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Sacramento air right now

GoodAQI 23

Sacramento’s five-day smoke forecast shows the current index and the clearest time ahead.

23
AQI now
4.1
PM2.5 · µg/m³
1 cleaner spot within 3 hr drive

Where are you?

Search covers Canada and the United States.

The better move within a 3-hour drive

Dates

Dates follow you into hotel searches. Live inventory is confirmed by the provider.

South Lake Tahoe looks like the better move.76% cleaner air with a verified 2 h 15 min road trip. Rankings balance cleaner air with trip ease.

Every town is also available in the ranked list.
Sacramento Clean · PM2.5 0–5 Good · 5–9 Elevated · 9–15 Polluted · 15–35 Unhealthy · 35–55 Severe · 55+
Top pick
Sutter Creek
Cel-shaded illustration of Sutter Creek
AQI 6
#1Sutter CreekChecking road route

California· Good

Small Gold Country town on Highway 49, a walkable historic Main Street above the valley haze.

76% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 1 µg/m³ here vs 4.1 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 1/22 × 7 = 0.3 here; 4.1/22 × 7 = 1.3 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

3.1 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Sacramento right now

76% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the San Andreas monitor.

Directions
Jackson
Cel-shaded illustration of Jackson
AQI 6
#2JacksonChecking road route

California· Good

Amador County Gold Rush town in the Sierra foothills, above the valley haze with historic inns.

76% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 1 µg/m³ here vs 4.1 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 1/22 × 7 = 0.3 here; 4.1/22 × 7 = 1.3 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

3.1 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Sacramento right now

76% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the San Andreas monitor.

Directions
Murphys
Cel-shaded illustration of Murphys
AQI 6
#3MurphysChecking road route

California· Good

Calaveras County Gold Rush village with a wine-tasting Main Street, above the Central Valley haze.

76% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 1 µg/m³ here vs 4.1 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 1/22 × 7 = 0.3 here; 4.1/22 × 7 = 1.3 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

3.1 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Sacramento right now

76% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the San Andreas monitor.

Directions
Sonora
Cel-shaded illustration of Sonora
AQI 6
#4SonoraChecking road route

California· Good

Gold Rush county seat in the Sierra foothills, set higher than the Central Valley with a historic Main Street.

76% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 1 µg/m³ here vs 4.1 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 1/22 × 7 = 0.3 here; 4.1/22 × 7 = 1.3 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

3.1 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Sacramento right now

76% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the San Andreas monitor.

Directions
Still smoky
Placerville
Cel-shaded illustration of Placerville
AQI 11
#5PlacervilleChecking road route

California· Good

Gold Country town on Highway 50 toward Tahoe, at higher elevation than the Sacramento Valley below.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 2 µg/m³ here vs 4.1 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 2/22 × 7 = 0.6 here; 4.1/22 × 7 = 1.3 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

2.1 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Sacramento right now

51% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Folsom monitor.

Directions
Still smoky
Stockton
Cel-shaded illustration of Stockton
AQI 11
#6Stockton~1 h drive

California· Good

A major California city with broad lodging options and live air-quality readings for comparison when smoke shifts across the region.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 2 µg/m³ here vs 4.1 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 2/22 × 7 = 0.6 here; 4.1/22 × 7 = 1.3 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

2.1 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Sacramento right now

51% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Stockton - University Park monitor.

Directions
Still smoky
Chico
Cel-shaded illustration of Chico
AQI 11
#7Chico~1 h 50 min drive

California· Good

A major California city with broad lodging options and live air-quality readings for comparison when smoke shifts across the region.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 2 µg/m³ here vs 4.1 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 2/22 × 7 = 0.6 here; 4.1/22 × 7 = 1.3 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

2.1 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Sacramento right now

51% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Paradise - Clark Road monitor.

Directions
Still smoky
Modesto
Cel-shaded illustration of Modesto
AQI 13
#8Modesto~1 h 30 min drive

California· Good

A major California city with broad lodging options and live air-quality readings for comparison when smoke shifts across the region.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 2.4 µg/m³ here vs 4.1 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 2.4/22 × 7 = 0.8 here; 4.1/22 × 7 = 1.3 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
41% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Modesto - 14th Street monitor.

