Planning a day trip to Sacramento? Or perhaps you’ve just got 24 hours to spend and not sure how to kill your time? Well, you’re in the right place, as we’ve got the best ideas for what to do in Sacramento in one day.
From touring the State Capitol Building to exploring Old Town Sacramento and the more modern mural-laden Midtown, there is plenty to see in 24 hours or less in this vibrant city.
Welcome to Sacramento!
I spent two nights in Sacramento and had one full day of sightseeing, and experienced what I felt was a well rounded tour of the city.
In this guide, I share my perfect one day in Sacramento itinerary that will allow you to gain an appreciation of its rich history and modern eclectic culture that makes up its vibrant spirit today.
One Day in Sacramento Itinerary
Today will be a long day with a lot of walking. If you don’t want to walk, see below for how to get around Sacramento using public transport.
This itinerary assumes that you arrive the night before and have a full day starting the next day, but if you arrive mid-afternoon, just scroll down to the time below and work your way on from there.
If you have a bit more than 24 hours to kill, perhaps an additional morning, then I recommend adding on a bike ride along the American River Trail or Sacramento River Bike Trail as your last activity. It’s a great way to see the city and get some exercize in. You can hike the trail too.
8:00am: See the Johnny Cash Mural, Midtown
The Man in Black
We’ll begin our itinerary in Midtown, walk across downtown, and finally end up in the Sacramento River Parkway State Parks. This is the heart of Sacramento and where all the top attractions are based.
Beginning with a photo op, over in Old Town Sacramento, the Johnny Cash Mural is a must-see for music fans. This vibrant mural pays tribute to the legendary singer and features images of his life and career.
The Johnny Cash Mural, which is 15 stories tall and was created by the same artist who produced the 2008 Obama Hope poster to commemorate the 50th anniversary of his Folsom Prison Blues album, attracts visitors from all around.
The Johnny Cash Mural in Sacramento is located at the intersection of 16th and J streets.
8:30am: Grab a coffee and breakfast at Temple Coffee Roasters (Midtown)
Temple Coffee in Midtown
For a great cup of coffee, our top recommendations are to head to Temple Coffee in Midtown Sacramento.
This hip café offers a wide variety of coffees, as well as pastries and sandwiches for breakfast or lunch.
Love this floor. 
Even the coffee bar is covered in them
Pay attention to the 500,000 pennies that make up the café’s floor. I’m sure you’ll find good luck.
Temple Coffee has various locations in the city. My research before visiting told me it’s some of the best coffee in Sacramento. It’s a double thumbs up from me!
9:00am: Explore Midtown and its murals
Midtown is the hip and trendy region of Sacramento located mostly along the residential community with old homes and tree-lined streets.
It’s also the center of Sacramento’s art, music, and cultural scene filled with breweries, hip cafes, upscale dining and clubs, artisans, and vibrant murals.
I loved wandering the streets of this neighborhood, soaking up the vibe, enjoying a coffee, shopping and exploring all the colorful and fun murals.
Stunning mural 
Love this mural 
Everywhere you turn are cool murals like this
Many of the art galleries participate in Second Saturdays and host free receptions on every second Saturday of the month from 6pm to 9pm.
Among locals, a popular event is the Midtown Farmers Market, which brings together more than 50 farmers and other vendors selling fresh produce, fruit, vegetables, and food products
RECOMMENDED TOUR: Midtown Sacramento Arts and Food Tour
Explore the great art and food of Midtown Sacramento on a 3.5-hour walking tour. See colorful murals and hear about their history, stop into galleries, learn about the city’s architecture, and sample dishes at favorites eateries in this lively district.
Click to learn more and book your tour
10:00am: Coffee break in Placita MX
Truly captivating courtyard and mural
If you’re looking for a more unique shopping experience or in need of another coffee, head to Placita MX (K Street) in Midtown.
You’ll find a little taste of Mexico inside a small building with artisan business bordering a gorgeous courtyard area. Items range from vintage finds, incredible artwork, clothes and modern home décor.
Artist: John S Huerta in his studio
You may even see artist, John S. Huerta, at work in his studio. He is the artist behind some of Sacramento’s most famous murals, my favorite one is Frida Kahlo on the side of the Midtown MX building.
Love this mural
12:30pm: Lunch at Midtown’s Catina Alley
Lovely courtyard of Catina Alley
Around the corner from Placita MX is Catina Alley, where we stopped for some deliciously fresh and spicy Asada steak and Baja fish tacos.
Cantina Alley has Oaxaca and Mexico City inspired ala carte street food; most known for their tacos. They’ve replaced the chips and salsa typically served in Mexican restaurants with chicharrons – fried pig rind.
