How far is Penn Valley, CA from Bakersfield, CA?
The driving distance from Penn Valley, CA to Bakersfield, CA is about 354.2 miles (570.1 km), with a travel time of about 05h 48m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 289.9 miles (466.5 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 36m 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 48m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
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.
City in California
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Chance Light Rain then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Penn Valley and Bakersfield.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Penn Valley and Bakersfield.
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1
Start on Willow Lane
121 m · 23 sec · Willow Lane
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2
Turn left onto Lasso Loop
817 ft · 39 sec · Lasso Loop
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3
Turn right onto Horton Street
1647 ft · 1 min · Horton Street
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4
At the end of the road, turn right onto Penn Valley Drive
1.3 km · 1 min · Penn Valley Drive
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5
At the end of the road, turn left onto Penn Valley Drive
2973 ft · 60 sec · Penn Valley Drive
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6
Turn right onto Eric Rood Memorial Expressway
5.6 mi · 7 min · Eric Rood Memorial Expressway
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7
Take the exit slight right
1166 ft · 18 sec
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8
Merge slight left onto Golden Center Freeway
14.3 mi · 19 min · Golden Center Freeway
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9
Continue on Grass Valley Highway
1.1 mi · 1 min · Grass Valley Highway
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10
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Grass Valley Highway
33 m · 3 sec · Grass Valley Highway
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11
Exit the roundabout onto Grass Valley Highway
1.3 mi · 2 min · Grass Valley Highway
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12
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Grass Valley Highway
32 m · 3 sec · Grass Valley Highway
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13
Exit the roundabout onto Grass Valley Highway
5.6 mi · 9 min · Grass Valley Highway
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14
Take the ramp slight right toward I 80 West: Sacramento
1346 ft · 33 sec
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15
Merge slight left onto Alan S. Hart Freeway
16.8 mi · 19 min · Alan S. Hart Freeway
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16
Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
7.1 mi · 8 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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17
Keep slight right to continue on Capital City Freeway
4.9 mi · 5 min · Capital City Freeway
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18
Keep slight left to continue on Capital City Freeway
3.7 mi · 4 min · Capital City Freeway
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19
Keep slight left to continue on Capital City Freeway
1653 ft · 21 sec · Capital City Freeway
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20
Continue on South Sacramento Freeway
56.8 mi · 1 hr 6 min · South Sacramento Freeway
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21
Keep slight left
109.3 mi · 2 hr 5 min
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22
Keep slight left
41 mi · 44 min
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23
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Highway
58.6 mi · 1 hr 3 min · Golden State Highway
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24
Continue on Golden State Freeway
5.2 mi · 6 min · Golden State Freeway
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25
Keep slight right to continue on Golden State Avenue
1.9 mi · 2 min · Golden State Avenue
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26
Take the exit slight right
145 m · 13 sec
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27
Continue on Golden State Road
583 ft · 12 sec · Golden State Road
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28
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Chester Avenue
59 m · 4 sec · Chester Avenue
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29
Exit the roundabout onto Chester Avenue
1.5 km · 2 min · Chester Avenue
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30
Turn left onto Truxtun Avenue
37 m · 8 sec · Truxtun Avenue
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31
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Truxtun Avenue
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Penn Valley and Bakersfield.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
South Sacramento Freeway
Keep slight left
109 mi · 02h 05m
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 Light Rain then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Penn Valley 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 Penn Valley to Bakersfield?
The road trip is about 354.2 miles (570.1 km) and usually takes 05h 48m 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?
Atwater is a useful midpoint, sitting about 168.6 miles from Penn Valley and 185.7 miles from Bakersfield.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 289.9 miles (466.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 64.3 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 5:24 AM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $72.11 one way or $144.23 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 111.1 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Chance Light Rain then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Penn Valley and Mostly Sunny near Bakersfield.
Stop Ideas Near Atwater
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 Atwater.
Merced station
Denair station
Modesto station
Mariposa, California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Penn Valley and Bakersfield. Straight-line distance: 289.84 mi (466.45 km).
#1 Penn Valley
Census-designated place in Nevada County, California
| Population | 1,621 |
| Coordinates | 39.1960000, -121.1910700 |
| Altitude | 427 |
| 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: 570 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 11h 48m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 08h 51m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 07h 05m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 54m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 05h 03m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 25m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $72.11 | $144.23 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $75.83 | $151.65 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $78.04 | $156.08 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $94.59 | $189.18 |
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 23, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.