How far is Ridgecrest, CA from Stockton, CA?
The driving distance from Ridgecrest, CA to Stockton, CA is about 355.2 miles (571.7 km), with a travel time of about 05h 44m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 257.2 miles (413.9 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 28m 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 44m.
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 most populous city in Tulare County, California.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Slight Chance Light Rain then Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Ridgecrest and Stockton.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ridgecrest and Stockton.
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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
111.4 mi · 2 hr · Golden State Highway
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18
Take the exit slight right toward Avenue 7
2522 ft · 31 sec
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19
Merge slight left
21.4 mi · 24 min
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20
Keep slight right to continue on Northbound California State Route 99
84.6 mi · 1 hr 38 min · Northbound California State Route 99
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21
Continue on Golden State Highway
1.8 mi · 2 min · Golden State Highway
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22
Continue on Old U.S. Route 99E
1.3 mi · 1 min · Old U.S. Route 99E
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23
Keep slight right to continue on CA 4
3 mi · 3 min
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24
Take the exit slight right toward Downtown
853 ft · 24 sec
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25
Turn right onto South El Dorado Street
1120 ft · 26 sec · South El Dorado Street
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26
Continue on North El Dorado Street
1468 ft · 38 sec · North El Dorado Street
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27
Turn right onto East Fremont Street
36 m · 5 sec · East Fremont Street
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28
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · East Fremont Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Ridgecrest and Stockton.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
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.
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 Light Rain then Mostly Sunny near Stockton.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Ridgecrest to Stockton?
The road trip is about 355.2 miles (571.7 km) and usually takes 05h 44m 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?
Tulare is a useful midpoint, sitting about 172.2 miles from Ridgecrest and 183 miles from Stockton.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 257.2 miles (413.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 98 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 5:32 AM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $72.29 one way or $144.57 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 111.4 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Ridgecrest and Slight Chance Light Rain then Mostly Sunny near Stockton.
Stop Ideas Near Tulare
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 Tulare.
Visalia, California
Goshen Junction, California
Corcoran station
Hanford station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Ridgecrest and Stockton. Straight-line distance: 257.16 mi (413.86 km).
#1 Ridgecrest
City in California
| Population | 29,135 |
| Coordinates | 35.6224600, -117.6709000 |
| Altitude | 698 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Stockton
The fifth most populous city in California and the center of the Stockton metropolitan area.
| Population | 312,716 |
| Coordinates | 37.9577000, -121.2907800 |
| Altitude | 4 |
| Country | United States |
End: East Fremont Street (-121.290763, 37.957639)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 572 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 11h 50m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 08h 52m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 07h 06m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 55m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 05h 04m |
| 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 | $72.29 | $144.57 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $76.01 | $152.01 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $78.22 | $156.45 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $94.81 | $189.63 |
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.