How far is Big Bear Lake, CA from Sacramento, CA?
The driving distance from Big Bear Lake, CA to Sacramento, CA is about 475.2 miles (764.7 km), with a travel time of about 08h 04m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 393.3 miles (632.9 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 16h 08m 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 08h 04m.
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.
Census designated place
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Chance Light Rain
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Big Bear Lake and Sacramento.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Big Bear Lake and Sacramento.
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1
Start on Pine Knot Avenue
24 m · 11 sec · Pine Knot Avenue
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2
Turn left onto Big Bear Boulevard
3.6 mi · 7 min · Big Bear Boulevard
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3
Turn left onto North Division Drive
1736 ft · 46 sec · North Division Drive
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4
At the end of the road, turn right onto North Shore Drive
15.7 mi · 23 min · North Shore Drive
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5
Continue straight
5.2 mi · 7 min
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6
At the end of the road, turn left
23.1 mi · 33 min
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7
Continue on National Old Trails Highway
1.8 mi · 3 min · National Old Trails Highway
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8
Turn left onto Air Expressway
5.3 mi · 7 min · Air Expressway
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9
Turn right onto Blue Star Memorial Highway
30.3 mi · 36 min · Blue Star Memorial Highway
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10
Turn left onto CA 58 West: Mojave
2667 ft · 1 min
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11
Merge slight left onto Barstow-Bakersfield Highway
4.8 mi · 5 min · Barstow-Bakersfield Highway
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12
Continue on Mojave-Barstow Highway
26.9 mi · 30 min · Mojave-Barstow Highway
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13
Continue on Barstow–Bakersfield Highway
8.2 mi · 9 min · Barstow–Bakersfield Highway
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14
Continue on Bakersfield–Tehachapi Highway
1.2 km · 51 sec · Bakersfield–Tehachapi Highway
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15
Continue on Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway
52.4 mi · 1 hr · Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway
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16
Take the exit slight right toward CA 204: Union Avenue
1161 ft · 30 sec
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17
Turn left onto East Brundage Lane
136 m · 22 sec · East Brundage Lane
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18
Turn right onto Union Avenue
1.5 mi · 2 min · Union Avenue
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19
Continue on Golden State Avenue
3.4 mi · 4 min · Golden State Avenue
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20
Merge slight left onto Golden State Freeway
5.2 mi · 6 min · Golden State Freeway
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21
Continue on Golden State Highway
111.4 mi · 2 hr · Golden State Highway
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22
Take the exit slight right toward Avenue 7
2522 ft · 31 sec
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23
Merge slight left
21.4 mi · 24 min
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24
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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25
Continue on Golden State Highway
1.8 mi · 2 min · Golden State Highway
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26
Continue on Old U.S. Route 99E
1.3 mi · 1 min · Old U.S. Route 99E
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27
Keep slight left
44.7 mi · 52 min
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28
Continue on Capital City Freeway
2593 ft · 32 sec · Capital City Freeway
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29
Take the exit slight right toward N Street
1261 ft · 33 sec
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30
Turn left onto 30th Street
858 ft · 24 sec · 30th Street
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31
Turn left onto L Street
1.1 mi · 2 min · L Street
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32
Turn right onto 16th Street
1265 ft · 33 sec · 16th Street
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33
Turn left onto I Street
2891 ft · 1 min · I Street
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34
Turn left onto 9th Street
22 m · 2 sec · 9th Street
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35
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · 9th Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Big Bear Lake and Sacramento.
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 Big Bear Lake and Chance Light Rain near Sacramento.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Big Bear Lake to Sacramento?
The road trip is about 475.2 miles (764.7 km) and usually takes 08h 04m 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?
Pixley is a useful midpoint, sitting about 228.8 miles from Big Bear Lake and 246.4 miles from Sacramento.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 393.3 miles (632.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 81.9 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 $96.75 one way or $193.49 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 149 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Big Bear Lake and Chance Light Rain near Sacramento.
Stop Ideas Near Pixley
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 Pixley.
Corcoran station
Visalia, California
Wasco station
Goshen Junction, California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Big Bear Lake and Sacramento. Straight-line distance: 393.28 mi (632.92 km).
#1 Big Bear Lake
Small city in San Bernardino County, California
| Population | 5,338 |
| Coordinates | 34.2439000, -116.9114200 |
| Altitude | 2058 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Sacramento
The sixth most populous city in California and the center of the Sacramento metropolitan area.
| Population | 512,838 |
| Coordinates | 38.5815700, -121.4944000 |
| Altitude | 9 |
| Country | United States |
End: 9th Street (-121.49442, 38.581575)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 765 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 15h 49m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 11h 52m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 09h 30m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 07h 55m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 06h 47m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 05h 55m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $96.75 | $193.49 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $101.73 | $203.45 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $104.70 | $209.39 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $126.90 | $253.80 |
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 19, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.