How far is Arcata, CA from Bakersfield, CA?
The driving distance from Arcata, CA to Bakersfield, CA is about 560.9 miles (902.7 km), with a travel time of about 09h 07m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 468.6 miles (754.2 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 18h 14m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM PDT.
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 09h 07m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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.
City in Alameda County, California, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Scattered Rain Showers
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Arcata and Bakersfield.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arcata and Bakersfield.
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1
Start on the route
90 m · 7 sec
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2
Merge slight left onto Redwood Highway
701 ft · 9 sec · Redwood Highway
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3
Take the exit slight right toward 14th Street
1152 ft · 34 sec
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4
Turn left onto 14th Street
144 m · 20 sec · 14th Street
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5
Take the ramp sharp left
1066 ft · 26 sec
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6
Merge slight left onto Redwood Highway
6.7 mi · 9 min · Redwood Highway
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7
Continue on 4th Street
1.5 mi · 4 min · 4th Street
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8
Turn left onto Broadway Street
3 mi · 6 min · Broadway Street
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9
Continue on Redwood Highway
128.9 mi · 2 hr 38 min · Redwood Highway
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10
Continue on Willits Bypass
5.4 mi · 6 min · Willits Bypass
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11
Continue on Redwood Highway
116.2 mi · 2 hr 18 min · Redwood Highway
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12
Keep slight right to continue on John T. Knox Freeway
13.6 mi · 17 min · John T. Knox Freeway
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13
Merge slight left onto Eastshore Freeway
3.8 mi · 5 min · Eastshore Freeway
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14
Keep slight left to continue on Interstate Highway 80
1321 ft · 21 sec · Interstate Highway 80
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15
Keep slight left to continue on MacArthur Freeway
16.4 mi · 19 min · MacArthur Freeway
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16
Merge slight left onto Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
11.5 mi · 13 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
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17
Keep slight right to continue on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
17.8 mi · 21 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
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18
Keep slight right to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
11.1 mi · 12 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
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19
Keep slight left to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
5.9 mi · 6 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
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20
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
192.5 mi · 3 hr 26 min · Westside Freeway
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21
Take the exit slight right toward Stockdale Highway
1185 ft · 36 sec
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22
Turn left onto Stockdale Highway
4.8 mi · 7 min · Stockdale Highway
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23
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Stockdale Highway
39 m · 2 sec · Stockdale Highway
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24
Exit the roundabout onto Stockdale Highway
4.3 mi · 6 min · Stockdale Highway
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25
Continue on Westside Parkway
6.7 mi · 8 min · Westside Parkway
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26
Take the exit slight right
2846 ft · 1 min
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27
Turn straight onto Truxtun Avenue
2.2 mi · 4 min · Truxtun Avenue
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28
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Truxtun Avenue
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Arcata and Bakersfield.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Westside Freeway
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
193 mi · 03h 26m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
Better with a longer stop
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
Scattered Rain Showers leaving Arcata and Mostly Sunny near Bakersfield.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Arcata to Bakersfield?
The road trip is about 560.9 miles (902.7 km) and usually takes 09h 07m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Albany is a useful midpoint, sitting about 277.1 miles from Arcata and 283.8 miles from Bakersfield.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 468.6 miles (754.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 92.3 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 7:30 AM PDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $114.17 one way or $228.34 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 175.9 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Scattered Rain Showers around Arcata and Mostly Sunny near Bakersfield.
Stop Ideas Near Albany
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
San Francisco City Hall Wedding Photographer
Alameda Public Works Department
Old Berkeley City Hall
My City Hall Wedding
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Albany.
Berkeley station
Emeryville station
Richmond station
Oakland – Jack London Square station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Arcata and Bakersfield. Straight-line distance: 468.66 mi (754.24 km).
#1 Arcata
City in California
| Population | 18,044 |
| Coordinates | 40.8665200, -124.0828400 |
| Altitude | 7 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Bakersfield
The fifth most populous city in California and the center of the Bakersfield metropolitan area.
| Population | 385,725 |
| Coordinates | 35.3732900, -119.0187100 |
| Altitude | 123 |
| Country | United States |
End: Truxtun Avenue (-119.01871, 35.373244)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 903 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 18h 41m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 14h 01m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 11h 13m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 09h 20m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 08h 00m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 06h 59m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $114.17 | $228.34 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $120.05 | $240.09 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $123.55 | $247.10 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $149.75 | $299.50 |
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 23, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.