How far is Joshua Tree, CA from Sacramento, CA?
The driving distance from Joshua Tree, CA to Sacramento, CA is about 500.3 miles (805.2 km), with a travel time of about 08h 20m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 421.2 miles (677.8 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 16h 40m 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 20m.
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.
A city 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 Sacramento.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Joshua Tree and Sacramento.
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1
Start on El Reposo Circle
27 m · 9 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
52.4 mi · 1 hr · Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway
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16
Take the exit slight right toward CA 204: Union Avenue
1161 ft · 30 sec
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17
Turn left onto East Brundage Lane
136 m · 22 sec · East Brundage Lane
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18
Turn right onto Union Avenue
1.5 mi · 2 min · Union Avenue
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19
Continue on Golden State Avenue
3.4 mi · 4 min · Golden State Avenue
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20
Merge slight left onto Golden State Freeway
5.2 mi · 6 min · Golden State Freeway
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21
Continue on Golden State Highway
111.4 mi · 2 hr · Golden State Highway
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22
Take the exit slight right toward Avenue 7
2522 ft · 31 sec
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23
Merge slight left
21.4 mi · 24 min
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24
Keep slight right to continue on Northbound California State Route 99
84.6 mi · 1 hr 38 min · Northbound California State Route 99
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25
Continue on Golden State Highway
1.8 mi · 2 min · Golden State Highway
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26
Continue on Old U.S. Route 99E
1.3 mi · 1 min · Old U.S. Route 99E
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27
Keep slight left
44.7 mi · 52 min
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28
Continue on Capital City Freeway
2593 ft · 32 sec · Capital City Freeway
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29
Take the exit slight right toward N Street
1261 ft · 33 sec
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30
Turn left onto 30th Street
858 ft · 24 sec · 30th Street
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31
Turn left onto L Street
1.1 mi · 2 min · L Street
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32
Turn right onto 16th Street
1265 ft · 33 sec · 16th Street
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33
Turn left onto I Street
2891 ft · 1 min · I Street
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34
Turn left onto 9th Street
22 m · 2 sec · 9th Street
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35
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · 9th Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Joshua Tree and Sacramento.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Golden State Highway
Continue on Golden State Highway
111 mi · 02h 00m
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 Sacramento.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Joshua Tree to Sacramento?
The road trip is about 500.3 miles (805.2 km) and usually takes 08h 20m 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?
Delano is a useful midpoint, sitting about 241.4 miles from Joshua Tree and 258.9 miles from Sacramento.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 421.2 miles (677.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 79.1 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 $101.82 one way or $203.65 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 156.9 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Joshua Tree and Chance Light Rain near Sacramento.
Stop Ideas Near Delano
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 Delano.
Wasco station
Corcoran station
Bakersfield
Visalia, California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Joshua Tree and Sacramento. Straight-line distance: 421.18 mi (677.82 km).
#1 Joshua Tree
National park of the United States
| Population | 7,414 |
| Coordinates | 34.1347300, -116.3130700 |
| Altitude | 834 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Sacramento
The sixth most populous city in California and the center of the Sacramento metropolitan area.
| Population | 512,838 |
| Coordinates | 38.5815700, -121.4944000 |
| Altitude | 9 |
| Country | United States |
End: 9th Street (-121.49442, 38.581575)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 805 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 16h 40m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 12h 30m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 10h 00m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 08h 20m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 07h 08m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 06h 14m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $101.82 | $203.65 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $107.06 | $214.13 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $110.19 | $220.38 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $133.56 | $267.12 |
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.