I loved the ambiance of this restaurant, with its outdoor patio, huge mural, sculptures, and bar covered with photograph ceramic tiles. It definitely made me want to go to Mexico City!
1:30pm: Visit Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park
Sutter’s Fort
Sutter’s Fort is a reconstructed fort from the early days of Sacramento and one of the most unmissable historic sites in the city.
It was built in 1839 by Swiss immigrant John Sutter, who received a land grant from the Mexican government.
He used the land to build an agricultural establishment and named it New Helvetia (New Switzerland.) Almost a decade after it was established, miners coming to California for the Gold Rush overran Sutter’s land grant and Sutter’s Fort is all that remains of New Helvetia.
Today, Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park is open daily for self-guided tours and Visitor Center has exhibits on John Sutter and the California Gold Rush.
The fort is open for tours from Wednesday-Monday from 09:00am to 04:00pm. It takes about 45 minutes to an hour to walk around the whole thing.
We had a quick stop here on a short bus tour of the city just to look at the outside.
2:30pm: Visit the State Capitol Building and Grounds
Stunning building
The California State Capitol is a must-see for any visitor to Sacramento, if only to look at the building. After the Gold Rush in 1854, Sacramento was designated as the new capital of California.
The Capitol building serves as both a museum and the state’s working seat of government. The building houses the chambers of the California State Legislature, made up of the Assembly and the Senate, along with the office of the governor of California
The California State Capitol Park and the World Peace Rose Garden on the Capitol grounds is a popular place to relax amongst the lush gardens. It spreads across 40 acres and features trees from all around California, including Redwoods and over 650 different types of roses.
We only walked around the front area of the Capitol to enjoy the building and gardens, but you can do a guided tour which lasts about 90 minutes. You can visit the gardens any time.
The California State Capitol Museum is open from Monday-Friday from 9:00am to 05:00pm, and closed on weekends. Guided tours run from 10:00am – 4:00pm, and are free, but reservations are recommended as they can only take 10-20 people on each tour (check the website on how to reserve tickets).
4:00pm: Explore Old Sacramento State Historic Park
Love Old Town’s style
Are you ready to step back into Gold Rush times? The Old Sacramento Waterfront has been preserved to maintain that 1850s feel with recreated or restored buildings. You’ll find wooden sidewalks, horse drawn carriages or maybe even a living history character or two.
On the way to Old Sacramento from the State Capitol, walk along N Street to admire the architecture of The Leland Stanford Mansion, a historic Victorian Mansion.
Old Sacramento State Historic Park covers eight blocks (28 acres) of historic buildings within the Gold Rush business district. It became a National Historic Landmark in 1965.
such a fun place
Old Town Sacramento is a fun and lively district in the heart of the city, full of charming shops, restaurants, and museums, as well as beautiful architecture.
As it’s one of Sacramento’s top tourist attractions, I was worried this region may be a little kitschy, but I loved it! The architecture of the buildings were stunning and it was tastefully set out and designed and it had such a fun wild west vibe that felt authentic to that spirit, more than poorly fabricated!
The atmosphere at night was buzzing and the perfect place to end our day of exploring in Sacramento.
Highlights of Old Sacramento State Historic Park:
- The California State Railroad Museum: The largest railroad museum west of the Mississippi is in Sacramento and houses numerous locomotives, rail cars – including dining and mail cars – a model train exhibit and tells the story of the building of the transcontinental railroad as well as the role the railroad played in the history of California and the western states.
- The Eagle Theater: the first ever theater built in California.
- The Wells Fargo History Museum: recreates what a 19th century Wells Fargo office looked like in California and showcases how the company influenced Gold Rush era commerce
- Pony Express Terminal: the western end point to the Pony Express and the first location of the California Supreme Court. For those of you who don’t know, the Pony Express was a US mail service in the 1860s that delivered letters and newspapers between Missouri and California by horseback.
- Pony Express Riders Statue nearly-two-ton statue honoring the Pony Express riders
- Sacramento History Museum: fascinating look at the city’s past with the story of the California Gold Rush and the building of the Transcontinental Railroad which began in Sacramento.
- The Crocker Art Museum is the oldest art museum in the Western United States and has an extensive collection of Californian art.
OPTIONAL AFTERNOON TOUR IDEA: RIVER CRUISE
The Sacramento River offers beautiful views of the city and its surroundings, and what better way to enjoy them than on a river cruise? This relaxing and informative tour takes passengers down the river, past landmarks like the State Capitol and Tower Bridge. It’s the perfect way to spend an afternoon in Sacramento. See prices and availability for the tour here.
7:00pm: Sunset on the Riverfront Promenade and Tower Bridge
Part of the promenade within Old Sacramento
With its views of the Sacramento River and the iconic bright yellow Tower Bridge, the Riverfront Promenade is perfect for a stroll at sunset.
