How far is Bakersfield, CA from Santa Rosa, CA?
The driving distance from Bakersfield, CA to Santa Rosa, CA is about 329.4 miles (530.1 km), with a travel time of about 06h 13m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 294.2 miles (473.5 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 26m 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 13m.
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 county seat of Merced County, California.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Bakersfield and Santa Rosa.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bakersfield and Santa Rosa.
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1
Start on Truxtun Avenue
670 ft · 24 sec · Truxtun Avenue
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2
Continue on Truxtun Avenue
2.2 mi · 4 min · Truxtun Avenue
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3
Take the ramp straight toward CA 58: Westside Parkway West
2888 ft · 1 min
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4
Continue on Westside Parkway
6.6 mi · 8 min · Westside Parkway
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5
Continue on Stockdale Highway
4.3 mi · 6 min · Stockdale Highway
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6
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Stockdale Highway
46 m · 2 sec · Stockdale Highway
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7
Exit the roundabout onto Stockdale Highway
4.5 mi · 6 min · Stockdale Highway
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8
Take the exit straight toward I 5 North
2621 ft · 1 min
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9
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
192.7 mi · 3 hr 27 min · Westside Freeway
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10
Keep slight left to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
15.9 mi · 17 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
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11
Keep slight right to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
1.1 mi · 1 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
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12
Merge slight left onto Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
18 mi · 21 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
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13
Keep slight right to continue on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
11.6 mi · 13 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
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14
Keep slight right to continue on MacArthur Freeway
8.3 mi · 10 min · MacArthur Freeway
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15
Keep slight left to continue on MacArthur Freeway
8.3 mi · 10 min · MacArthur Freeway
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16
Continue on Eastshore Freeway
3.3 mi · 4 min · Eastshore Freeway
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17
Keep slight right to continue on John T. Knox Freeway
12.9 mi · 17 min · John T. Knox Freeway
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18
Keep slight left to continue on US 101 North: San Rafeal
1.1 km · 54 sec
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19
Merge slight left onto Redwood Highway
37 mi · 43 min · Redwood Highway
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20
Take the exit slight right toward Third Street, Downtown
1256 ft · 31 sec
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21
Keep slight right to continue on Third Street, Downtown
775 ft · 25 sec
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22
Turn right onto 3rd Street
915 ft · 33 sec · 3rd Street
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23
Turn left onto B Street
100 m · 18 sec · B Street
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24
Turn right onto 4th Street
136 m · 12 sec · 4th Street
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25
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · 4th Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Bakersfield and Santa Rosa.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
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.
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 Mostly Sunny near Santa Rosa.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Bakersfield to Santa Rosa?
The road trip is about 329.4 miles (530.1 km) and usually takes 06h 13m 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?
Los Banos is a useful midpoint, sitting about 164.7 miles from Bakersfield and 164.7 miles from Santa Rosa.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 294.2 miles (473.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 35.2 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 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 $67.04 one way or $134.07 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 103.3 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Bakersfield and Mostly Sunny near Santa Rosa.
Stop Ideas Near Los Banos
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 Los Banos.
Merced station
Denair station
Gilroy, California
Modesto station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Bakersfield and Santa Rosa. Straight-line distance: 294.23 mi (473.51 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 Santa Rosa
The fifth most populous city in California.
| Population | 174,613 |
| Coordinates | 38.4404700, -122.7144300 |
| Altitude | 50 |
| Country | United States |
End: Santa Rosa (-122.71443, 38.44047)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 530 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 10h 58m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 08h 14m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 35m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 29m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 42m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 06m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $67.04 | $134.07 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $70.49 | $140.97 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $72.54 | $145.09 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $87.93 | $175.86 |
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 · Jun 02, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.