How far is Bakersfield, CA from Willows, CA?
The driving distance from Bakersfield, CA to Willows, CA is about 361.3 miles (581.5 km), with a travel time of about 06h 46m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 335.5 miles (539.9 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 13h 33m 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 46m.
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
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Bakersfield and Willows.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bakersfield and Willows.
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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
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22
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
6.7 mi · 8 min · Westside Freeway
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23
Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway
75.6 mi · 1 hr 22 min · Westside Freeway
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24
Take the exit slight right toward County Road 57
1314 ft · 20 sec
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25
Turn right onto County Road 57
152 m · 19 sec · County Road 57
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26
Turn left onto Highway 99W
1 mi · 2 min · Highway 99W
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27
Continue on South Tehama Street
1.2 km · 1 min · South Tehama Street
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28
Continue on Old U.S. Route 99W
1341 ft · 31 sec · Old U.S. Route 99W
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29
Turn right onto West Wood Street
31 m · 2 sec · West Wood Street
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30
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · West Wood Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Bakersfield and Willows.
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 Sunny near Willows.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Bakersfield to Willows?
The road trip is about 361.3 miles (581.5 km) and usually takes 06h 46m 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 180.8 miles from Bakersfield and 180.6 miles from Willows.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 335.5 miles (539.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 25.8 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 $73.55 one way or $147.11 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 113.3 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Bakersfield and Sunny near Willows.
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 Willows. Straight-line distance: 335.48 mi (539.91 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 Willows
City in California, USA
| Population | 6,036 |
| Coordinates | 39.5243300, -122.1935900 |
| Altitude | 42 |
| Country | United States |
End: Willows (-122.19359, 39.52433)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 582 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 12h 02m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 09h 02m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 07h 13m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 06h 01m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 05h 09m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 30m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $73.55 | $147.11 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $77.34 | $154.68 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $79.60 | $159.20 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $96.48 | $192.96 |
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
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.