The Sacramento Riverfront Promenade is a mile-long, 20-foot-wide, pedestrian and bicycle path extending from the existing promenade (Tower Bridge to O Street) to Miller Park.
Tower Bridge is a beautiful example of Art Deco architecture and is well worth a visit. Constructed in 1935, the center section of this bridge lifts 100 feet above the Sacramento River.
As the sun sets, the bridge and river are bathed in a warm orange glow, making for a truly stunning sight.
8:00pm: Dinner at Rio City Cafe, Sacramento
Rio City Cafe riverside dining
As 80% of the food in the US is produced from the Central Valley region where Sacramento is located, you can expect to find a flourishing farm-to-fork foodie scene in the city.
If you’re looking for a more sophisticated Sacramento dining experience, but with a relaxed feel, then Rio City Café on the Sacramento River is the perfect spot.
The open and airy warehouse-style structure is suited to its riverside location as it was constructed to resemble a 19th century steamboat depot. Sunset on the patio overlooking the river and historic Tower Bridge is tranquil.
The farm-to-fork menu features dishes made from seasonal ingredients sourced from area farms and ranches. I loved my Atlantic salmon and blood orange mezcal signature cocktail.
9:00pm: Drink at Fanny Ann’s Saloon
If you’re looking for a great place to drink in Sacramento, look no further than Fanny Ann’s Saloon. This historic bar is one of the oldest in the city and offers a wide selection of beers on tap, as well as cocktails and wine.
It’s named after the steamboat that was used for transportation during the Gold Rush (and later helped the North in the Civil War!)
There are three levels of memorabilia, including an ancient firehose on wheels, posters, arcade games and funky nooks and crannies. It has a Wild West quirky feel. Some of the posters gave us a great laugh for days after!
If you’re looking for a casual dinner, Fanny Ann’s has been serving up burgers to rave about and beers since 1973! The peanut butter burger is the specialty!
Getting Around Sacramento
Mural of the Transcontinental Railroad
If you don’t have your own car, getting around Sacramento is easy with the help of Sacramento Regional Transit District (RT). Choose from a variety of bus and light rail routes to get you where you need to go.
Click here for rental car prices for Sacramento if you intend to explore further out and need one.
If you are staying in downtown, the highlights in this itinerary can easily be enjoyed walking from point to point. The longest distance would be from Old Town Sacrament to Midtown, which is about a 30-minute walk.
From Old Sacramento to Midtown
This will also allow you to see many wonderful murals along the way, as well as getting a feel for the heartbeat of the city, and perhaps stumble upon a few hidden treasures.
The city is laid out on a grid system with numbered streets running north to south and lettered streets running east to west, making getting around and seeing places in the area a breeze.
Otherwise, the SacRT light rail and bus lines are easy and convenient to use, and ride-share apps such as Lite and Uber are also accessible.
Where to stay in Sacramento: Embassy Suites by Hilton Sacramento Riverfront
Embassy Suites room
If you’re looking for a place to stay in Sacramento, the Embassy Suites by Hilton Sacramento Riverfront Promenade is a great option.
The hotel is only a short walk to Old Sacramento Waterfront District and about 30 minutes to Midtown Sacramento. The suite rooms are spacious with a separate lounge area and desk for those who work as they travel.
They also have evening social hour with free drinks and snacks! Look for their special cocktail of the day. Warning, it may be strong.
This hotel offers stunning views of the river and Tower Bridge from its rooms and suites, as well as free breakfast, WiFi, and parking.
Best time to visit Sacramento
The best time to visit Sacramento is the spring (April-June) or fall (September-November) as they have mild temperatures and dry weather, as well as fewer crowds.
Summer is peak season, and can get very hot, with highs often reaching into the 90s and sometimes even the 100s.
The only reason I would visit Sacramento in the summer is for the California State Fair festival, which is held in July, but the extreme heat is not my vibe.
Sacramento in Spring is beautiful, with its blooming cherry blossoms and lively farmers’ markets, and October is also a great time to visit as Sacramento goes all out for Halloween!
Final Thoughts
Sacramento was never on my list of destinations to visit in California. I barely even knew it was the capital of California and assumed it would be a bland, capital city.
I love it when my travels show me I know nothing. As our number one on our travel manifesto says. “always travel with an open mind!”
Now I want to go back and explore more of this vibrant city (currently one of the fastest growing in California for affordability and lifestyle!)
But, I hope this guide to spending a day in Sacramento, CA has helped you plan how to spend 24 hours at least, and give you an idea of what it’s like.
There is so much to see and do in Sacramento and it truly has something for everyone, from beautiful architecture and museums to great restaurants and bars. So get out and explore all that Sacramento has to offer!
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