How far is Grass Valley, CA from Bakersfield, CA?
The driving distance from Grass Valley, CA to Bakersfield, CA is about 344.9 miles (555 km), with a travel time of about 05h 37m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 288.4 miles (464.2 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 14m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 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 05h 37m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
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.
The most populous city in Merced County, California.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Light Rain Likely
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Grass Valley and Bakersfield.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Grass Valley and Bakersfield.
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1
Start on Stewart Street
36 m · 11 sec · Stewart Street
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2
Turn left onto East Main Street
104 m · 11 sec · East Main Street
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3
Turn left onto South Auburn Street
1093 ft · 26 sec · South Auburn Street
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4
Take the ramp right
1105 ft · 16 sec
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5
Merge slight left onto Golden Center Freeway
14.9 mi · 20 min · Golden Center Freeway
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6
Continue on Grass Valley Highway
1.1 mi · 1 min · Grass Valley Highway
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7
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Grass Valley Highway
33 m · 3 sec · Grass Valley Highway
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8
Exit the roundabout onto Grass Valley Highway
1.3 mi · 2 min · Grass Valley Highway
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9
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Grass Valley Highway
32 m · 3 sec · Grass Valley Highway
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10
Exit the roundabout onto Grass Valley Highway
5.6 mi · 9 min · Grass Valley Highway
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11
Take the ramp slight right toward I 80 West: Sacramento
1346 ft · 33 sec
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12
Merge slight left onto Alan S. Hart Freeway
16.8 mi · 19 min · Alan S. Hart Freeway
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13
Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
7.1 mi · 8 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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14
Keep slight right to continue on Capital City Freeway
4.9 mi · 5 min · Capital City Freeway
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15
Keep slight left to continue on Elvas Freeway
1.5 mi · 2 min · Elvas Freeway
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16
Continue on Capital City Freeway
2.3 mi · 2 min · Capital City Freeway
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17
Keep slight left to continue on Capital City Freeway
1653 ft · 21 sec · Capital City Freeway
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18
Continue on South Sacramento Freeway
56.8 mi · 1 hr 6 min · South Sacramento Freeway
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19
Keep slight left
109.3 mi · 2 hr 5 min
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20
Keep slight left
41 mi · 44 min
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21
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Highway
58.6 mi · 1 hr 3 min · Golden State Highway
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22
Continue on Golden State Freeway
5.2 mi · 6 min · Golden State Freeway
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23
Keep slight right to continue on Golden State Avenue
1.9 mi · 2 min · Golden State Avenue
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24
Take the exit slight right
145 m · 13 sec
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25
Continue on Golden State Road
583 ft · 12 sec · Golden State Road
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26
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Chester Avenue
59 m · 4 sec · Chester Avenue
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27
Exit the roundabout onto Chester Avenue
1.5 km · 2 min · Chester Avenue
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28
Turn left onto Truxtun Avenue
37 m · 8 sec · Truxtun Avenue
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29
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Truxtun Avenue
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Grass Valley and Bakersfield.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
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.
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.
Light Rain Likely leaving Grass Valley 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 Grass Valley to Bakersfield?
The road trip is about 344.9 miles (555 km) and usually takes 05h 37m 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?
Merced is a useful midpoint, sitting about 165.3 miles from Grass Valley and 179.6 miles from Bakersfield.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 288.4 miles (464.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 56.5 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 5:46 AM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $70.21 one way or $140.42 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 108.2 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Light Rain Likely around Grass Valley and Mostly Sunny near Bakersfield.
Stop Ideas Near Merced
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 Merced.
Merced station
Denair station
Mariposa, CA
Mariposa, California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Grass Valley and Bakersfield. Straight-line distance: 288.43 mi (464.19 km).
#1 Grass Valley
City in Nevada County, California, United States
| Population | 12,763 |
| Coordinates | 39.2190600, -121.0610600 |
| Altitude | 735 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Bakersfield
The fifth most populous city in California and the center of the Bakersfield metropolitan area.
| Population | 385,725 |
| Coordinates | 35.3732900, -119.0187100 |
| Altitude | 123 |
| Country | United States |
End: Truxtun Avenue (-119.01871, 35.373244)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 555 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 11h 29m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 08h 37m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 53m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 44m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 55m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 18m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $70.21 | $140.42 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $73.82 | $147.65 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $75.98 | $151.95 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $92.09 | $184.18 |
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
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.