How far is Bakersfield, CA from Chico, CA?
The driving distance from Bakersfield, CA to Chico, CA is about 365.7 miles (588.5 km), with a travel time of about 07h 00m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 338.2 miles (544.2 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 14h 01m 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 07h 00m.
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 California
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Chance Light Rain
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Bakersfield and Chico.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bakersfield and Chico.
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1
Start on Truxtun Avenue
670 ft · 24 sec · Truxtun Avenue
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2
Continue on Truxtun Avenue
747 ft · 27 sec · Truxtun Avenue
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3
Turn right onto Chester Avenue
1.5 km · 2 min · Chester Avenue
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4
Enter the roundabout and take exit 4 toward Golden State Road
591 ft · 12 sec · Golden State Road
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5
Exit the roundabout onto Golden State Road
130 m · 9 sec · Golden State Road
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6
Take the ramp straight
120 m · 11 sec
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7
Merge slight left onto Golden State Avenue
1.9 mi · 2 min · Golden State Avenue
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8
Merge slight left onto Golden State Freeway
5.2 mi · 6 min · Golden State Freeway
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9
Continue on Golden State Highway
111.4 mi · 2 hr · Golden State Highway
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10
Take the exit slight right toward Avenue 7
2522 ft · 31 sec
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11
Merge slight left
21.4 mi · 24 min
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12
Keep slight right to continue on Northbound California State Route 99
84.6 mi · 1 hr 38 min · Northbound California State Route 99
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13
Continue on Golden State Highway
1.8 mi · 2 min · Golden State Highway
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14
Continue on Old U.S. Route 99E
1.3 mi · 1 min · Old U.S. Route 99E
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15
Keep slight left
44.1 mi · 51 min
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16
Take the exit slight right toward US 50 West, US 50 East: San Francisco, South Lake Tahoe
2549 ft · 34 sec
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17
Keep slight left to continue on US 50 West: San Francisco
1.3 km · 1 min
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18
Continue on Capital City Freeway
1.2 mi · 1 min · Capital City Freeway
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19
Take the exit slight right toward I 5: Los Angeles, Redding
803 ft · 15 sec
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20
Keep slight right to continue on I 5 North: Redding
1407 ft · 30 sec
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21
Keep slight left to continue on I 5: Redding
1615 ft · 39 sec
-
22
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
6.7 mi · 8 min · Westside Freeway
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23
Keep slight right to continue on Golden State Highway
7.5 mi · 9 min · Golden State Highway
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24
Continue on Bernie Richter Memorial Highway
5 mi · 6 min · Bernie Richter Memorial Highway
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25
Keep slight right to continue on CA 70 North: Marysville, Oroville
21.7 mi · 26 min
-
26
Turn right onto 5th Street
1272 ft · 31 sec · 5th Street
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27
Turn left onto B Street
1.5 mi · 3 min · B Street
-
28
Continue straight
30.3 mi · 35 min
-
29
Keep slight left
5.7 mi · 7 min
-
30
Merge slight left
7.6 mi · 9 min
-
31
Take the exit slight right toward Skyway
1395 ft · 26 sec
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32
Turn left onto Skyway Road
1849 ft · 41 sec · Skyway Road
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33
Continue on East Park Avenue
2365 ft · 49 sec · East Park Avenue
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34
Turn slight right
46 m · 7 sec
-
35
Turn straight onto Park Avenue
1.3 mi · 2 min · Park Avenue
-
36
Continue on Main Street
1687 ft · 1 min · Main Street
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37
Turn right onto East 5th Street
50 m · 7 sec · East 5th Street
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38
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · East 5th Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Bakersfield and Chico.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Golden State Highway
Continue on Golden State Highway
111 mi · 02h 00m
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.
Mostly Sunny leaving Bakersfield and Chance Light Rain near Chico.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Bakersfield to Chico?
The road trip is about 365.7 miles (588.5 km) and usually takes 07h 00m 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?
Livingston is a useful midpoint, sitting about 182.9 miles from Bakersfield and 182.7 miles from Chico.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 338.2 miles (544.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 27.5 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 $74.42 one way or $148.84 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 114.6 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Bakersfield and Chance Light Rain near Chico.
Stop Ideas Near Livingston
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Livingston.
Denair station
Merced station
Modesto station
Manteca, CA
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Bakersfield and Chico. Straight-line distance: 338.17 mi (544.23 km).
#1 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 |
#2 Chico
The most populous city in Butte County, California.
| Population | 102,867 |
| Coordinates | 39.7284900, -121.8374800 |
| Altitude | 60 |
| Country | United States |
End: Chico (-121.83748, 39.72849)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 588 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 12h 11m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 09h 08m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 07h 18m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 06h 05m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 05h 13m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 33m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $74.42 | $148.84 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $78.25 | $156.50 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $80.53 | $161.07 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $97.61 | $195.23 |
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 19, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.