How far is Lake Isabella, CA from Sacramento, CA?

The driving distance from Lake Isabella, CA to Sacramento, CA is about 328.1 miles (528 km), with a travel time of about 05h 28m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 263.9 miles (424.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 57m 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
328.11 mi
05h 28m
Flight
263.87 mi
424.66 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Lake Isabella.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
263.87 mi
Kilometers
424.66 km
Flight Time
00h 31m

Driving Distance

Road route
328.11 mi
Kilometers
528.04 km
Drive Time
05h 28m

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 28m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Sacramento
Mon, May 25, 7:24 PM PDT
Return by in Lake Isabella
Tue, May 26, 12:53 AM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Lake Isabella
2026-05-25T13:55
Arrive Sacramento
Mon, May 25, 7:24 PM PDT
Route Timing
05h 28m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:29 AM to 1:29 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
6:02 AM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Lake Isabella
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
Barstow
CA

City in San Bernardino County, California, United States

From Lake Isabella
158.6 mi
02h 44m
To Sacramento
169.4 mi
02h 44m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
82°F
Memorial Day

Sunny

Starts
Mon, May 25 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
0 to 15 mph W
Destination
80°F
Memorial Day

Sunny

Starts
Mon, May 25 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
6 to 14 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Lake Isabella and Sacramento.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lake Isabella and Sacramento.

  1. 1

    Start on Lake Ridge Way

    120 m · 19 sec · Lake Ridge Way

  2. 2

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Erskine Creek Road

    1337 ft · 41 sec · Erskine Creek Road

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Lake Isabella Boulevard

    3151 ft · 1 min · Lake Isabella Boulevard

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Elizabeth Norris Road

    2977 ft · 59 sec · Elizabeth Norris Road

  5. 5

    Take the ramp slight right toward CA 178

    876 ft · 21 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Isabella Walker Pass Road

    1821 ft · 22 sec · Isabella Walker Pass Road

  7. 7

    Continue on Route 178

    31.9 mi · 46 min · Route 178

  8. 8

    Continue on CHP Officer David W. Manning Memorial Freeway

    6.7 mi · 8 min · CHP Officer David W. Manning Memorial Freeway

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward CA 204 North: Golden State Avenue

    1252 ft · 30 sec

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on CA 204 North: Golden State Avenue

    1398 ft · 34 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto Golden State Avenue

    2.5 mi · 3 min · Golden State Avenue

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto Golden State Freeway

    5.2 mi · 6 min · Golden State Freeway

  13. 13

    Continue on Golden State Highway

    111.4 mi · 2 hr · Golden State Highway

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward Avenue 7

    2522 ft · 31 sec

  15. 15

    Merge slight left

    21.4 mi · 24 min

  16. 16

    Keep slight right to continue on Northbound California State Route 99

    84.6 mi · 1 hr 38 min · Northbound California State Route 99

  17. 17

    Continue on Golden State Highway

    1.8 mi · 2 min · Golden State Highway

  18. 18

    Continue on Old U.S. Route 99E

    1.3 mi · 1 min · Old U.S. Route 99E

  19. 19

    Keep slight left

    44.7 mi · 52 min

  20. 20

    Continue on Capital City Freeway

    2593 ft · 32 sec · Capital City Freeway

  21. 21

    Take the exit slight right toward N Street

    1261 ft · 33 sec

  22. 22

    Turn left onto 30th Street

    858 ft · 24 sec · 30th Street

  23. 23

    Turn left onto L Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · L Street

  24. 24

    Turn right onto 16th Street

    1265 ft · 33 sec · 16th Street

  25. 25

    Turn left onto I Street

    2891 ft · 1 min · I Street

  26. 26

    Turn left onto 9th Street

    22 m · 2 sec · 9th Street

  27. 27

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 9th Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Lake Isabella and Sacramento.

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
27 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
4 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Golden State Highway
113 mi · 34%
Northbound California State Route 99
84.6 mi · 26%
Old U.S. Route 99E
46 mi · 14%
Route 178
31.9 mi · 10%
Avenue 7
21.9 mi · 7%
CHP Officer David W. Manning Memorial Freeway
6.69 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

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.

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
05h 28m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 58m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+64.2 mi
263.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Barstow
02h 44m from Lake Isabella
Leave By
6:02 AM PDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Lake Isabella and Sunny near Sacramento.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Lake Isabella to Sacramento?

The road trip is about 328.1 miles (528 km) and usually takes 05h 28m 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?

Barstow is a useful midpoint, sitting about 158.6 miles from Lake Isabella and 169.4 miles from Sacramento.

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

The direct path is about 263.9 miles (424.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 64.2 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 6:02 AM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $66.81 one way or $133.61 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 102.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Lake Isabella and Sunny near Sacramento.

Stop Ideas Near Barstow

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Barstow, 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 Barstow.

RAIL

Madera

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

Fresno station

19 mi away
2650 Tulare St.
BUS

Lemoore (Naval Air Station), California

49 mi away
25th Ave and Highway 198
RAIL

Hanford station

61 mi away
200 Santa Fe Avenue #A

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Lake Isabella and Sacramento. Straight-line distance: 263.87 mi (424.66 km).

Lake Isabella

#1 Lake Isabella

Census-designated place in Kern County, California

Population3,466
Coordinates35.6180100, -118.4731400
Altitude766
CountryUnited States
Sacramento

#2 Sacramento

The sixth most populous city in California and the center of the Sacramento metropolitan area.

Population512,838
Coordinates38.5815700, -121.4944000
Altitude9
CountryUnited States
Start: Mountain Drive (-118.473136, 35.617531)
End: 9th Street (-121.49442, 38.581575)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 528 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 55m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 12m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 33m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 28m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 41m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 05m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
11.58 gal
43.83 L · about $66.81
Round trip
$133.61
23.16 gal · 87.66 L
Estimated CO2
102.9 kg one way
Round trip: 205.8 kg / 454 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $66.81 $133.61
Mid-grade $6.07 $70.24 $140.49
Premium $6.24 $72.29 $144.59
Diesel $7.57 $87.63 $175.25

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 · May 25, 2026

There is no time difference between Lake Isabella and Sacramento. The current time is 13:55:56.

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.