How far is Santa Barbara, CA from Stockton, CA?
The driving distance from Santa Barbara, CA to Stockton, CA is about 338 miles (544 km), with a travel time of about 05h 30m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 260 miles (418.4 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 00m 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 30m.
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.
City in Kings County, California, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Santa Barbara and Stockton.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Santa Barbara and Stockton.
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1
Start on Anacapa Street
550 ft · 23 sec · Anacapa Street
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2
Turn right onto East Ortega Street
1042 ft · 55 sec · East Ortega Street
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3
Turn left onto Chapala Street
1027 ft · 35 sec · Chapala Street
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4
Turn right onto West Haley Street
1491 ft · 49 sec · West Haley Street
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5
Take the ramp straight toward US 101 North
142 m · 11 sec
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6
Merge slight left onto El Camino Real
3.5 mi · 4 min · El Camino Real
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7
Take the exit slight right toward CA 154: State Street, Cachuma Lake
1127 ft · 29 sec
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8
Continue on Calle Real
1672 ft · 40 sec · Calle Real
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9
Turn right onto Chumash Highway
23.9 mi · 33 min · Chumash Highway
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10
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Chumash Highway
35 m · 2 sec · Chumash Highway
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11
Exit the roundabout onto Chumash Highway
2.2 mi · 3 min · Chumash Highway
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12
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Chumash Highway
43 m · 2 sec · Chumash Highway
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13
Exit the roundabout onto Chumash Highway
6.3 mi · 10 min · Chumash Highway
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14
Take the ramp right toward US 101 North
1138 ft · 31 sec
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15
Merge slight left
85.2 mi · 1 hr 38 min
-
16
Take the exit slight right toward CA 46 East: Fresno, Bakersfield
1044 ft · 28 sec
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17
Turn right
24.4 mi · 29 min
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18
Merge slight left
1.4 mi · 2 min
-
19
Turn slight right
149 m · 6 sec
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20
Keep slight right
19.4 mi · 26 min
-
21
Turn left
9.3 mi · 13 min
-
22
Turn right onto Skyline Boulevard
5.6 mi · 9 min · Skyline Boulevard
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23
Continue on South Lassen Avenue
2873 ft · 52 sec · South Lassen Avenue
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24
Take the ramp left toward I 5 North
1031 ft · 25 sec
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25
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
126.3 mi · 2 hr 15 min · Westside Freeway
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26
Keep slight right to continue on Westside Freeway
24.9 mi · 27 min · Westside Freeway
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27
Take the exit slight right toward CA 4 West
1135 ft · 15 sec
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28
Keep slight right
124 m · 5 sec
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29
Turn straight onto West Charter Way
2959 ft · 1 min · West Charter Way
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30
Turn left onto South El Dorado Street
1 mi · 2 min · South El Dorado Street
-
31
Continue on North El Dorado Street
1468 ft · 38 sec · North El Dorado Street
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32
Turn right onto East Fremont Street
36 m · 5 sec · East Fremont Street
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33
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · East Fremont Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Santa Barbara and Stockton.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Westside Freeway
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
126 mi · 02h 15m
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.
Mostly Sunny leaving Santa Barbara and Sunny near Stockton.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Santa Barbara to Stockton?
The road trip is about 338 miles (544 km) and usually takes 05h 30m 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?
Avenal is a useful midpoint, sitting about 168.8 miles from Santa Barbara and 169.2 miles from Stockton.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 260 miles (418.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 78 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 6:00 AM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $68.82 one way or $137.65 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 106 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Santa Barbara and Sunny near Stockton.
Stop Ideas Near Avenal
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 Avenal.
Kettleman City, California
Lemoore, California
Lemoore (Naval Air Station), California
Corcoran station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Santa Barbara and Stockton. Straight-line distance: 260 mi (418.43 km).
#1 Santa Barbara
The most populous city in Santa Barbara County, California.
| Population | 90,254 |
| Coordinates | 34.4208300, -119.6981900 |
| Altitude | 15 |
| 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: 544 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 11h 15m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 08h 27m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 45m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 38m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 49m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 13m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $68.82 | $137.65 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $72.37 | $144.73 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $74.48 | $148.96 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $90.27 | $180.55 |
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.