The chase began in Solano County and ended outside Sacramento, CHP Sgt. William Bradshaw said.
The driver reached speeds of 120 mph and drove through areas of light traffic, but no injuries or damage were reported.
"It went very smoothly," Bradshaw said of the chase.
At about 7:45 p.m., police in Fairfield spotted a stolen Buick on Woolner Avenue, Bradshaw said.
The car had been stolen in Sacramento, and the driver refused to pull over when officers tried to stop him.
He fled from police and drove onto westbound Interstate Highway 80. Solano County CHP officers pursued him as he drove through Vallejo and crossed the Carquinez Bridge into Contra Costa County, Bradshaw said.
Contra Costa County CHP officers then picked up the chase and followed the driver into Berkeley, where Oakland CHP officers took over. The driver exited Interstate Highway 980 at 18th Street, circled back onto Highway 980 going the opposite direction, and drove east on Highway 580.
Oakland CHP officers followed the driver east until Castro Valley officers picked up the chase. They followed him to Dublin and over the Altamont Pass. CHP officers in Tracy and Stockton also pursued the driver as he continued into the Central Valley and turned north on Interstate Highway 5, Bradshaw said.
Finally the driver ran out of gas and came to a stop on Harbor Point Drive in Elk Grove, just south of Sacramento.
He was arrested without incident at about 9:30 p.m., Bradshaw said.
A CHP helicopter also followed the driver beginning on Highway 580 and ending with his arrest.
