How far is Oakland, CA from Thermal, CA?
The driving distance from Oakland, CA to Thermal, CA is about 503.9 miles (810.9 km), with a travel time of about 09h 21m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 448.2 miles (721.3 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 18h 43m 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 21m.
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.
Place in Kern County California
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Oakland and Thermal.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Oakland and Thermal.
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1
Start on 14th Street
1058 ft · 53 sec · 14th Street
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2
Turn right onto Harrison Street
842 ft · 35 sec · Harrison Street
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3
Turn left onto 11th Street
1141 ft · 26 sec · 11th Street
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4
Turn right onto Madison Street
1673 ft · 49 sec · Madison Street
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5
Turn left onto 5th Street
116 m · 9 sec · 5th Street
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6
Take the ramp straight toward I 880 South: San Jose
1146 ft · 30 sec
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7
Merge slight left onto Nimitz Freeway
9.7 mi · 12 min · Nimitz Freeway
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8
Take the exit slight right toward I 238: Castro Valley, Stockton
980 ft · 24 sec
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9
Keep slight left to continue on I 238: Stockton Fresno
923 ft · 22 sec
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10
Continue on Castro Valley Freeway
1.9 mi · 2 min · Castro Valley Freeway
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11
Continue on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
12.3 mi · 14 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
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12
Keep slight right to continue on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
17.8 mi · 21 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
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13
Keep slight right to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
11.1 mi · 12 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
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14
Keep slight left to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
5.9 mi · 6 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
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15
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
224.4 mi · 4 hr · Westside Freeway
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16
Keep slight right
58.4 mi · 1 hr 7 min
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17
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
2 mi · 2 min · Golden State Freeway
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18
Take the exit slight right toward I 210 East: Pasadena
1347 ft · 18 sec
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19
Continue on Foothill Freeway
24.4 mi · 28 min · Foothill Freeway
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20
Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway
19.1 mi · 22 min · Foothill Freeway
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21
Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway
2476 ft · 33 sec · Foothill Freeway
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22
Take the exit slight right toward CA 57 South: Santa Ana
1.4 km · 2 min
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23
Continue on Orange Freeway
3.4 mi · 4 min · Orange Freeway
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24
Take the exit slight right toward I 10 East, I 10 West: San Bernardino, Los Angeles
928 ft · 23 sec
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25
Keep slight left to continue on I 10 East: San Bernardino Freeway, San Bernardino
1.1 km · 1 min
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26
Merge slight left onto San Bernardino Freeway
1.9 mi · 2 min · San Bernardino Freeway
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27
Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway
4 mi · 5 min · San Bernardino Freeway
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28
Keep slight left to continue on I-10 Metro ExpressLanes
9 mi · 10 min · I-10 Metro ExpressLanes
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29
Merge slight right onto San Bernardino Freeway
14.3 mi · 16 min · San Bernardino Freeway
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30
Continue on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
40.3 mi · 44 min · Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
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31
Keep slight left to continue on Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway
32.5 mi · 35 min · Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway
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32
Keep slight right to continue on CA 86 South: CA 86 South, Brawley, El Centro
6.3 mi · 7 min
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33
Take the exit slight right toward Airport Blvd
1454 ft · 44 sec
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34
Turn right onto Airport Boulevard
2543 ft · 55 sec · Airport Boulevard
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35
Turn right onto Palm Street
653 ft · 33 sec · Palm Street
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36
Turn right onto Grapefruit Boulevard
1609 ft · 29 sec · Grapefruit Boulevard
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37
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Grapefruit Boulevard
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Oakland and Thermal.
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
224 mi · 04h 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.
Sunny leaving Oakland and Sunny near Thermal.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Oakland to Thermal?
The road trip is about 503.9 miles (810.9 km) and usually takes 09h 21m 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 251.8 miles from Oakland and 252.1 miles from Thermal.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 448.2 miles (721.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 55.7 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 $111.32 one way or $222.64 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 158 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Oakland and Sunny near Thermal.
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 Oakland and Thermal. Straight-line distance: 448.21 mi (721.33 km).
#1 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 |
#2 Thermal
Situated within Riverside County's Coachella Valley near the Salton Sea, this desert community lies at an elevation of approximately 118 feet below sea level.
| Population | 0 |
| Coordinates | 33.6403000, -116.1394500 |
| Altitude | -36 |
| Country | United States |
End: Thermal (-116.13945, 33.6403)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 811 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 16h 47m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 12h 35m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 10h 04m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 08h 23m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 07h 11m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 06h 17m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $6.26 | $111.32 | $222.64 |
| Mid-grade | $6.50 | $115.55 | $231.10 |
| Premium | $6.69 | $118.93 | $237.86 |
| Diesel | $8.41 | $149.58 | $299.17 |
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 · Oct 15, 2026