How far is Stockton, CA from Santa Maria, CA?
The driving distance from Stockton, CA to Santa Maria, CA is about 334.9 miles (538.9 km), with a travel time of about 06h 15m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 304.8 miles (490.5 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 30m 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 15m.
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.
Census-designated place in Kings County, California
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 Stockton and Santa Maria.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Stockton and Santa Maria.
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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
2615 ft · 1 min · North Center Street
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3
Take the ramp slight right
1823 ft · 44 sec
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4
Keep slight left to continue on I 5 South
1 km · 1 min
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5
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
12.9 mi · 14 min · Westside Freeway
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6
Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway
1.2 km · 49 sec · Westside Freeway
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7
Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway
236.6 mi · 4 hr 14 min · Westside Freeway
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8
Keep slight right
58.4 mi · 1 hr 7 min
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9
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
4.1 mi · 5 min · Golden State Freeway
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10
Keep slight right to continue on I 405 South
1354 ft · 18 sec
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11
Keep slight right
9 mi · 10 min
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12
Take the exit slight right toward US 101 South, US 101 North: Los Angeles, Ventura
541 ft · 13 sec
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13
Keep slight right to continue on US 101 North: Ventura, Ventura Freeway
819 ft · 20 sec
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14
Merge slight left onto Ventura Freeway
7.2 mi · 8 min · Ventura Freeway
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15
Take the exit slight right toward Canoga Avenue
1134 ft · 25 sec
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16
Turn left onto Canoga Avenue
1.3 mi · 4 min · Canoga Avenue
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17
Turn left onto Saltillo Street
2534 ft · 1 min · Saltillo Street
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18
Turn left onto Golondrina Street
809 ft · 36 sec · Golondrina Street
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19
Turn right onto Alhama Drive
130 m · 16 sec · Alhama Drive
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20
At the end of the road, turn left onto Mulholland Drive
1.1 mi · 3 min · Mulholland Drive
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21
Continue on Santa Maria Road
3083 ft · 2 min · Santa Maria Road
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22
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Santa Maria Road
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Stockton and Santa Maria.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Westside Freeway
Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway
237 mi · 04h 14m
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.
Sunny leaving Stockton and Mostly Sunny near Santa Maria.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Stockton to Santa Maria?
The road trip is about 334.9 miles (538.9 km) and usually takes 06h 15m 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?
Kettleman City is a useful midpoint, sitting about 167.5 miles from Stockton and 167.3 miles from Santa Maria.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 304.8 miles (490.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 30.1 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 $68.19 one way or $136.38 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 105 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Stockton and Mostly Sunny near Santa Maria.
Stop Ideas Near Kettleman City
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 Kettleman City.
Kettleman City, California
Lemoore, California
Corcoran station
Lemoore (Naval Air Station), California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Stockton and Santa Maria. Straight-line distance: 304.79 mi (490.51 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 Santa Maria
The third most populous city in Santa Barbara County, California.
| Population | 105,851 |
| Coordinates | 34.1314000, -118.5745300 |
| Altitude | 426 |
| Country | United States |
End: Santa Maria (-118.57453, 34.1314)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 539 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 11h 09m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 08h 22m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 41m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 34m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 47m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 10m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $68.19 | $136.38 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $71.70 | $143.40 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $73.79 | $147.58 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $89.44 | $178.88 |
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.