How far is Occidental, CA from Bakersfield, CA?
The driving distance from Occidental, CA to Bakersfield, CA is about 347.3 miles (559 km), with a travel time of about 05h 51m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 301.8 miles (485.7 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 43m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 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 05h 51m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
The county seat of Merced County, California.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Chance Rain
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Occidental and Bakersfield.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Occidental and Bakersfield.
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1
Start on Coleman Valley Road
50 m · 15 sec · Coleman Valley Road
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2
Turn left onto Bohemian Highway
108 m · 11 sec · Bohemian Highway
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3
Turn right onto Hill Street
49 m · 5 sec · Hill Street
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4
Turn slight left onto Occidental Road
6.6 mi · 16 min · Occidental Road
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5
Turn right onto Gravenstein Highway North
1.6 mi · 2 min · Gravenstein Highway North
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6
Continue on Healdsburg Avenue
2865 ft · 50 sec · Healdsburg Avenue
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7
Continue on North Main Street
1.3 km · 1 min · North Main Street
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8
Continue on Gravenstein Highway
7.6 mi · 11 min · Gravenstein Highway
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9
Take the ramp slight right toward US 101 South: San Francisco
1342 ft · 37 sec
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10
Merge slight left onto Redwood Highway
29.6 mi · 35 min · Redwood Highway
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11
Keep slight right to continue on John T. Knox Freeway
13.6 mi · 17 min · John T. Knox Freeway
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12
Merge slight left onto Eastshore Freeway
3.8 mi · 5 min · Eastshore Freeway
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13
Keep slight left to continue on Interstate Highway 80
1321 ft · 21 sec · Interstate Highway 80
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14
Keep slight left to continue on MacArthur Freeway
16.4 mi · 19 min · MacArthur Freeway
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15
Merge slight left onto Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
11.5 mi · 13 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
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16
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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17
Keep slight right to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
11.1 mi · 12 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
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18
Keep slight left to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
5.9 mi · 6 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
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19
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
192.5 mi · 3 hr 26 min · Westside Freeway
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20
Take the exit slight right toward Stockdale Highway
1185 ft · 36 sec
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21
Turn left onto Stockdale Highway
4.8 mi · 7 min · Stockdale Highway
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22
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Stockdale Highway
39 m · 2 sec · Stockdale Highway
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23
Exit the roundabout onto Stockdale Highway
4.3 mi · 6 min · Stockdale Highway
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24
Continue on Westside Parkway
6.7 mi · 8 min · Westside Parkway
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25
Take the exit slight right
2846 ft · 1 min
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26
Turn straight onto Truxtun Avenue
2.2 mi · 4 min · Truxtun Avenue
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27
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Truxtun Avenue
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Occidental and Bakersfield.
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 26m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Chance Rain leaving Occidental and Mostly Sunny near Bakersfield.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Occidental to Bakersfield?
The road trip is about 347.3 miles (559 km) and usually takes 05h 51m 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?
Los Banos is a useful midpoint, sitting about 169.5 miles from Occidental and 177.9 miles from Bakersfield.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 301.8 miles (485.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 45.5 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 5:16 AM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $70.73 one way or $141.46 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 109 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Chance Rain around Occidental and Mostly Sunny near Bakersfield.
Stop Ideas Near Los Banos
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 Los Banos.
Merced station
Denair station
Gilroy, California
Modesto station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Occidental and Bakersfield. Straight-line distance: 301.77 mi (485.65 km).
#1 Occidental
Census-designated place in Sonoma County, California
| Population | 1,115 |
| Coordinates | 38.4074100, -122.9483300 |
| Altitude | 181 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Bakersfield
The fifth most populous city in California and the center of the Bakersfield metropolitan area.
| Population | 385,725 |
| Coordinates | 35.3732900, -119.0187100 |
| Altitude | 123 |
| Country | United States |
End: Truxtun Avenue (-119.01871, 35.373244)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 559 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 11h 34m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 08h 41m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 56m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 47m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 57m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 20m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $70.73 | $141.46 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $74.37 | $148.74 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $76.54 | $153.08 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $92.77 | $185.54 |
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.