How far is Chico, CA from San Bernardino, CA?
The driving distance from Chico, CA to San Bernardino, CA is about 526.5 miles (847.4 km), with a travel time of about 08h 49m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 462.3 miles (744 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 17h 39m 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 49m.
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 Fresno County, 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 Chico and San Bernardino.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chico and San Bernardino.
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1
Start on East 5th Street
158 m · 30 sec · East 5th Street
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2
Turn left onto Broadway Street
994 ft · 49 sec · Broadway Street
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3
Turn slight left onto Oroville Avenue
818 ft · 18 sec · Oroville Avenue
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4
Continue on Park Avenue
1.3 mi · 3 min · Park Avenue
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5
Continue on East Park Avenue
2627 ft · 56 sec · East Park Avenue
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6
Take the ramp slight right
2452 ft · 32 sec
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7
Merge slight left
8 mi · 9 min
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8
Keep slight left to continue on Oroville, Marysville
5.5 mi · 6 min
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9
Merge slight right
19.1 mi · 22 min
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10
Continue straight
11.1 mi · 13 min
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11
Continue straight
1.5 mi · 3 min
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12
Turn right onto 5th Street
1272 ft · 31 sec · 5th Street
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13
Turn left onto E Street
4.2 mi · 5 min · E Street
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14
Keep slight right
17.5 mi · 20 min
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15
Merge slight left onto Bernie Richter Memorial Highway
4.9 mi · 6 min · Bernie Richter Memorial Highway
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16
Continue on Golden State Highway
7.7 mi · 9 min · Golden State Highway
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17
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
66.3 mi · 1 hr 14 min · Westside Freeway
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18
Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway
1.2 km · 49 sec · Westside Freeway
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19
Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway
236.6 mi · 4 hr 14 min · Westside Freeway
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20
Keep slight right
58.4 mi · 1 hr 7 min
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21
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
2 mi · 2 min · Golden State Freeway
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22
Take the exit slight right toward I 210 East: Pasadena
1347 ft · 18 sec
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23
Continue on Foothill Freeway
24.4 mi · 28 min · Foothill Freeway
-
24
Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway
19.1 mi · 22 min · Foothill Freeway
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25
Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway
2.9 mi · 3 min · Foothill Freeway
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26
Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway
1.4 mi · 2 min · Foothill Freeway
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27
Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway
1.2 mi · 1 min · Foothill Freeway
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28
Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway
1.8 mi · 2 min · Foothill Freeway
-
29
Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway
22.8 mi · 26 min · Foothill Freeway
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30
Take the exit slight right toward I 215: Barstow, Riverside
1209 ft · 29 sec
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31
Keep slight right to continue on I 215 South: Riverside
3196 ft · 1 min
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32
Merge slight left onto Barstow Freeway
1033 ft · 14 sec · Barstow Freeway
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33
Continue on San Bernardino Freeway
1.8 mi · 2 min · San Bernardino Freeway
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34
Take the exit slight right toward CA 66 West: 5th Street, Civic Center
1873 ft · 53 sec
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35
Turn left onto West 5th Street
1.2 km · 2 min · West 5th Street
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36
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · West 5th Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Chico and San Bernardino.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Westside Freeway
Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway
237 mi · 04h 14m
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 Chico and Sunny near San Bernardino.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Chico to San Bernardino?
The road trip is about 526.5 miles (847.4 km) and usually takes 08h 49m 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?
San Joaquin is a useful midpoint, sitting about 262.3 miles from Chico and 264.2 miles from San Bernardino.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 462.3 miles (744 km), while the road route adds roughly 64.2 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 $107.19 one way or $214.38 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 165.1 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Chico and Sunny near San Bernardino.
Stop Ideas Near San Joaquin
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 San Joaquin.
Lemoore (Naval Air Station), California
Fresno station
Madera
Lemoore, California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Chico and San Bernardino. Straight-line distance: 462.33 mi (744.05 km).
#1 Chico
The most populous city in Butte County, California.
| Population | 102,867 |
| Coordinates | 39.7284900, -121.8374800 |
| Altitude | 60 |
| Country | United States |
#2 San Bernardino
The second most populous city in San Bernardino County, California.
| Population | 217,491 |
| Coordinates | 34.1083400, -117.2897700 |
| Altitude | 321 |
| Country | United States |
End: West 5th Street (-117.289794, 34.108326)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 847 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 17h 32m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 13h 09m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 10h 31m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 08h 46m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 07h 31m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 06h 34m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $107.19 | $214.38 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $112.71 | $225.41 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $115.99 | $231.99 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $140.59 | $281.19 |
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.