How far is Fresno, CA from Joshua Tree, CA?
The driving distance from Fresno, CA to Joshua Tree, CA is about 316.5 miles (509.3 km), with a travel time of about 06h 13m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 265.5 miles (427.3 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 26m 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 06h 13m.
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 California
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 Fresno and Joshua Tree.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fresno and Joshua Tree.
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1
Start on East Washington Avenue
9 m · 1 sec · East Washington Avenue
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2
Turn left onto North First Street
1702 ft · 49 sec · North First Street
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3
Turn right onto East Tulare Avenue
1227 ft · 29 sec · East Tulare Avenue
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4
Continue on Tulare Street
791 ft · 22 sec · Tulare Street
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5
Take the ramp left toward CA 41 South
1217 ft · 32 sec
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6
Merge slight left onto Dwight David Eisenhower Memorial Freeway
954 ft · 13 sec · Dwight David Eisenhower Memorial Freeway
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7
Continue on Yosemite Freeway
1.1 mi · 1 min · Yosemite Freeway
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8
Take the exit slight right toward CA 99 South: Bakersfield, Los Angeles
1.2 km · 2 min
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9
Merge slight left
39.6 mi · 43 min
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10
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Highway
58.6 mi · 1 hr 3 min · Golden State Highway
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11
Continue on Golden State Freeway
5.2 mi · 6 min · Golden State Freeway
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12
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
3.3 mi · 4 min · Golden State Freeway
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13
Take the exit slight right toward CA 58 East: Stockdale, Mojave, Tehachapi
671 ft · 9 sec
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14
Keep slight left to continue on CA 58 East: Mojave, Tehachapi
3110 ft · 41 sec
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15
Continue on Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway
1711 ft · 22 sec · Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway
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16
Keep slight left to continue on Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway
55 mi · 1 hr 3 min · Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway
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17
Continue on Barstow–Bakersfield Highway
8.1 mi · 9 min · Barstow–Bakersfield Highway
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18
Continue on Mojave-Barstow Highway
26.9 mi · 30 min · Mojave-Barstow Highway
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19
Continue on Barstow-Bakersfield Highway
5.2 mi · 6 min · Barstow-Bakersfield Highway
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20
Take the exit slight right toward US 395: Bishop, San Bernardino
1715 ft · 1 min
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21
Turn left onto Blue Star Memorial Highway
30.1 mi · 36 min · Blue Star Memorial Highway
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22
Turn left onto Air Expressway
5.3 mi · 7 min · Air Expressway
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23
At the end of the road, turn right onto National Old Trails Highway
1.8 mi · 3 min · National Old Trails Highway
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24
Continue on D Street
1.4 mi · 3 min · D Street
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25
Continue on Happy Trails Highway
21.6 mi · 30 min · Happy Trails Highway
-
26
Continue straight
87 m · 7 sec
-
27
Continue on Old Woman Springs Road
41.8 mi · 52 min · Old Woman Springs Road
-
28
Turn left onto Buena Vista Drive
3 mi · 4 min · Buena Vista Drive
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29
Turn right onto Yucca Mesa Road
2 mi · 3 min · Yucca Mesa Road
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30
Turn left onto 29 Palms Highway
3.3 mi · 5 min · 29 Palms Highway
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31
Turn right onto El Reposo Circle
27 m · 4 sec · El Reposo Circle
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32
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · El Reposo Circle
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Fresno and Joshua Tree.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Golden State Highway
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Highway
58.6 mi · 01h 03m
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 Fresno and Mostly Sunny near Joshua Tree.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Fresno to Joshua Tree?
The road trip is about 316.5 miles (509.3 km) and usually takes 06h 13m 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?
Tehachapi is a useful midpoint, sitting about 158.3 miles from Fresno and 158.3 miles from Joshua Tree.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 265.5 miles (427.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 51 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 $64.44 one way or $128.88 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 99.3 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Fresno and Mostly Sunny near Joshua Tree.
Stop Ideas Near Tehachapi
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 Tehachapi.
Tehachapi, California
Mojave, California
Lancaster, California
Bakersfield
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Fresno and Joshua Tree. Straight-line distance: 265.51 mi (427.29 km).
#1 Fresno
The fifth most populous city in California and the center of the Fresno metropolitan area.
| Population | 530,267 |
| Coordinates | 36.7477300, -119.7723700 |
| Altitude | 94 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Joshua Tree
National park of the United States
| Population | 7,414 |
| Coordinates | 34.1347300, -116.3130700 |
| Altitude | 834 |
| Country | United States |
End: Joshua Tree (-116.31307, 34.13473)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 509 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 10h 32m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 07h 54m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 19m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 16m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 31m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 56m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $64.44 | $128.88 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $67.76 | $135.51 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $69.73 | $139.47 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $84.52 | $169.05 |
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.