How far is Orinda, CA from Bakersfield, CA?

The driving distance from Orinda, CA to Bakersfield, CA is about 277.6 miles (446.8 km), with a travel time of about 04h 21m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 246.2 miles (396.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 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.
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
277.62 mi
04h 21m
Flight
246.24 mi
396.29 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Orinda.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
246.24 mi
Kilometers
396.29 km
Flight Time
00h 29m

Driving Distance

Road route
277.62 mi
Kilometers
446.79 km
Drive Time
04h 21m

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 04h 21m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Bakersfield
Fri, May 1, 7:43 AM PDT
Return by in Orinda
Fri, May 1, 12:04 PM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Orinda
2026-05-01T03:21
Arrive Bakersfield
Fri, May 1, 7:43 AM PDT
Route Timing
04h 21m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:22 AM to 12:22 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
8:16 AM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Orinda
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
Mendota
CA

City in Illinois, United States

From Orinda
135.6 mi
02h 10m
To Bakersfield
142 mi
02h 10m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
73°F
Friday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Fri, May 1 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
5 to 9 mph SW
Destination
89°F
Friday

Sunny

Starts
Fri, May 1 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph W

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Orinda and Bakersfield.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Orinda and Bakersfield.

  1. 1

    Start on Moraga Way

    4 m · 1 sec · Moraga Way

  2. 2

    Continue on Moraga Way

    55 m · 8 sec · Moraga Way

  3. 3

    Continue on Moraga Way

    887 ft · 28 sec · Moraga Way

  4. 4

    Exit the roundabout onto Bryant Way

    120 m · 16 sec · Bryant Way

  5. 5

    Take the ramp straight toward CA 24 East: Walnut Creek

    1626 ft · 22 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left

    5.7 mi · 7 min

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward I 680 South: Mount Diablo Boulevard, San Jose

    1351 ft · 33 sec

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on I 680 South: San Jose, Dublin, South Main Street

    1.2 km · 2 min

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway

    1269 ft · 17 sec · Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway

  10. 10

    Continue on Donald D Doyle Highway

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Donald D Doyle Highway

  11. 11

    Keep slight right to continue on Donald D Doyle Highway

    13.4 mi · 16 min · Donald D Doyle Highway

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward I 580 East: Livermore, Stockton

    1362 ft · 33 sec

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on I 580 East: Livermore, Stockton

    1.1 km · 1 min

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on I 580: Stockton

    1581 ft · 39 sec

  15. 15

    Merge slight left onto Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway

  16. 16

    Keep slight right to continue on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway

    17.8 mi · 21 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway

  17. 17

    Keep slight right to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway

    11.1 mi · 12 min · William Elton Brown Freeway

  18. 18

    Keep slight left to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway

    5.9 mi · 6 min · William Elton Brown Freeway

  19. 19

    Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway

    192.5 mi · 3 hr 26 min · Westside Freeway

  20. 20

    Take the exit slight right toward Stockdale Highway

    1185 ft · 36 sec

  21. 21

    Turn left onto Stockdale Highway

    4.8 mi · 7 min · Stockdale Highway

  22. 22

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Stockdale Highway

    39 m · 2 sec · Stockdale Highway

  23. 23

    Exit the roundabout onto Stockdale Highway

    4.3 mi · 6 min · Stockdale Highway

  24. 24

    Continue on Westside Parkway

    6.7 mi · 8 min · Westside Parkway

  25. 25

    Take the exit slight right

    2846 ft · 1 min

  26. 26

    Turn straight onto Truxtun Avenue

    2.2 mi · 4 min · Truxtun Avenue

  27. 27

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Truxtun Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Orinda and Bakersfield.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
27 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
12
4 merges, 8 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Westside Freeway
193 mi · 69%
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
19.2 mi · 7%
William Elton Brown Freeway
17 mi · 6%
Donald D Doyle Highway
14.8 mi · 5%
Stockdale Highway
9.43 mi · 3%
Westside Parkway
7.28 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

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.

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
04h 21m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 44m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+31.4 mi
246.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Mendota
02h 10m from Orinda
Leave By
8:16 AM PDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Orinda and Sunny near Bakersfield.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Orinda to Bakersfield?

The road trip is about 277.6 miles (446.8 km) and usually takes 04h 21m 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?

Mendota is a useful midpoint, sitting about 135.6 miles from Orinda and 142 miles from Bakersfield.

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

The direct path is about 246.2 miles (396.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 31.4 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 8:16 AM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $56.54 one way or $113.07 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 87.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Orinda and Sunny near Bakersfield.

Stop Ideas Near Mendota

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

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

RAIL

Madera

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

Fresno station

53 mi away
2650 Tulare St.
BUS

Lemoore (Naval Air Station), California

60 mi away
25th Ave and Highway 198
RAIL

Merced station

62 mi away
324 West 24th St

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Orinda and Bakersfield. Straight-line distance: 246.24 mi (396.29 km).

Orinda

#1 Orinda

City in California, USA

Population19,557
Coordinates37.8771500, -122.1796900
Altitude151
CountryUnited States
Bakersfield

#2 Bakersfield

The fifth most populous city in California and the center of the Bakersfield metropolitan area.

Population385,725
Coordinates35.3732900, -119.0187100
Altitude123
CountryUnited States
Start: Moraga Way (-122.179705, 37.877184)
End: Truxtun Avenue (-119.01871, 35.373244)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 447 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 15m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 56m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 33m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 37m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 57m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 27m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.8 gal
37.08 L · about $56.54
Round trip
$113.07
19.6 gal · 74.16 L
Estimated CO2
87.1 kg one way
Round trip: 174.2 kg / 384 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $56.54 $113.07
Mid-grade $6.07 $59.45 $118.89
Premium $6.24 $61.18 $122.36
Diesel $7.57 $74.16 $148.31

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 01, 2026

There is no time difference between Orinda and Bakersfield. The current time is 03:21:25.

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.