How far is Bakersfield, CA from Lincoln, CA?

The driving distance from Bakersfield, CA to Lincoln, CA is about 304.1 miles (489.4 km), with a travel time of about 05h 46m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 273.5 miles (440.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 32m 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
304.07 mi
05h 46m
Flight
273.45 mi
440.07 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
273.45 mi
Kilometers
440.07 km
Flight Time
00h 33m

Driving Distance

Road route
304.07 mi
Kilometers
489.36 km
Drive Time
05h 46m

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 46m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Lincoln
Thu, Apr 23, 11:45 AM PDT
Return by in Bakersfield
Thu, Apr 23, 5:31 PM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Bakersfield
2026-04-23T05:59
Arrive Lincoln
Thu, Apr 23, 11:45 AM PDT
Route Timing
05h 46m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:46 AM to 1:46 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
5:28 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
Le Grand
CA

City in Merced County, California, United States

From Bakersfield
152.1 mi
02h 53m
To Lincoln
152 mi
02h 53m

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
72°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
3 to 7 mph N

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Truxtun Avenue

    670 ft · 24 sec · Truxtun Avenue

  2. 2

    Continue on Truxtun Avenue

    747 ft · 27 sec · Truxtun Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Chester Avenue

    1.5 km · 2 min · Chester Avenue

  4. 4

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 4 toward Golden State Road

    591 ft · 12 sec · Golden State Road

  5. 5

    Exit the roundabout onto Golden State Road

    130 m · 9 sec · Golden State Road

  6. 6

    Take the ramp straight

    120 m · 11 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto Golden State Avenue

    1.9 mi · 2 min · Golden State Avenue

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Golden State Freeway

    5.2 mi · 6 min · Golden State Freeway

  9. 9

    Continue on Golden State Highway

    111.4 mi · 2 hr · Golden State Highway

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward Avenue 7

    2522 ft · 31 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left

    21.4 mi · 24 min

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on Northbound California State Route 99

    84.6 mi · 1 hr 38 min · Northbound California State Route 99

  13. 13

    Continue on Golden State Highway

    1.8 mi · 2 min · Golden State Highway

  14. 14

    Continue on Old U.S. Route 99E

    1.3 mi · 1 min · Old U.S. Route 99E

  15. 15

    Keep slight left

    44.7 mi · 52 min

  16. 16

    Continue on Capital City Freeway

    8.9 mi · 10 min · Capital City Freeway

  17. 17

    Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    7 mi · 8 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  18. 18

    Continue on Alan S. Hart Freeway

    3.6 mi · 4 min · Alan S. Hart Freeway

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward CA 65: Lincoln, Marysville

    2063 ft · 1 min

  20. 20

    Continue on Charles J. La Porte Memorial Bridge

    1204 ft · 29 sec · Charles J. La Porte Memorial Bridge

  21. 21

    Continue straight

    7.5 mi · 9 min

  22. 22

    Take the exit slight right toward Lincoln Boulevard

    2162 ft · 53 sec

  23. 23

    Turn right onto Lincoln Boulevard

    1.9 mi · 4 min · Lincoln Boulevard

  24. 24

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Lincoln Boulevard

Car Route Details

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

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
24 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
3 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Golden State Highway
113 mi · 37%
Northbound California State Route 99
84.6 mi · 28%
Old U.S. Route 99E
46 mi · 15%
Avenue 7
21.9 mi · 7%
Capital City Freeway
8.86 mi · 3%
Charles J. La Porte Memorial Bridge
7.69 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

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.

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 46m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
11h 32m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+30.6 mi
273.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Le Grand
02h 53m from Bakersfield
Leave By
5:28 AM PDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Bakersfield and Sunny near Lincoln.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 304.1 miles (489.4 km) and usually takes 05h 46m 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?

Le Grand is a useful midpoint, sitting about 152.1 miles from Bakersfield and 152 miles from Lincoln.

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

The direct path is about 273.5 miles (440.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 30.6 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 5:28 AM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $61.90 one way or $123.80 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 95.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Le Grand

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

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

RAIL

Merced station

22 mi away
324 West 24th St
RAIL

Madera

35 mi away
Avenue 15 1/2 at 29th Road
BUS

Mariposa, CA

38 mi away
Highway 140 and 7th Street
BUS

Mariposa, California

38 mi away
5158 State Highway 140

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Bakersfield and Lincoln. Straight-line distance: 273.45 mi (440.07 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
Lincoln

#2 Lincoln

The most populous city in Placer County, California.

Population48,996
Coordinates38.8915600, -121.2930100
Altitude51
CountryUnited States
Start: Bakersfield (-119.01871, 35.37329)
End: Lincoln (-121.29301, 38.89156)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 489 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 07m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 36m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 04m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 04m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 20m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 47m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.73 gal
40.62 L · about $61.90
Round trip
$123.80
21.46 gal · 81.24 L
Estimated CO2
95.4 kg one way
Round trip: 190.7 kg / 420 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $61.90 $123.80
Mid-grade $6.07 $65.09 $130.18
Premium $6.24 $66.99 $133.97
Diesel $7.57 $81.19 $162.39

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 Lincoln. The current time is 05:59:30.

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.