How far is Alta Sierra, CA from Bakersfield, CA?

The driving distance from Alta Sierra, CA to Bakersfield, CA is about 346.5 miles (557.6 km), with a travel time of about 05h 41m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 283.3 miles (456 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 23m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
346.51 mi
05h 41m
Flight
283.38 mi
456.05 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Alta Sierra.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
283.38 mi
Kilometers
456.05 km
Flight Time
00h 34m

Driving Distance

Road route
346.51 mi
Kilometers
557.65 km
Drive Time
05h 41m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 05h 41m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Bakersfield
Wed, Apr 15, 2:38 AM PDT
Return by in Alta Sierra
Wed, Apr 15, 8:20 AM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Alta Sierra
2026-04-14T20:56
Arrive Bakersfield
Wed, Apr 15, 2:38 AM PDT
Route Timing
05h 41m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:42 AM to 1:42 PM PDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
5:36 AM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Alta Sierra
9:00 PM PDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Merced
CA

The most populous city in Merced County, California.

From Alta Sierra
163 mi
02h 50m
To Bakersfield
183.5 mi
02h 50m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
42°F
Tonight

Partly Cloudy

Starts
Tue, Apr 14 8:00 PM PDT
Wind
2 mph ESE
Destination
71°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, Apr 14 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph NNE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Alta Sierra and Bakersfield.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Alta Sierra and Bakersfield.

  1. 1

    Start on Upper Circle Drive

    767 ft · 37 sec · Upper Circle Drive

  2. 2

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Francis Drive

    105 m · 16 sec · Francis Drive

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Alta Sierra Drive

    3123 ft · 1 min · Alta Sierra Drive

  4. 4

    Continue on Alta Sierra Drive

    1.3 km · 2 min · Alta Sierra Drive

  5. 5

    At the end of the road, turn left

    10.3 mi · 13 min

  6. 6

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Grass Valley Highway

    33 m · 3 sec · Grass Valley Highway

  7. 7

    Exit the roundabout onto Grass Valley Highway

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Grass Valley Highway

  8. 8

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Grass Valley Highway

    32 m · 3 sec · Grass Valley Highway

  9. 9

    Exit the roundabout onto Grass Valley Highway

    5.6 mi · 9 min · Grass Valley Highway

  10. 10

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 80 West: Sacramento

    1346 ft · 33 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto Alan S. Hart Freeway

    16.8 mi · 19 min · Alan S. Hart Freeway

  12. 12

    Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    7.1 mi · 8 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  13. 13

    Keep slight right to continue on Capital City Freeway

    4.9 mi · 5 min · Capital City Freeway

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on Capital City Freeway

    3.7 mi · 4 min · Capital City Freeway

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on Capital City Freeway

    1653 ft · 21 sec · Capital City Freeway

  16. 16

    Continue on South Sacramento Freeway

    56.8 mi · 1 hr 6 min · South Sacramento Freeway

  17. 17

    Keep slight left

    109.3 mi · 2 hr 5 min

  18. 18

    Keep slight left

    41 mi · 44 min

  19. 19

    Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Highway

    58.6 mi · 1 hr 3 min · Golden State Highway

  20. 20

    Continue on Golden State Freeway

    5.2 mi · 6 min · Golden State Freeway

  21. 21

    Keep slight right to continue on Golden State Avenue

    1.9 mi · 2 min · Golden State Avenue

  22. 22

    Take the exit slight right

    145 m · 13 sec

  23. 23

    Continue on Golden State Road

    583 ft · 12 sec · Golden State Road

  24. 24

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Chester Avenue

    59 m · 4 sec · Chester Avenue

  25. 25

    Exit the roundabout onto Chester Avenue

    1.5 km · 2 min · Chester Avenue

  26. 26

    Turn left onto Truxtun Avenue

    37 m · 8 sec · Truxtun Avenue

  27. 27

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Truxtun Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Alta Sierra and Bakersfield.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
27 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
1 merges, 8 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
South Sacramento Freeway
207 mi · 60%
Golden State Highway
58.6 mi · 17%
Alan S. Hart Freeway
16.8 mi · 5%
Capital City Freeway
8.97 mi · 3%
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
7.06 mi · 2%
Grass Valley Highway
6.97 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

South Sacramento Freeway

Keep slight left

109 mi · 02h 05m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
05h 41m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
11h 24m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+63.2 mi
283.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Merced
02h 50m from Alta Sierra
Leave By
5:36 AM PDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Cloudy leaving Alta Sierra and Sunny near Bakersfield.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Alta Sierra to Bakersfield?

The road trip is about 346.5 miles (557.6 km) and usually takes 05h 41m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Merced is a useful midpoint, sitting about 163 miles from Alta Sierra and 183.5 miles from Bakersfield.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 283.3 miles (456 km), while the road route adds roughly 63.2 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 5:36 AM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $70.55 one way or $141.11 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 108.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Cloudy around Alta Sierra and Sunny near Bakersfield.

Stop Ideas Near Merced

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Merced, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Merced.

RAIL

Merced station

1 mi away
324 West 24th St
RAIL

Denair station

38 mi away
3800 Santa Fe Avenue
BUS

Mariposa, CA

50 mi away
Highway 140 and 7th Street
BUS

Mariposa, California

50 mi away
5158 State Highway 140

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Alta Sierra and Bakersfield. Straight-line distance: 283.38 mi (456.05 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Alta Sierra

Alta Sierra is a place in California, United States.

Population0
Coordinates39.1415600, -121.0538400
Altitude704
CountryUnited States
Bakersfield

#2 Bakersfield

The fifth most populous city in California and the center of the Bakersfield metropolitan area.

Population385,725
Coordinates35.3732900, -119.0187100
Altitude123
CountryUnited States
Start: Upper Circle Drive (-121.053865, 39.141827)
End: Truxtun Avenue (-119.01871, 35.373244)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 558 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)11h 32m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 39m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 55m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 46m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 57m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 19m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
12.23 gal
46.28 L · about $70.55
Round trip
$141.11
24.46 gal · 92.56 L
Estimated CO2
108.7 kg one way
Round trip: 217.4 kg / 479 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $70.55 $141.11
Mid-grade $6.07 $74.19 $148.37
Premium $6.24 $76.35 $152.70
Diesel $7.57 $92.54 $185.09

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in California · Apr 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Alta Sierra and Bakersfield. The current time is 20:56:42.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.