How far is Sacramento, CA from Needles, CA?
The driving distance from Sacramento, CA to Needles, CA is about 549.2 miles (883.9 km), with a travel time of about 10h 14m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 459.9 miles (740.2 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 20h 28m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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 10h 14m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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.
Chance Light Rain
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Sacramento and Needles.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sacramento and Needles.
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1
Start on 9th Street
106 m · 17 sec · 9th Street
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2
Turn left onto J Street
2493 ft · 56 sec · J Street
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3
Turn right onto 15th Street
1.1 mi · 2 min · 15th Street
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4
Turn left onto X Street
122 m · 9 sec · X Street
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5
Take the ramp slight left toward I 80 East, CA 99 South: Reno, Placerville, Fresno
1287 ft · 31 sec
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6
Merge slight left onto Capital City Freeway
1856 ft · 23 sec · Capital City Freeway
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7
Keep slight right to continue on Capital City Freeway
1383 ft · 18 sec · Capital City Freeway
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8
Take the exit slight right toward CA 99 South: Fresno
2281 ft · 34 sec
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9
Merge slight left onto South Sacramento Freeway
56.4 mi · 1 hr 5 min · South Sacramento Freeway
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10
Keep slight left
109.3 mi · 2 hr 5 min
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11
Keep slight left
41 mi · 44 min
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12
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Highway
58.6 mi · 1 hr 3 min · Golden State Highway
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13
Continue on Golden State Freeway
5.2 mi · 6 min · Golden State Freeway
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14
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
3.3 mi · 4 min · Golden State Freeway
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15
Take the exit slight right toward CA 58 East: Stockdale, Mojave, Tehachapi
671 ft · 9 sec
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16
Keep slight left to continue on CA 58 East: Mojave, Tehachapi
3110 ft · 41 sec
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17
Continue on Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway
1711 ft · 22 sec · Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway
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18
Keep slight left to continue on Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway
55 mi · 1 hr 3 min · Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway
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19
Continue on Barstow–Bakersfield Highway
8.1 mi · 9 min · Barstow–Bakersfield Highway
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20
Continue on Mojave-Barstow Highway
26.9 mi · 30 min · Mojave-Barstow Highway
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21
Continue on Barstow-Bakersfield Highway
34.8 mi · 40 min · Barstow-Bakersfield Highway
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22
Keep slight left to continue on I 15 North: Las Vegas
1.2 mi · 1 min
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23
Merge slight left onto Barstow and Mojave Freeway
3.3 mi · 4 min · Barstow and Mojave Freeway
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24
Keep slight right to continue on Needles Freeway
141.3 mi · 2 hr 31 min · Needles Freeway
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25
Take the exit slight right toward West Broadway Street, River Road
1459 ft · 26 sec
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26
Turn left onto Needles Highway
1.2 km · 2 min · Needles Highway
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27
Turn right onto West Broadway Street
43 m · 2 sec · West Broadway Street
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28
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · West Broadway Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Sacramento and Needles.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Needles Freeway
Keep slight right to continue on Needles Freeway
141 mi · 02h 31m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Chance Light Rain leaving Sacramento and Mostly Sunny near Needles.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Sacramento to Needles?
The road trip is about 549.2 miles (883.9 km) and usually takes 10h 14m 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?
Bakersfield is a useful midpoint, sitting about 274.5 miles from Sacramento and 274.8 miles from Needles.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 459.9 miles (740.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 89.3 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 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 $111.80 one way or $223.61 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 172.2 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Chance Light Rain around Sacramento and Mostly Sunny near Needles.
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 Sacramento and Needles. Straight-line distance: 459.96 mi (740.23 km).
#1 Sacramento
The sixth most populous city in California and the center of the Sacramento metropolitan area.
| Population | 512,838 |
| Coordinates | 38.5815700, -121.4944000 |
| Altitude | 9 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Needles
City in San Bernardino County, California, United States
| Population | 4,942 |
| Coordinates | 34.8480600, -114.6141300 |
| Altitude | 151 |
| Country | United States |
End: Needles (-114.61413, 34.84806)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 884 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 18h 18m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 13h 43m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 10h 59m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 09h 09m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 07h 50m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 06h 51m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $111.80 | $223.61 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $117.56 | $235.12 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $120.99 | $241.98 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $146.65 | $293.30 |
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 19, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.