How far is Ridgecrest, CA from Fresno, CA?
The driving distance from Ridgecrest, CA to Fresno, CA is about 224.1 miles (360.6 km), with a travel time of about 03h 38m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 140.6 miles (226.3 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 16m 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 03h 38m.
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.
The fifth most populous city in California and the center of the Bakersfield metropolitan area.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Ridgecrest and Fresno.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ridgecrest and Fresno.
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1
Start on West Ridgecrest Boulevard
82 m · 13 sec · West Ridgecrest Boulevard
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2
Turn right onto South China Lake Boulevard
6 mi · 9 min · South China Lake Boulevard
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3
Turn left onto Blue Star Memorial Highway
9.9 mi · 11 min · Blue Star Memorial Highway
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4
Turn right onto Garlock Road
8.4 mi · 12 min · Garlock Road
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5
Continue on Redrock Randsburg Road
12.1 mi · 17 min · Redrock Randsburg Road
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6
Continue on Midland Trail
1743 ft · 23 sec · Midland Trail
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7
Continue on Aerospace Highway
16.9 mi · 20 min · Aerospace Highway
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8
Take the exit right toward CA-58 West: Bakersfield
2450 ft · 60 sec
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9
Merge slight left onto Barstow–Bakersfield Highway
2.3 mi · 3 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
98.2 mi · 1 hr 45 min · Golden State Highway
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18
Take the exit slight right toward CA 41 North: Yosemite
1.1 km · 1 min
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19
Merge slight left onto Yosemite Freeway
1.1 mi · 1 min · Yosemite Freeway
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20
Continue on Dwight David Eisenhower Memorial Freeway
1042 ft · 14 sec · Dwight David Eisenhower Memorial Freeway
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21
Take the exit slight right toward Tulare Street
1517 ft · 41 sec
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22
Turn right onto East Tulare Avenue
1069 ft · 25 sec · East Tulare Avenue
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23
Turn left onto North 1st Street
119 m · 16 sec · North 1st Street
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24
Continue on North First Street
1320 ft · 32 sec · North First Street
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25
Turn right onto East Washington Avenue
9 m · 1 sec · East Washington Avenue
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26
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · East Washington Avenue
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Ridgecrest and Fresno.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
Golden State Highway
Continue on Golden State Highway
98.2 mi · 01h 45m
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.
Sunny leaving Ridgecrest and Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Fresno.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Ridgecrest to Fresno?
The road trip is about 224.1 miles (360.6 km) and usually takes 03h 38m 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?
Bakersfield is a useful midpoint, sitting about 110.5 miles from Ridgecrest and 113.5 miles from Fresno.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 140.6 miles (226.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 83.5 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 9:44 AM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $45.63 one way or $91.27 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 70.3 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Ridgecrest and Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Fresno.
Stop Ideas Near Bakersfield
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 Bakersfield.
Bakersfield
Wasco station
Tehachapi, California
Mojave, California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Ridgecrest and Fresno. Straight-line distance: 140.63 mi (226.32 km).
#1 Ridgecrest
City in California
| Population | 29,135 |
| Coordinates | 35.6224600, -117.6709000 |
| Altitude | 698 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Fresno
The fifth most populous city in California and the center of the Fresno metropolitan area.
| Population | 530,267 |
| Coordinates | 36.7477300, -119.7723700 |
| Altitude | 94 |
| Country | United States |
End: East Washington Avenue (-119.77237, 36.747738)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 361 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 07h 27m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 05h 36m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 04h 28m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 03h 44m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 03h 12m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 02h 47m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $45.63 | $91.27 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $47.98 | $95.96 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $49.38 | $98.76 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $59.85 | $119.71 |
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 22, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.