How far is Needles, CA from Sacramento, CA?
The driving distance from Needles, CA to Sacramento, CA is about 561.1 miles (903 km), with a travel time of about 09h 06m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 459.9 miles (740.2 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 18h 12m 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 09h 06m.
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.
Census-designated 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 Needles and Sacramento.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Needles and Sacramento.
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1
Start on West Broadway Street
43 m · 9 sec · West Broadway Street
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2
Turn left onto Needles Highway
1.1 mi · 3 min · Needles Highway
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3
Take the ramp left toward I 40 West
979 ft · 12 sec
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4
Merge slight left onto Needles Freeway
141.2 mi · 2 hr 31 min · Needles Freeway
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5
Merge slight left onto Barstow and Mojave Freeway
3.4 mi · 4 min · Barstow and Mojave Freeway
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6
Take the exit slight right toward CA 58 West: Bakersfield
3260 ft · 1 min
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7
Continue on Barstow-Bakersfield Highway
34.8 mi · 40 min · Barstow-Bakersfield Highway
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8
Continue on Mojave-Barstow Highway
26.9 mi · 30 min · Mojave-Barstow Highway
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9
Continue on Barstow–Bakersfield Highway
8.2 mi · 9 min · Barstow–Bakersfield Highway
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10
Continue on Bakersfield–Tehachapi Highway
1.2 km · 51 sec · Bakersfield–Tehachapi Highway
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11
Continue on Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway
52.4 mi · 1 hr · Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway
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12
Take the exit slight right toward CA 204: Union Avenue
1161 ft · 30 sec
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13
Turn left onto East Brundage Lane
136 m · 22 sec · East Brundage Lane
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14
Turn right onto Union Avenue
1.5 mi · 2 min · Union Avenue
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15
Continue on Golden State Avenue
3.4 mi · 4 min · Golden State Avenue
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16
Merge slight left onto Golden State Freeway
5.2 mi · 6 min · Golden State Freeway
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17
Continue on Golden State Highway
111.4 mi · 2 hr · Golden State Highway
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18
Take the exit slight right toward Avenue 7
2522 ft · 31 sec
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19
Merge slight left
21.4 mi · 24 min
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20
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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21
Continue on Golden State Highway
1.8 mi · 2 min · Golden State Highway
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22
Continue on Old U.S. Route 99E
1.3 mi · 1 min · Old U.S. Route 99E
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23
Keep slight left
44.7 mi · 52 min
-
24
Continue on Capital City Freeway
2593 ft · 32 sec · Capital City Freeway
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25
Take the exit slight right toward N Street
1261 ft · 33 sec
-
26
Turn left onto 30th Street
858 ft · 24 sec · 30th Street
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27
Turn left onto L Street
1.1 mi · 2 min · L Street
-
28
Turn right onto 16th Street
1265 ft · 33 sec · 16th Street
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29
Turn left onto I Street
2891 ft · 1 min · I Street
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30
Turn left onto 9th Street
22 m · 2 sec · 9th Street
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31
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · 9th Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Needles and Sacramento.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Needles Freeway
Merge slight left onto Needles Freeway
141 mi · 02h 31m
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 Needles 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 Needles to Sacramento?
The road trip is about 561.1 miles (903 km) and usually takes 09h 06m 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?
Oildale is a useful midpoint, sitting about 274 miles from Needles and 287.1 miles from Sacramento.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 459.9 miles (740.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 101.2 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 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 $114.23 one way or $228.45 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 176 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Needles and Chance Light Rain near Sacramento.
Stop Ideas Near Oildale
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 Oildale.
Bakersfield
Wasco station
Tehachapi, California
Mojave, California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Needles and Sacramento. Straight-line distance: 459.96 mi (740.23 km).
#1 Needles
City in San Bernardino County, California, United States
| Population | 4,942 |
| Coordinates | 34.8480600, -114.6141300 |
| Altitude | 151 |
| 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: 903 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 18h 41m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 14h 01m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 11h 13m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 09h 21m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 08h 00m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 07h 00m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $114.23 | $228.45 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $120.11 | $240.21 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $123.61 | $247.22 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $149.83 | $299.65 |
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.