How far is Ridgecrest, CA from Sacramento, CA?

The driving distance from Ridgecrest, CA to Sacramento, CA is about 402.3 miles (647.5 km), with a travel time of about 06h 30m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 293.5 miles (472.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 13h 00m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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
402.33 mi
06h 30m
Flight
293.54 mi
472.4 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Ridgecrest.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
293.54 mi
Kilometers
472.4 km
Flight Time
00h 35m

Driving Distance

Road route
402.33 mi
Kilometers
647.49 km
Drive Time
06h 30m

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 06h 30m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Sacramento
Wed, Apr 22, 10:03 PM PDT
Return by in Ridgecrest
Thu, Apr 23, 4:33 AM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Ridgecrest
2026-04-22T15:33
Arrive Sacramento
Wed, Apr 22, 10:03 PM PDT
Route Timing
06h 30m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM PDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
12:30 PM to 2:00 PM PDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
11:00 PM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Ridgecrest
8:00 PM PDT
Overnight-style route

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
Kingsburg
CA

Town in California, USA

From Ridgecrest
194.2 mi
03h 15m
To Sacramento
208.1 mi
03h 15m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
73°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
15 mph WSW
Destination
66°F
Wednesday

Chance Light Rain

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
7 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Ridgecrest and Sacramento.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Ridgecrest and Sacramento.

  1. 1

    Start on West Ridgecrest Boulevard

    82 m · 13 sec · West Ridgecrest Boulevard

  2. 2

    Turn right onto South China Lake Boulevard

    6 mi · 9 min · South China Lake Boulevard

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Blue Star Memorial Highway

    9.9 mi · 11 min · Blue Star Memorial Highway

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Garlock Road

    8.4 mi · 12 min · Garlock Road

  5. 5

    Continue on Redrock Randsburg Road

    12.1 mi · 17 min · Redrock Randsburg Road

  6. 6

    Continue on Midland Trail

    1743 ft · 23 sec · Midland Trail

  7. 7

    Continue on Aerospace Highway

    16.9 mi · 20 min · Aerospace Highway

  8. 8

    Take the exit right toward CA-58 West: Bakersfield

    2450 ft · 60 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Barstow–Bakersfield Highway

    2.3 mi · 3 min · Barstow–Bakersfield Highway

  10. 10

    Continue on Bakersfield–Tehachapi Highway

    1.2 km · 51 sec · Bakersfield–Tehachapi Highway

  11. 11

    Continue on Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway

    52.4 mi · 1 hr · Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward CA 204: Union Avenue

    1161 ft · 30 sec

  13. 13

    Turn left onto East Brundage Lane

    136 m · 22 sec · East Brundage Lane

  14. 14

    Turn right onto Union Avenue

    1.5 mi · 2 min · Union Avenue

  15. 15

    Continue on Golden State Avenue

    3.4 mi · 4 min · Golden State Avenue

  16. 16

    Merge slight left onto Golden State Freeway

    5.2 mi · 6 min · Golden State Freeway

  17. 17

    Continue on Golden State Highway

    111.4 mi · 2 hr · Golden State Highway

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward Avenue 7

    2522 ft · 31 sec

  19. 19

    Merge slight left

    21.4 mi · 24 min

  20. 20

    Keep slight right to continue on Northbound California State Route 99

    84.6 mi · 1 hr 38 min · Northbound California State Route 99

  21. 21

    Continue on Golden State Highway

    1.8 mi · 2 min · Golden State Highway

  22. 22

    Continue on Old U.S. Route 99E

    1.3 mi · 1 min · Old U.S. Route 99E

  23. 23

    Keep slight left

    44.7 mi · 52 min

  24. 24

    Continue on Capital City Freeway

    2593 ft · 32 sec · Capital City Freeway

  25. 25

    Take the exit slight right toward N Street

    1261 ft · 33 sec

  26. 26

    Turn left onto 30th Street

    858 ft · 24 sec · 30th Street

  27. 27

    Turn left onto L Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · L Street

  28. 28

    Turn right onto 16th Street

    1265 ft · 33 sec · 16th Street

  29. 29

    Turn left onto I Street

    2891 ft · 1 min · I Street

  30. 30

    Turn left onto 9th Street

    22 m · 2 sec · 9th Street

  31. 31

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 9th Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Ridgecrest and Sacramento.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
31 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Golden State Highway
113 mi · 28%
Northbound California State Route 99
84.6 mi · 21%
Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway
52.4 mi · 13%
Old U.S. Route 99E
46 mi · 11%
Avenue 7
21.9 mi · 5%
Aerospace Highway
16.9 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

Golden State Highway

Continue on Golden State Highway

111 mi · 02h 00m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
06h 30m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
13h 00m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+108.8 mi
293.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Kingsburg
03h 15m from Ridgecrest
Leave By
11:00 PM PDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Ridgecrest and Chance Light Rain near Sacramento.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Ridgecrest to Sacramento?

The road trip is about 402.3 miles (647.5 km) and usually takes 06h 30m 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?

Kingsburg is a useful midpoint, sitting about 194.2 miles from Ridgecrest and 208.1 miles from Sacramento.

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

The direct path is about 293.5 miles (472.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 108.8 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 $81.92 one way or $163.84 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 126.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Ridgecrest and Chance Light Rain near Sacramento.

Stop Ideas Near Kingsburg

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

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

BUS

Goshen Junction, California

23 mi away
30435 Road 68
RAIL

Hanford station

23 mi away
200 Santa Fe Avenue #A
RAIL

Fresno station

32 mi away
2650 Tulare St.
BUS

Visalia, California

32 mi away
425 E. Oak Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Ridgecrest and Sacramento. Straight-line distance: 293.54 mi (472.4 km).

Ridgecrest

#1 Ridgecrest

City in California

Population29,135
Coordinates35.6224600, -117.6709000
Altitude698
CountryUnited States
Sacramento

#2 Sacramento

The sixth most populous city in California and the center of the Sacramento metropolitan area.

Population512,838
Coordinates38.5815700, -121.4944000
Altitude9
CountryUnited States
Start: West Ridgecrest Boulevard (-117.6709, 35.622459)
End: 9th Street (-121.49442, 38.581575)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 647 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)13h 24m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)10h 03m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)08h 02m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)06h 42m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)05h 44m
80 mph (129 km/h)05h 01m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
14.2 gal
53.74 L · about $81.92
Round trip
$163.84
28.4 gal · 107.48 L
Estimated CO2
126.2 kg one way
Round trip: 252.4 kg / 556 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $81.92 $163.84
Mid-grade $6.07 $86.14 $172.27
Premium $6.24 $88.65 $177.30
Diesel $7.57 $107.45 $214.90

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

There is no time difference between Ridgecrest and Sacramento. The current time is 15:33:16.

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.