How far is Citrus Heights, CA from Bakersfield, CA?

The driving distance from Citrus Heights, CA to Bakersfield, CA is about 308.4 miles (496.4 km), with a travel time of about 04h 53m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 262 miles (421.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 46m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT.
Trip Tools

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.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
308.45 mi
04h 53m
Flight
261.95 mi
421.56 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Citrus Heights.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
261.95 mi
Kilometers
421.56 km
Flight Time
00h 31m

Driving Distance

Road route
308.45 mi
Kilometers
496.4 km
Drive Time
04h 53m

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 53m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Bakersfield
Thu, Apr 23, 4:01 AM PDT
Return by in Citrus Heights
Thu, Apr 23, 8:54 AM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Citrus Heights
2026-04-22T23:08
Arrive Bakersfield
Thu, Apr 23, 4:01 AM PDT
Route Timing
04h 53m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:53 AM to 12:53 PM PDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
7:14 AM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Citrus Heights
9:00 PM PDT
Early departure recommended

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.

Mid-route stop
Chowchilla
CA

City in Madera County, California, United States

From Citrus Heights
145 mi
02h 26m
To Bakersfield
163.4 mi
02h 26m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
65°F
Wednesday

Chance Light Rain

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
7 mph S
Destination
71°F
Wednesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Citrus Heights and Bakersfield.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Citrus Heights and Bakersfield.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    15 m · 9 sec

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Mariposa Avenue

    530 ft · 19 sec · Mariposa Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Antelope Road

    1.6 mi · 3 min · Antelope Road

  4. 4

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 80 West: Sacramento

    1602 ft · 39 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    5 mi · 6 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  6. 6

    Keep slight right to continue on Capital City Freeway

    4.9 mi · 5 min · Capital City Freeway

  7. 7

    Keep slight left to continue on Capital City Freeway

    3.7 mi · 4 min · Capital City Freeway

  8. 8

    Keep slight left to continue on Capital City Freeway

    1653 ft · 21 sec · Capital City Freeway

  9. 9

    Continue on South Sacramento Freeway

    56.8 mi · 1 hr 6 min · South Sacramento Freeway

  10. 10

    Keep slight left

    109.3 mi · 2 hr 5 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight left

    41 mi · 44 min

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Highway

    58.6 mi · 1 hr 3 min · Golden State Highway

  13. 13

    Continue on Golden State Freeway

    5.2 mi · 6 min · Golden State Freeway

  14. 14

    Keep slight right to continue on Golden State Avenue

    1.9 mi · 2 min · Golden State Avenue

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right

    145 m · 13 sec

  16. 16

    Continue on Golden State Road

    583 ft · 12 sec · Golden State Road

  17. 17

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Chester Avenue

    59 m · 4 sec · Chester Avenue

  18. 18

    Exit the roundabout onto Chester Avenue

    1.5 km · 2 min · Chester Avenue

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Truxtun Avenue

    37 m · 8 sec · Truxtun Avenue

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Truxtun Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Citrus Heights and Bakersfield.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
20 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
1 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
6.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
South Sacramento Freeway
207 mi · 67%
Golden State Highway
58.6 mi · 19%
Capital City Freeway
8.97 mi · 3%
Golden State Freeway
5.16 mi · 2%
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
4.96 mi · 2%
Golden State Avenue
2.03 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

South Sacramento Freeway

Keep slight left

109 mi · 02h 05m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
04h 53m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 46m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+46.4 mi
262 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Chowchilla
02h 26m from Citrus Heights
Leave By
7:14 AM PDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Light Rain leaving Citrus Heights 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 Citrus Heights to Bakersfield?

The road trip is about 308.4 miles (496.4 km) and usually takes 04h 53m 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?

Chowchilla is a useful midpoint, sitting about 145 miles from Citrus Heights and 163.4 miles from Bakersfield.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 262 miles (421.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 46.4 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 7:14 AM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $62.77 one way or $125.53 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 96.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Light Rain around Citrus Heights and Mostly Sunny near Bakersfield.

Stop Ideas Near Chowchilla

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Chowchilla, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Chowchilla.

RAIL

Madera

27 mi away
Avenue 15 1/2 at 29th Road
RAIL

Merced station

28 mi away
324 West 24th St
BUS

Mariposa, CA

48 mi away
Highway 140 and 7th Street
BUS

Mariposa, California

48 mi away
5158 State Highway 140

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Citrus Heights and Bakersfield. Straight-line distance: 261.95 mi (421.56 km).

Citrus Heights

#1 Citrus Heights

A city in Sacramento County, California.

Population87,691
Coordinates38.7071200, -121.2810600
Altitude50
CountryUnited States
Bakersfield

#2 Bakersfield

The fifth most populous city in California and the center of the Bakersfield metropolitan area.

Population385,725
Coordinates35.3732900, -119.0187100
Altitude123
CountryUnited States
Start: (-121.28106, 38.707112)
End: Truxtun Avenue (-119.01871, 35.373244)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 496 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 16m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 42m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 10m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 08m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 24m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 50m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.88 gal
41.2 L · about $62.77
Round trip
$125.53
21.76 gal · 82.4 L
Estimated CO2
96.7 kg one way
Round trip: 193.4 kg / 426 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $62.77 $125.53
Mid-grade $6.07 $66.00 $132.00
Premium $6.24 $67.92 $135.85
Diesel $7.57 $82.33 $164.66

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

There is no time difference between Citrus Heights and Bakersfield. The current time is 23:08:18.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.