city. Photo taken 01/15/06.
Garden Highway leads northwest, parallel to the winding Sacramento River. The right lane of Interstate 5 north becomes exit only for Exit 519A, Garden Highway. Photo taken 01/15/06.
Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 519A, Garden Highway. Note the yellow overhead warning sign for the loop ramp. Photo taken 01/15/06.
The next exit along northbound Interstate 5 is Exit 521B, West El Camino Avenue, one-quarter mile. West El Camino Avenue is a major east-west corridor, linking various neighborhoods of northern Sacramento. Photo taken 01/15/06.
The right lane becomes exit only for Exit 521B, West El Camino Avenue. Photo taken 01/15/06.
Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 521B, West El Camino Avenue. Photo taken 01/15/06.
The next exit along northbound Interstate 5 is Exit 522, Junction Interstate 80 (one mile). This interchange between two major Interstate highways can be extremely busy, especially during rush hours and when people are headed to Arco Arena for a major sporting event. Photo taken 01/15/06.
Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 522, Junction Interstate 80. The single offramp from northbound splits into two ramps, one for eastbound and another for westbound Interstate 80. Westbound Interstate 80 leads southwest toward the San Francisco Bay Area, while eastbound Interstate 80 leads to the Sierra foothill community of Auburn, over the top of the Sierra Nevada at Donner Pass, then into Reno, Nevada. Hiking, skiing, and gambling traffic all keep Interstate 80 between Sacramento and Reno very busy. Photo taken 01/15/06.
Now on the collector-distributor ramp from Interstate 5 to Interstate 80, the first ramp connects to Interstate 80 east, and the second ramp loops onto Interstate 80 west. Photo taken 01/15/06.
Back on the mainline, the next exit is Exit 524, Arena Boulevard, which serves the Natomas community of the city of Sacramento and the Arco Arena (hence the name of this road). This interchange was built in the mid-2000s as the Natomas area grew. Photo taken 12/29/04.
Meanwhile, back on the collector-distribution lane, the second ramp connects to Interstate 80 west to San Francisco. Continue straight ahead to return to Interstate 5 north. Photo taken 04/02/05.
The right two lanes of Interstate 5 north connect to Exit 524, Arena Boulevard. Photo taken 12/29/04.
Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 524, Arena Boulevard. Four lanes continue north, while the right two lanes exit. Photo taken 12/29/04.
This mileage sign provides the distance to the next three exits: Exit 525A, Del Paso Road; Exit 525B, Junction California 99 north; and Exit 528, Airport Boulevard north to Sacramento International Airport. Photo taken 12/29/04.
The right lane becomes exit only for Del Paso Road, Exit 525A. Del Paso Road leads east-west, but it is mostly heavily traveled as it is the primary route to the Arco Arena, home of the National Basketball Association (NBA) Sacramento Kings. Photo taken 12/29/04.
This exit number sign for Del Paso Road (Exit 525A) was among the first signs to be placed in Caltrans District 3 in 2002. Photo taken by Joel Windmiller (03/10/02).
Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 525A, Del Paso Road. The left three lanes continue north along Interstate 5. Photo taken 12/29/04.
The next exit along northbound Interstate 5 is Exit 525B, Junction California 99 north to California 70. California 99, which had been silently merged with Interstate 5, separates from the Interstate to connect to the cities of Yuba City/Marysville, Chico, and Oroville. Despite its designation, this section of California 99 was never part of U.S. 99. North of Sacramento, U.S. 99E followed U.S. 40 east and California 65 north to Marysville, while U.S. 99W followed U.S. 40 west and California 113 north to Woodland. Photo taken 12/29/04.
Interstate 5 and California 99 split at Exit 525B. The left two lanes continue north along Interstate 5, while the right two lanes (including a new lane from the Del Paso Road interchange) prepare to exit to California 99 north. Note the presence of both an Interstate 5 shield and a California 99 shield along the northbound freeway. In August 2000, Caltrans directed that all California 99 reassurance shields be removed from the shared alignment with Interstate 5 between downtown Sacramento and the split at Exit 525B. This is one of the few shield assemblies that contain both shields. Photo taken 12/29/04.
Until 1996, California 99 was cosigned with California 70 between Interstate 5 and the 70/99 split in Sutter County. However, the split was eliminated, and California 70 was curtailed to end at its junction with California 99. As noted earlier, California 99 is not cosigned along with Interstate 5, either, but it is "silently merged" with Interstate 5. Photo taken 12/29/04.
Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 519A, Junction California 99 north to Yuba City and Marysville. To Woodland, Red Bluff, Redding, Portland, and Sacramento International Airport (SMF), follow Interstate 5 north. Interstate 5 is a much faster route between Sacramento and Redding than California 99 or California 70. California 99 is generally not freeway-standard for most of its route north of Sacramento (excepting sections near Yuba City and Chico). California 70 also has some freeway sections, but it passes directly through downtown Marysville (no bypass). Hence, Interstate 5 is the faster through route. Photo taken 12/29/04.
Interstate 5 north
After splitting with California 99, northbound Interstate 5 turns due west. The next exit is Exit 528, Airport Boulevard and Sacramento International Airport. The airport is the last exit in Sacramento County; after that exit, Interstate 5 will cross the Sacramento River, depart Sacramento County, and enter Yolo County. Photo taken 12/29/04.
Due to the low-lying area ahead, gusty winds are frequent from here past the airport, over the Sacramento River, and over the Yolo Bypass (via the Elkhorn Causeway viaduct). The wind advisory ends once the freeway enters the vicinity of Woodland. Photo taken 12/29/04.
Leaving the urban area, the mileage signs will not show upcoming exits; instead they will feature upcoming cities and points of interest. This sign shows the distance to Woodland (12 miles) and Redding (155 miles). Photo taken 12/29/04.
A roadside sign for Exit 528 is posted shortly thereafter. Sacramento International Airport is a major airport with a variety of local and regional flights. Most major carriers serve this airport. Photo taken 12/29/04.
Use Exit 528 to the Garden Highway via Airport Boulevard north to North Bayou Way west. Garden Highway parallels the Sacramento River on the east bank of the river. At this point, Interstate 5 passes under Power Line Road. Accommodations were made for an eventual interchange at this location if needed. Photo taken 12/29/04.
Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 528, Airport Boulevard north to Sacramento International Airport. Photo taken 12/29/04.
After the airport exit, northbound Interstate 5 continues due west toward Woodland. The next exit is Exit 531, Road 22 in Yolo County. Use Road 22 to Old River Road, which is old California 16-24. Old River Road southeast eventually connects to the I Street Bridge in downtown Sacramento to the south, while Road 22 changes into with Main Street on the way into Woodland. Road 22 is the old alignment for these two state highways, but it has not served as part of the U.S. highway system. Photo taken 12/29/04.
Interstate 5 next crosses the Sacramento River on this 1969 bridge. Photo taken 12/29/04.
At the top of the Sacramento River bridge, Interstate 5 leaves Sacramento County and enters Yolo County. Photo taken 12/29/04.
Scenes Pertaining to Interstate 5
In August 2000, Caltrans directed that all California 99 reassurance shields be removed from the cosigned section with Interstate 5 between downtown Sacramento and near the Sacramento International Airport. Jeff Royston took this shield picture somewhere between Interstate 80 and the California 99 split in January 1997, and it shows the way the cosigned shields used to look before this directive was issued.
