How far is Bakersfield, CA from Benicia, CA?

The driving distance from Bakersfield, CA to Benicia, CA is about 279 miles (449 km), with a travel time of about 05h 12m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 253.8 miles (408.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 24m 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
278.97 mi
05h 12m
Flight
253.81 mi
408.46 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Bakersfield.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
253.81 mi
Kilometers
408.46 km
Flight Time
00h 30m

Driving Distance

Road route
278.97 mi
Kilometers
448.96 km
Drive Time
05h 12m

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 12m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Benicia
Thu, Apr 23, 6:12 AM PDT
Return by in Bakersfield
Thu, Apr 23, 11:25 AM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Bakersfield
2026-04-23T01:00
Arrive Benicia
Thu, Apr 23, 6:12 AM PDT
Route Timing
05h 12m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:12 AM to 1:12 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
6:36 AM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Bakersfield
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
Firebaugh
CA

City in Fresno County, California, United States of America

From Bakersfield
139.5 mi
02h 36m
To Benicia
139.5 mi
02h 36m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
74°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph NW
Destination
68°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
6 to 12 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bakersfield and Benicia.

  1. 1

    Start on Truxtun Avenue

    670 ft · 24 sec · Truxtun Avenue

  2. 2

    Continue on Truxtun Avenue

    2.2 mi · 4 min · Truxtun Avenue

  3. 3

    Take the ramp straight toward CA 58: Westside Parkway West

    2888 ft · 1 min

  4. 4

    Continue on Westside Parkway

    6.6 mi · 8 min · Westside Parkway

  5. 5

    Continue on Stockdale Highway

    4.3 mi · 6 min · Stockdale Highway

  6. 6

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Stockdale Highway

    46 m · 2 sec · Stockdale Highway

  7. 7

    Exit the roundabout onto Stockdale Highway

    4.5 mi · 6 min · Stockdale Highway

  8. 8

    Take the exit straight toward I 5 North

    2621 ft · 1 min

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway

    192.7 mi · 3 hr 27 min · Westside Freeway

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway

    15.9 mi · 17 min · William Elton Brown Freeway

  11. 11

    Keep slight right to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway

    1.1 mi · 1 min · William Elton Brown Freeway

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway

    18 mi · 21 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway

  13. 13

    Keep slight right to continue on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway

    1.6 mi · 2 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward I 680 South, I 680 North: San Jose, Sacramento, Concord, Walnut Creek

    857 ft · 16 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight right to continue on I 680 North: Walnut Creek, Concord, Sacramento

    1614 ft · 30 sec

  16. 16

    Merge slight left onto Donald D Doyle Highway

    15.2 mi · 18 min · Donald D Doyle Highway

  17. 17

    Continue on Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway

    5 mi · 6 min · Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway

  18. 18

    Keep slight left to continue on Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway

    6 mi · 7 min · Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway

  19. 19

    Keep slight left to continue on Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway

    74 m · 3 sec · Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway

  20. 20

    Keep slight right to continue on Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway

    1.8 mi · 2 min · Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway

  21. 21

    Keep slight left to continue on I 780: Benicia

    1 mi · 1 min

  22. 22

    Take the exit slight right toward East 5th Street

    957 ft · 33 sec

  23. 23

    Turn left onto East 5th Street

    1048 ft · 33 sec · East 5th Street

  24. 24

    Turn right onto Military East

    2790 ft · 1 min · Military East

  25. 25

    Turn left onto 1st Street

    1739 ft · 44 sec · 1st Street

  26. 26

    Turn left onto East G Street

    45 m · 8 sec · East G Street

  27. 27

    Turn right

    38 m · 9 sec

  28. 28

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
28 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
3 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Westside Freeway
193 mi · 69%
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
19.6 mi · 7%
William Elton Brown Freeway
17 mi · 6%
Donald D Doyle Highway
15.2 mi · 5%
Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
12.9 mi · 5%
Stockdale Highway
8.87 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

Westside Freeway

Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway

193 mi · 03h 27m

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 12m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 24m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+25.2 mi
253.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Firebaugh
02h 36m from Bakersfield
Leave By
6:36 AM PDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Bakersfield and Sunny near Benicia.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Bakersfield to Benicia?

The road trip is about 279 miles (449 km) and usually takes 05h 12m 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?

Firebaugh is a useful midpoint, sitting about 139.5 miles from Bakersfield and 139.5 miles from Benicia.

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

The direct path is about 253.8 miles (408.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 25.2 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 6:36 AM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $56.77 one way or $113.53 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 87.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Bakersfield and Sunny near Benicia.

Stop Ideas Near Firebaugh

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Firebaugh, 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 Firebaugh.

RAIL

Madera

41 mi away
Avenue 15 1/2 at 29th Road
RAIL

Merced station

50 mi away
324 West 24th St
RAIL

Fresno station

61 mi away
2650 Tulare St.
BUS

Lemoore (Naval Air Station), California

73 mi away
25th Ave and Highway 198

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Bakersfield and Benicia. Straight-line distance: 253.81 mi (408.46 km).

Bakersfield

#1 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
Benicia

#2 Benicia

City in Solano County, California, United States

Population27,988
Coordinates38.0493700, -122.1585800
Altitude8
CountryUnited States
Start: Bakersfield (-119.01871, 35.37329)
End: Benicia (-122.15858, 38.04937)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 449 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 17m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 58m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 34m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 38m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 59m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 28m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.84 gal
37.26 L · about $56.77
Round trip
$113.53
19.68 gal · 74.52 L
Estimated CO2
87.4 kg one way
Round trip: 174.9 kg / 386 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $56.77 $113.53
Mid-grade $6.07 $59.69 $119.38
Premium $6.24 $61.43 $122.86
Diesel $7.57 $74.46 $148.92

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

There is no time difference between Bakersfield and Benicia. The current time is 01:00:24.

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.