How far is Stockton, CA from Ridgecrest, CA?
The driving distance from Stockton, CA to Ridgecrest, CA is about 345.7 miles (556.4 km), with a travel time of about 06h 38m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 257.2 miles (413.9 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 13h 17m 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 06h 38m.
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 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
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Stockton and Ridgecrest.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Stockton and Ridgecrest.
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1
Start on East Fremont Street
153 m · 31 sec · East Fremont Street
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2
Turn left onto North Center Street
2946 ft · 1 min · North Center Street
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3
Turn left onto East Lafayette Street
117 m · 10 sec · East Lafayette Street
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4
Take the ramp slight left
827 ft · 20 sec
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5
Merge slight left onto Crosstown Freeway
15 mi · 17 min · Crosstown Freeway
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6
Keep slight left
109.3 mi · 2 hr 5 min
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7
Keep slight left
41 mi · 44 min
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8
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Highway
58.6 mi · 1 hr 3 min · Golden State Highway
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9
Continue on Golden State Freeway
5.2 mi · 6 min · Golden State Freeway
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10
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
3.3 mi · 4 min · Golden State Freeway
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11
Take the exit slight right toward CA 58 East: Stockdale, Mojave, Tehachapi
671 ft · 9 sec
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12
Keep slight left to continue on CA 58 East: Mojave, Tehachapi
3110 ft · 41 sec
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13
Continue on Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway
1711 ft · 22 sec · Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway
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14
Keep slight left to continue on Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway
55 mi · 1 hr 3 min · Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway
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15
Continue on Barstow–Bakersfield Highway
2.2 mi · 3 min · Barstow–Bakersfield Highway
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16
Take the exit slight right toward CA 14: Bishop, Mojave
2375 ft · 56 sec
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17
Merge slight right onto Aerospace Highway
17.1 mi · 20 min · Aerospace Highway
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18
Continue on Midland Trail
1729 ft · 23 sec · Midland Trail
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19
Turn right onto Redrock Randsburg Road
12.1 mi · 17 min · Redrock Randsburg Road
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20
Continue on Garlock Road
8.4 mi · 12 min · Garlock Road
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21
At the end of the road, turn left onto Blue Star Memorial Highway
9.8 mi · 11 min · Blue Star Memorial Highway
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22
Turn slight right onto South China Lake Boulevard
6.1 mi · 9 min · South China Lake Boulevard
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23
Turn left onto West Ridgecrest Boulevard
127 m · 26 sec · West Ridgecrest Boulevard
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24
Continue on West Ridgecrest Boulevard
23 m · 3 sec · West Ridgecrest Boulevard
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25
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · West Ridgecrest Boulevard
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Stockton and Ridgecrest.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Crosstown Freeway
Keep slight left
109 mi · 02h 05m
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.
Slight Chance Light Rain then Mostly Sunny leaving Stockton and Sunny near Ridgecrest.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Stockton to Ridgecrest?
The road trip is about 345.7 miles (556.4 km) and usually takes 06h 38m 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?
Tulare is a useful midpoint, sitting about 172.9 miles from Stockton and 172.9 miles from Ridgecrest.
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 88.5 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 $70.38 one way or $140.76 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 108.4 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Light Rain then Mostly Sunny around Stockton and Sunny near Ridgecrest.
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 Stockton and Ridgecrest. Straight-line distance: 257.16 mi (413.86 km).
#1 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 |
#2 Ridgecrest
City in California
| Population | 29,135 |
| Coordinates | 35.6224600, -117.6709000 |
| Altitude | 698 |
| Country | United States |
End: Ridgecrest (-117.6709, 35.62246)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 556 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 11h 31m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 08h 38m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 54m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 45m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 56m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 18m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $70.38 | $140.76 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $74.01 | $148.01 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $76.16 | $152.33 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $92.32 | $184.63 |
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.