How far is Bakersfield, CA from Nevada City, CA?
The driving distance from Bakersfield, CA to Nevada City, CA is about 334.5 miles (538.4 km), with a travel time of about 06h 24m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 290.2 miles (467.1 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 49m 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 06h 24m.
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.
The most populous city in Merced County, California.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Bakersfield and Nevada City.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bakersfield and Nevada City.
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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
44.7 mi · 52 min
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16
Continue on Capital City Freeway
8.9 mi · 10 min · Capital City Freeway
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17
Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
7 mi · 8 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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18
Continue on Alan S. Hart Freeway
16.9 mi · 19 min · Alan S. Hart Freeway
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19
Take the exit slight right toward CA 49 North: Grass Valley, Placerville
943 ft · 31 sec
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20
Turn left onto Grass Valley Highway
5.8 mi · 9 min · Grass Valley Highway
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21
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Grass Valley Highway
36 m · 3 sec · Grass Valley Highway
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22
Exit the roundabout onto Grass Valley Highway
1.3 mi · 2 min · Grass Valley Highway
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23
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Grass Valley Highway
36 m · 3 sec · Grass Valley Highway
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24
Exit the roundabout onto Grass Valley Highway
1.1 mi · 1 min · Grass Valley Highway
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25
Continue on State Highway 49
18.9 mi · 25 min · State Highway 49
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26
Take the exit slight right toward Broad Street
1025 ft · 26 sec
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27
Turn left onto Broad Street
65 m · 12 sec · Broad Street
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28
Take the ramp left
73 m · 4 sec
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29
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Bakersfield and Nevada City.
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.
Sunny leaving Bakersfield and Sunny near Nevada City.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Bakersfield to Nevada City?
The road trip is about 334.5 miles (538.4 km) and usually takes 06h 24m 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?
Merced is a useful midpoint, sitting about 167.4 miles from Bakersfield and 167.2 miles from Nevada City.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 290.2 miles (467.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 44.3 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 $68.13 one way or $136.26 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 105 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Bakersfield and Sunny near Nevada City.
Stop Ideas Near Merced
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 Merced.
Merced station
Denair station
Mariposa, CA
Mariposa, California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Bakersfield and Nevada City. Straight-line distance: 290.23 mi (467.08 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 Nevada City
Town in California, County Seat of Nevada County, historic mining town
| Population | 3,148 |
| Coordinates | 39.2617300, -121.0177900 |
| Altitude | 755 |
| Country | United States |
End: Nevada City (-121.01779, 39.26173)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 538 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 11h 08m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 08h 21m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 41m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 34m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 46m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 10m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $68.13 | $136.26 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $71.64 | $143.28 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $73.73 | $147.46 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $89.37 | $178.73 |
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 · May 31, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.