How far is Joshua Tree, CA from Oakland, CA?
The driving distance from Joshua Tree, CA to Oakland, CA is about 486.4 miles (782.8 km), with a travel time of about 08h 08m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 418.5 miles (673.5 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 16h 17m 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 08m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
Place in Kern County California
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Chance Light Rain
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Joshua Tree and Oakland.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Joshua Tree and Oakland.
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1
Start on El Reposo Circle
27 m · 11 sec · El Reposo Circle
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2
Turn left onto 29 Palms Highway
3.3 mi · 5 min · 29 Palms Highway
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3
Turn right onto Yucca Mesa Road
2 mi · 3 min · Yucca Mesa Road
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4
Turn left onto Buena Vista Drive
3 mi · 4 min · Buena Vista Drive
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5
Turn right onto Old Woman Springs Road
41.8 mi · 52 min · Old Woman Springs Road
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6
Continue straight
23.1 mi · 33 min
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7
Continue on National Old Trails Highway
1.8 mi · 3 min · National Old Trails Highway
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8
Turn left onto Air Expressway
5.3 mi · 7 min · Air Expressway
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9
Turn right onto Blue Star Memorial Highway
30.3 mi · 36 min · Blue Star Memorial Highway
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10
Turn left onto CA 58 West: Mojave
2667 ft · 1 min
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11
Merge slight left onto Barstow-Bakersfield Highway
4.8 mi · 5 min · Barstow-Bakersfield Highway
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12
Continue on Mojave-Barstow Highway
26.9 mi · 30 min · Mojave-Barstow Highway
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13
Continue on Barstow–Bakersfield Highway
8.2 mi · 9 min · Barstow–Bakersfield Highway
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14
Continue on Bakersfield–Tehachapi Highway
1.2 km · 51 sec · Bakersfield–Tehachapi Highway
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15
Continue on Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway
54.6 mi · 1 hr 3 min · Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway
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16
Continue on Centennial Corridor
2.3 mi · 3 min · Centennial Corridor
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17
Continue on Westside Parkway
6.6 mi · 8 min · Westside Parkway
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18
Continue on Stockdale Highway
4.3 mi · 6 min · Stockdale Highway
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19
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Stockdale Highway
46 m · 2 sec · Stockdale Highway
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20
Exit the roundabout onto Stockdale Highway
4.5 mi · 6 min · Stockdale Highway
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21
Take the exit straight toward I 5 North
2621 ft · 1 min
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22
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
192.7 mi · 3 hr 27 min · Westside Freeway
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23
Keep slight left to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
15.9 mi · 17 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
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24
Keep slight right to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
1.1 mi · 1 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
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25
Merge slight left onto Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
18 mi · 21 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
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26
Keep slight right to continue on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
11.6 mi · 13 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
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27
Keep slight left to continue on Castro Valley Freeway
2.4 mi · 3 min · Castro Valley Freeway
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28
Keep slight left to continue on I 880 North
2051 ft · 52 sec
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29
Merge slight left onto Nimitz Freeway
9.8 mi · 11 min · Nimitz Freeway
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30
Take the exit slight right toward Oak Street, Lakeside Drive
1226 ft · 33 sec
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31
Turn right onto Oak Street
1685 ft · 49 sec · Oak Street
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32
Turn left onto 12th Street
1523 ft · 46 sec · 12th Street
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33
Turn right onto Harrison Street
559 ft · 25 sec · Harrison Street
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34
Turn left onto 14th Street
1058 ft · 49 sec · 14th Street
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35
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · 14th Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Joshua Tree and Oakland.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Westside Freeway
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
193 mi · 03h 27m
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 Joshua Tree and Chance Light Rain near Oakland.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Joshua Tree to Oakland?
The road trip is about 486.4 miles (782.8 km) and usually takes 08h 08m 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?
Buttonwillow is a useful midpoint, sitting about 238.7 miles from Joshua Tree and 247.7 miles from Oakland.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 418.5 miles (673.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 67.9 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 $99.00 one way or $197.99 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 152.5 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Joshua Tree and Chance Light Rain near Oakland.
Stop Ideas Near Buttonwillow
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 Buttonwillow.
Wasco station
Bakersfield
Corcoran station
Kettleman City, California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Joshua Tree and Oakland. Straight-line distance: 418.5 mi (673.51 km).
#1 Joshua Tree
National park of the United States
| Population | 7,414 |
| Coordinates | 34.1347300, -116.3130700 |
| Altitude | 834 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Oakland
The third most populous city in California, Oakland is a major center for business, manufacturing, and culture.
| Population | 424,891 |
| Coordinates | 37.8043700, -122.2708000 |
| Altitude | 13 |
| Country | United States |
End: 14th Street (-122.270903, 37.804207)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 783 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 16h 12m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 12h 09m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 09h 43m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 08h 06m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 06h 56m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 06h 04m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $99.00 | $197.99 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $104.09 | $208.19 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $107.13 | $214.26 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $129.85 | $259.70 |
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.