How far is California City, CA from Ricardo, CA?
The driving distance from California City, CA to Ricardo, CA is about 17.7 miles (28.5 km), with a travel time of about 00h 30m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 17.1 miles (27.6 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 01m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM PDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This is an easy same-day return drive.
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 00h 30m.
This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.
This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
Desert in southwestern United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between California City and Ricardo.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between California City and Ricardo.
-
1
Start on California City Boulevard
15 m · 3 sec · California City Boulevard
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2
Turn left onto Neuralia Road
12.9 mi · 23 min · Neuralia Road
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3
Turn sharp left onto Redrock Randsburg Road
94 m · 12 sec · Redrock Randsburg Road
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4
Turn sharp right onto Midland Trail
4 mi · 5 min · Midland Trail
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5
Turn left onto Abbott Drive
1.2 km · 3 min · Abbott Drive
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6
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Abbott Drive
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between California City and Ricardo.
Turn-heavy local drive
The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.
Neuralia Road
Turn left onto Neuralia Road
12.9 mi · 00h 23m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
A short regional drive
This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.
Mostly Sunny leaving California City and Mostly Sunny near Ricardo.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from California City to Ricardo?
The road trip is about 17.7 miles (28.5 km) and usually takes 00h 30m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Mojave is a useful midpoint, sitting about 8.9 miles from California City and 8.8 miles from Ricardo.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 17.1 miles (27.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 0.6 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:28 PM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $3.63 one way or $7.27 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 5.6 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around California City and Mostly Sunny near Ricardo.
Stop Ideas Near Mojave
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 Mojave.
Mojave, California
Tehachapi, California
Lancaster, California
Palmdale (Amtrak Thruway), California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between California City and Ricardo. Straight-line distance: 17.14 mi (27.58 km).
#1 California City
City in Kern County, California
| Population | 14,198 |
| Coordinates | 35.1258000, -117.9859000 |
| Altitude | 733 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Ricardo
Ricardo is a place in California, United States.
| Population | 0 |
| Coordinates | 35.3738500, -117.9892400 |
| Altitude | 785 |
| Country | United States |
End: Ricardo (-117.98924, 35.37385)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 29 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 00h 35m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 00h 26m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 21m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 17m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 15m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 13m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $3.63 | $7.27 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $3.82 | $7.64 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $3.93 | $7.87 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $4.77 | $9.53 |
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 16, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.