How far is San Bernardino, CA from Chowchilla, CA?

The driving distance from San Bernardino, CA to Chowchilla, CA is about 308.7 miles (496.8 km), with a travel time of about 05h 47m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 266.8 miles (429.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 35m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 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
308.67 mi
05h 47m
Flight
266.84 mi
429.44 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from San Bernardino.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
266.84 mi
Kilometers
429.44 km
Flight Time
00h 32m

Driving Distance

Road route
308.67 mi
Kilometers
496.76 km
Drive Time
05h 47m

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 47m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Chowchilla
Sun, May 31, 4:28 PM PDT
Return by in San Bernardino
Sun, May 31, 10:15 PM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave San Bernardino
2026-05-31T10:40
Arrive Chowchilla
Sun, May 31, 4:28 PM PDT
Route Timing
05h 47m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:48 AM to 1:48 PM PDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
5:24 AM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in San Bernardino
9:00 PM PDT
Early departure recommended

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
Greenfield
CA

City in Monterey County, California, United States

From San Bernardino
154.4 mi
02h 53m
To Chowchilla
154.3 mi
02h 53m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
88°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
0 to 15 mph SW
Destination
88°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between San Bernardino and Chowchilla.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between San Bernardino and Chowchilla.

  1. 1

    Start on West 5th Street

    1.1 km · 1 min · West 5th Street

  2. 2

    Take the ramp right toward I 215 North: Barstow

    1769 ft · 45 sec

  3. 3

    Merge slight left onto San Bernardino Freeway

    1.5 mi · 2 min · San Bernardino Freeway

  4. 4

    Continue on Barstow Freeway

    2632 ft · 35 sec · Barstow Freeway

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward CA 210 West: Pasadena

    1 mi · 2 min

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Foothill Freeway

    21.4 mi · 25 min · Foothill Freeway

  7. 7

    Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway

    1.2 mi · 1 min · Foothill Freeway

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway

    2.4 mi · 3 min · Foothill Freeway

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Foothill Freeway

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway

    1.8 mi · 2 min · Foothill Freeway

  11. 11

    Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway

    20 mi · 23 min · Foothill Freeway

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway

    25.6 mi · 30 min · Foothill Freeway

  13. 13

    Keep slight right

    686 ft · 9 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight right

    1.6 km · 1 min

  15. 15

    Keep slight left

    36.1 mi · 42 min

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway

    22.3 mi · 25 min · Golden State Freeway

  17. 17

    Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway

    27.4 mi · 30 min · Golden State Freeway

  18. 18

    Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway

    6 mi · 7 min · Golden State Freeway

  19. 19

    Continue on Golden State Highway

    111.4 mi · 2 hr · Golden State Highway

  20. 20

    Take the exit slight right toward Avenue 7

    2522 ft · 31 sec

  21. 21

    Merge slight left

    21.4 mi · 24 min

  22. 22

    Keep slight right to continue on Northbound California State Route 99

    3.7 mi · 4 min · Northbound California State Route 99

  23. 23

    Take the exit slight right toward CA 233 West, Avenue 26

    1361 ft · 39 sec

  24. 24

    Turn left onto Avenue 26

    978 ft · 17 sec · Avenue 26

  25. 25

    Continue on East Robertson Boulevard

    2672 ft · 49 sec · East Robertson Boulevard

  26. 26

    Turn right onto North 2nd Street

    19 m · 3 sec · North 2nd Street

  27. 27

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North 2nd Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between San Bernardino and Chowchilla.

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
27 steps
2 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
4 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Golden State Highway
111 mi · 36%
Foothill Freeway
111 mi · 36%
Golden State Freeway
55.6 mi · 18%
Avenue 7
21.9 mi · 7%
Northbound California State Route 99
3.71 mi · 1%
San Bernardino Freeway
1.52 mi
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

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.

Drive Time
05h 47m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
11h 36m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+41.9 mi
266.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Greenfield
02h 53m from San Bernardino
Leave By
5:24 AM PDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving San Bernardino and Sunny near Chowchilla.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from San Bernardino to Chowchilla?

The road trip is about 308.7 miles (496.8 km) and usually takes 05h 47m 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?

Greenfield is a useful midpoint, sitting about 154.4 miles from San Bernardino and 154.3 miles from Chowchilla.

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

The direct path is about 266.8 miles (429.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 41.9 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 $62.82 one way or $125.65 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 96.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around San Bernardino and Sunny near Chowchilla.

Stop Ideas Near Greenfield

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

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

RAIL

Bakersfield

12 mi away
601 Truxtun Ave
RAIL

Wasco station

47 mi away
700 G Street
BUS

Tehachapi, California

52 mi away
Westside of Mullbery Street
BUS

Mojave, California

79 mi away
15900 Sierra Highway

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between San Bernardino and Chowchilla. Straight-line distance: 266.84 mi (429.44 km).

San Bernardino

#1 San Bernardino

The second most populous city in San Bernardino County, California.

Population217,491
Coordinates34.1083400, -117.2897700
Altitude321
CountryUnited States
Chowchilla

#2 Chowchilla

City in Madera County, California, United States

Population18,153
Coordinates37.1230000, -120.2601800
Altitude73
CountryUnited States
Start: San Bernardino (-117.28977, 34.10834)
End: Chowchilla (-120.26018, 37.123)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 497 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 17m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 43m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 10m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 08m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 24m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 51m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.89 gal
41.23 L · about $62.82
Round trip
$125.65
21.78 gal · 82.46 L
Estimated CO2
96.8 kg one way
Round trip: 193.6 kg / 427 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $62.82 $125.65
Mid-grade $6.07 $66.06 $132.12
Premium $6.24 $67.99 $135.97
Diesel $7.57 $82.40 $164.81

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 · May 31, 2026

There is no time difference between San Bernardino and Chowchilla. The current time is 10:40:57.

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.