How far is Berkeley, CA from Bakersfield, CA?
The driving distance from Berkeley, CA to Bakersfield, CA is about 282.4 miles (454.4 km), with a travel time of about 04h 32m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 249.7 miles (401.8 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 04m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 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 04h 32m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
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 Illinois, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Areas Of Fog then Sunny
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Berkeley and Bakersfield.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Berkeley and Bakersfield.
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1
Start on University Avenue
24 m · 9 sec · University Avenue
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2
Turn left onto Martin Luther King Junior Way
1.4 mi · 5 min · Martin Luther King Junior Way
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3
Turn straight onto Adeline Street
1410 ft · 53 sec · Adeline Street
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4
Continue on Martin Luther King Junior Way
1.3 km · 2 min · Martin Luther King Junior Way
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5
Keep slight left to continue on Martin Luther King Junior Way
68 m · 6 sec · Martin Luther King Junior Way
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6
Take the ramp slight left toward CA 24 West: Downtown Oakland, San Francisco, Hayward
1025 ft · 25 sec
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7
Keep slight left to continue on I 580: San Francisco, Hayward
1720 ft · 42 sec
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8
Keep slight left to continue on I 580 East: Hayward
1 km · 1 min
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9
Merge slight left onto MacArthur Freeway
14.4 mi · 17 min · MacArthur Freeway
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10
Merge slight left onto Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
11.5 mi · 13 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
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11
Keep slight right to continue on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
17.8 mi · 21 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
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12
Keep slight right to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
11.1 mi · 12 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
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13
Keep slight left to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
5.9 mi · 6 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
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14
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
192.5 mi · 3 hr 26 min · Westside Freeway
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15
Take the exit slight right toward Stockdale Highway
1185 ft · 36 sec
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16
Turn left onto Stockdale Highway
4.8 mi · 7 min · Stockdale Highway
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17
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Stockdale Highway
39 m · 2 sec · Stockdale Highway
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18
Exit the roundabout onto Stockdale Highway
4.3 mi · 6 min · Stockdale Highway
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19
Continue on Westside Parkway
6.7 mi · 8 min · Westside Parkway
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20
Take the exit slight right
2846 ft · 1 min
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21
Turn straight onto Truxtun Avenue
2.2 mi · 4 min · Truxtun Avenue
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22
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Truxtun Avenue
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Berkeley and Bakersfield.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
Westside Freeway
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
193 mi · 03h 26m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Areas Of Fog then Sunny leaving Berkeley and Mostly Sunny near Bakersfield.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Berkeley to Bakersfield?
The road trip is about 282.4 miles (454.4 km) and usually takes 04h 32m 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 138 miles from Berkeley and 144.3 miles from Bakersfield.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 249.7 miles (401.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 32.7 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 7:56 AM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $57.46 one way or $114.92 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 88.5 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Areas Of Fog then Sunny around Berkeley and Mostly Sunny near Bakersfield.
Stop Ideas Near Mendota
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 Mendota.
Madera
Fresno station
Lemoore (Naval Air Station), California
Merced station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Berkeley and Bakersfield. Straight-line distance: 249.68 mi (401.82 km).
#1 Berkeley
The fourth most populous city in Alameda County, California.
| Population | 122,726 |
| Coordinates | 37.8715900, -122.2727500 |
| Altitude | 52 |
| Country | United States |
#2 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 |
End: Truxtun Avenue (-119.01871, 35.373244)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 454 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 09h 24m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 07h 03m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 05h 38m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 04h 42m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 02m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 31m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $57.46 | $114.92 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $60.42 | $120.83 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $62.18 | $124.36 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $75.37 | $150.73 |
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 · 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.