Directions
Still smoky
St. Helena
Cel-shaded illustration of St. Helena
AQI 17
#9St. HelenaChecking road route

California· Good

Central Napa Valley wine town beneath Mount St. Helena, with a walkable Main Street of inns.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 3 µg/m³ here vs 4.1 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 3/22 × 7 = 1.0 here; 4.1/22 × 7 = 1.3 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
27% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 4:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Sebastopol monitor.

Directions
Still smoky
Calistoga
Cel-shaded illustration of Calistoga
AQI 17
#10CalistogaChecking road route

California· Good

Napa Valley spa town at the valley's north end, ringed by hills with a deep base of inns and resorts.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 3 µg/m³ here vs 4.1 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 3/22 × 7 = 1.0 here; 4.1/22 × 7 = 1.3 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
27% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 4:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Sebastopol monitor.

Directions
Still smoky
Healdsburg
Cel-shaded illustration of Healdsburg
AQI 17
#11HealdsburgChecking road route

California· Good

Russian River wine town north of Santa Rosa, with a walkable plaza and a deep base of inns.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 3 µg/m³ here vs 4.1 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 3/22 × 7 = 1.0 here; 4.1/22 × 7 = 1.3 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
27% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 4:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Sebastopol monitor.

Directions
Still smoky
Occidental
Cel-shaded illustration of Occidental
AQI 17
#12OccidentalChecking road route

California· Good

Small redwood-forest village in the Sonoma hills, cooler than the valley floor with inns and B&Bs.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 3 µg/m³ here vs 4.1 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 3/22 × 7 = 1.0 here; 4.1/22 × 7 = 1.3 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
27% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 4:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Sebastopol monitor.

Directions
Willits
Cel-shaded illustration of Willits
AQI 4
#13WillitsChecking road route

California· Good

Mendocino County valley town on Highway 101, higher and cooler than the coast with motels.

83% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 0.7 µg/m³ here vs 4.1 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 0.7/22 × 7 = 0.2 here; 4.1/22 × 7 = 1.3 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

3.4 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Sacramento right now

83% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Willits Blosser Lane monitor.

Directions
South Lake Tahoe
Cel-shaded illustration of South Lake Tahoe
AQI 6
#14South Lake Tahoe~2 h 15 min drive

California· Good

Alpine resort town on the south shore of Lake Tahoe above 6,200 feet, where mountain air and open water pair for a clear reset, with extensive lodging.

76% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 1 µg/m³ here vs 4.1 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 1/22 × 7 = 0.3 here; 4.1/22 × 7 = 1.3 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

3.1 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Sacramento right now

76% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the CC_Armory monitor.

Directions
Still smoky
Chester
Cel-shaded illustration of Chester
AQI 10
#15ChesterChecking road route

California· Good

Lake Almanor resort town near 4,500 feet in the northern Sierra, an open-water mountain escape.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 1.8 µg/m³ here vs 4.1 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 1.8/22 × 7 = 0.6 here; 4.1/22 × 7 = 1.3 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

2.3 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Sacramento right now

56% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 6:27 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is estimated for this town.

Directions
Still smoky
Guerneville
Cel-shaded illustration of Guerneville
AQI 17
#16GuernevilleChecking road route

California· Good

Redwood-canopy Russian River resort town, cooled by coastal fog pulled inland, with cabins and inns.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 3 µg/m³ here vs 4.1 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 3/22 × 7 = 1.0 here; 4.1/22 × 7 = 1.3 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
27% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 4:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Sebastopol monitor.

Directions
Still smoky
Bodega Bay
Cel-shaded illustration of Bodega Bay
AQI 17
#17Bodega Bay~2 h 20 min drive

California· Good

Fishing village on an open Sonoma Coast bay, exposed to constant Pacific wind north of San Francisco, with harbourside lodges.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 3 µg/m³ here vs 4.1 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 3/22 × 7 = 1.0 here; 4.1/22 × 7 = 1.3 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
27% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 4:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Sebastopol monitor.

Directions
Mendocino
Cel-shaded illustration of Mendocino
AQI 4
#18Mendocino~4 h 5 min drive

California· Good

Clifftop village on the wild Mendocino Coast, wrapped in cool onshore ocean air, with historic inns and B&Bs.

83% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 0.7 µg/m³ here vs 4.1 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 0.7/22 × 7 = 0.2 here; 4.1/22 × 7 = 1.3 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

3.4 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Sacramento right now

83% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Willits Blosser Lane monitor.

Directions
Fort Bragg
Cel-shaded illustration of Fort Bragg
AQI 4
#19Fort Bragg~4 h 15 min drive

California· Good

Working coastal town on the Mendocino shoreline, swept by open Pacific wind, with motels and rentals just off the water.

83% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 0.7 µg/m³ here vs 4.1 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 0.7/22 × 7 = 0.2 here; 4.1/22 × 7 = 1.3 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

3.4 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Sacramento right now

83% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Willits Blosser Lane monitor.

Directions
Still smoky
Dunsmuir
Cel-shaded illustration of Dunsmuir
AQI 9
#20DunsmuirChecking road route

California· Good

Railroad town in the upper Sacramento River canyon below Mount Shasta, with cool forested-canyon air.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 1.7 µg/m³ here vs 4.1 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 1.7/22 × 7 = 0.5 here; 4.1/22 × 7 = 1.3 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

2.4 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Sacramento right now

59% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 6:27 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is estimated for this town.

Directions
Bad week ahead? Check the 7-day outlook — if it won’t clear, book the trip

7-day outlook

Plan the next seven days

Pick a day, or compare the whole week. Weather is forecast; air quality is the latest available reading.

Loading the week…

Finding the nicest days and reachable cities.

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDTLast scan Aug 23, 6:27 p.m. EDT · 49 min ago

Why live rankings? Smoke plumes are patchy and shift with the wind, so no direction is reliably cleaner. This list is recalculated from live PM2.5 every hour — and if everything nearby is smoky, it says so.

How we work this out →

Browse all 200 cities by province & state →

More air-quality pages in California →
Anaheim air qualityBakersfield air qualityChico air qualityFresno air qualityLos Angeles air qualityModesto air qualityRedding air qualityRiverside air qualitySan Bernardino air qualitySan Diego air qualitySan Francisco air qualitySan Jose air qualityStockton air quality
Air quality in nearby cities →
Reno air qualityMedford air qualityBend air qualityLas Vegas air qualityEugene air qualityHenderson air qualityBoise air qualitySalem air qualityPortland air qualitySalt Lake City air qualityOgden air qualityProvo air quality

What this means · Sacramento

Good

AQI 23

AQI = Air Quality Index

Typical person. Air quality is satisfactory for most outdoor plans.

Kids, seniors, heart or lung conditions. Unusually sensitive people can still enjoy the outdoors.

The AQI on this page follows fine particles (PM2.5). Particles here are 4.1 µg/m³ (Clean), so the headline and the particle scale below tell the same story.

Act two · Fine particles only

Where PM2.5 lands

This bar is smoke and fine particles (PM2.5) only. Left is cleaner air; right is heavier particle pollution. Today's particles sit in Clean.

4.1 µg/m³
Clean · 0Smoky · 40Severe · 80+

Act three · Particle ladder

What each PM2.5 rung feels like

  • 0–3µg/m³Natural. About as clean as outdoor air realistically gets.
  • 3–5µg/m³Clean. Crisp, destination-worthy air.
  • 5–9µg/m³Good. Clean city air; most people will not notice anything today.
  • 9–15µg/m³Elevated. Usually no big deal today; sensitive lungs may notice hard exercise.
  • 15–35µg/m³Polluted. Smoke or traffic pollution is now worth acting on.
  • 35–55µg/m³Unhealthy. Symptoms become more likely, especially with asthma or heart disease.
  • 55+µg/m³Severe. Everyone should reduce exposure and clean the indoor air.

Act four · Felt number

Cigarettes a week

A secondary feel for the particle load only — not a medical claim, and not a substitute for AQI.

1.3/wk

What is PM2.5?

Fine particles about 30× thinner than a human hair — small enough to slip through your lungs and into your bloodstream. We measure them inµg/m³: micrograms of particle mass in a cubic metre of air.

The math

PM2.5 here is 4.1 µg/m³.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at this level: 4.1/22 × 7 = 1.3 cigarettes.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
See the full method →