How far is Bakersfield, CA from Clayton, CA?

The driving distance from Bakersfield, CA to Clayton, CA is about 260 miles (418.5 km), with a travel time of about 05h 08m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 240 miles (386.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 16m 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
260.02 mi
05h 08m
Flight
240.01 mi
386.26 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
240.01 mi
Kilometers
386.26 km
Flight Time
00h 28m

Driving Distance

Road route
260.02 mi
Kilometers
418.46 km
Drive Time
05h 08m

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 08m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Clayton
Thu, Apr 23, 2:14 AM PDT
Return by in Bakersfield
Thu, Apr 23, 7:22 AM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Bakersfield
2026-04-22T21:06
Arrive Clayton
Thu, Apr 23, 2:14 AM PDT
Route Timing
05h 08m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:08 AM to 1:08 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
6:44 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
Mendota
CA

City in Illinois, United States

From Bakersfield
130.1 mi
02h 34m
To Clayton
130 mi
02h 34m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
71°F
Wednesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph NW
Destination
Clayton Weather
CA
Live fallback forecast
64°F
Wednesday
Using Concord as the closest live forecast in the Contra Costa County weather hub.

Chance Light Rain

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
8 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    13.9 mi · 15 min · William Elton Brown Freeway

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right

    901 ft · 22 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on Patterson Pass Road

    88 m · 7 sec

  13. 13

    Turn straight onto Mountain House Parkway

    1.1 km · 1 min · Mountain House Parkway

  14. 14

    Turn right onto International Parkway

    1.4 km · 2 min · International Parkway

  15. 15

    Continue on Mountain House Parkway

    2.8 mi · 5 min · Mountain House Parkway

  16. 16

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Byron Road

    1.8 mi · 3 min · Byron Road

  17. 17

    Continue on Byron-Bethany Road

    1.5 mi · 2 min · Byron-Bethany Road

  18. 18

    Continue on Byron Highway

    5.1 mi · 8 min · Byron Highway

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Camino Diablo

    1.6 mi · 4 min · Camino Diablo

  20. 20

    Turn right onto Vasco Road

    3.4 mi · 4 min · Vasco Road

  21. 21

    Turn left onto Marsh Creek Road

    15.3 mi · 27 min · Marsh Creek Road

  22. 22

    Continue on Clayton Road

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Clayton Road

  23. 23

    Turn left onto Marsh Creek Road

    96 m · 13 sec · Marsh Creek Road

  24. 24

    Turn right onto Main Street

    624 ft · 34 sec · Main Street

  25. 25

    Turn left onto Diablo Street

    20 m · 3 sec · Diablo Street

  26. 26

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Diablo Street

Car Route Details

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

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
26 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
1 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Westside Freeway
193 mi · 74%
Marsh Creek Road
15.4 mi · 6%
William Elton Brown Freeway
14 mi · 5%
Stockdale Highway
8.87 mi · 3%
Westside Parkway
6.6 mi · 3%
Byron Highway
5.07 mi · 2%
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 08m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 16m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+20 mi
240 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Mendota
02h 34m from Bakersfield
Leave By
6:44 AM PDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Bakersfield and Chance Light Rain near Clayton.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 260 miles (418.5 km) and usually takes 05h 08m 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?

Mendota is a useful midpoint, sitting about 130.1 miles from Bakersfield and 130 miles from Clayton.

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

The direct path is about 240 miles (386.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 20 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 6:44 AM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $52.90 one way or $105.80 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 81.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Bakersfield and Chance Light Rain near Clayton.

Stop Ideas Near Mendota

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

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

RAIL

Madera

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

Fresno station

53 mi away
2650 Tulare St.
BUS

Lemoore (Naval Air Station), California

60 mi away
25th Ave and Highway 198
RAIL

Merced station

62 mi away
324 West 24th St

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Bakersfield and Clayton. Straight-line distance: 240.01 mi (386.26 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
Clayton

#2 Clayton

City in California, United States

Population11,527
Coordinates37.9410300, -121.9357900
Altitude120
CountryUnited States
Start: Bakersfield (-119.01871, 35.37329)
End: Clayton (-121.93579, 37.94103)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 418 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 39m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 30m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 12m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 20m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 42m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 14m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.17 gal
34.73 L · about $52.90
Round trip
$105.80
18.34 gal · 69.46 L
Estimated CO2
81.5 kg one way
Round trip: 163 kg / 359 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $52.90 $105.80
Mid-grade $6.07 $55.63 $111.25
Premium $6.24 $57.25 $114.50
Diesel $7.57 $69.39 $138.78

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 Clayton. The current time is 21:06:13.

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.