How far is Thermal, CA from Oakland, CA?
The driving distance from Thermal, CA to Oakland, CA is about 509 miles (819.2 km), with a travel time of about 08h 29m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 448.2 miles (721.3 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 16h 58m 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 08h 29m.
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.
Place in Kern County California
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Thermal and Oakland.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Thermal and Oakland.
-
1
Start on Grapefruit Boulevard
1609 ft · 36 sec · Grapefruit Boulevard
-
2
Turn left onto Palm Street
653 ft · 36 sec · Palm Street
-
3
Turn left onto Airport Boulevard
1.1 km · 1 min · Airport Boulevard
-
4
Take the ramp right toward CA 86 N: CA 86 N
896 ft · 25 sec
-
5
Merge slight left
6.6 mi · 8 min
-
6
Merge slight right onto Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway
32.6 mi · 35 min · Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway
-
7
Continue on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
39.9 mi · 44 min · Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
-
8
Continue on San Bernardino Freeway
13.9 mi · 16 min · San Bernardino Freeway
-
9
Keep slight left to continue on I-10 Metro ExpressLanes
9.3 mi · 10 min · I-10 Metro ExpressLanes
-
10
Merge slight right onto San Bernardino Freeway
1.2 mi · 1 min · San Bernardino Freeway
-
11
Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway
1.4 km · 1 min · San Bernardino Freeway
-
12
Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway
1.3 mi · 2 min · San Bernardino Freeway
-
13
Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway
1.9 mi · 2 min · San Bernardino Freeway
-
14
Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway
1.3 km · 55 sec · San Bernardino Freeway
-
15
Take the exit slight right toward CA 57: Santa Ana
1086 ft · 27 sec
-
16
Keep slight right to continue on CA 57 North
2267 ft · 55 sec
-
17
Continue straight
3.4 mi · 4 min
-
18
Keep slight left to continue on I 210 West: Pasadena
1.1 mi · 2 min
-
19
Merge slight left onto Foothill Freeway
18.3 mi · 21 min · Foothill Freeway
-
20
Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway
25.6 mi · 30 min · Foothill Freeway
-
21
Keep slight right
686 ft · 9 sec
-
22
Merge slight right
1.6 km · 1 min
-
23
Keep slight left
36.1 mi · 42 min
-
24
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
22.3 mi · 25 min · Golden State Freeway
-
25
Keep slight right to continue on Westside Freeway
225.6 mi · 4 hr 2 min · Westside Freeway
-
26
Keep slight left to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
15.9 mi · 17 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
-
27
Keep slight right to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
1.1 mi · 1 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
-
28
Merge slight left onto Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
18 mi · 21 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
-
29
Keep slight right to continue on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
11.6 mi · 13 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
-
30
Keep slight left to continue on Castro Valley Freeway
2.4 mi · 3 min · Castro Valley Freeway
-
31
Keep slight left to continue on I 880 North
2051 ft · 52 sec
-
32
Merge slight left onto Nimitz Freeway
9.8 mi · 11 min · Nimitz Freeway
-
33
Take the exit slight right toward Oak Street, Lakeside Drive
1226 ft · 33 sec
-
34
Turn right onto Oak Street
1685 ft · 49 sec · Oak Street
-
35
Turn left onto 12th Street
1523 ft · 46 sec · 12th Street
-
36
Turn right onto Harrison Street
559 ft · 25 sec · Harrison Street
-
37
Turn left onto 14th Street
1058 ft · 49 sec · 14th Street
-
38
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · 14th Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Thermal and Oakland.
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 right to continue on Westside Freeway
226 mi · 04h 02m
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 Thermal and Sunny near Oakland.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Thermal to Oakland?
The road trip is about 509 miles (819.2 km) and usually takes 08h 29m 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?
Buttonwillow is a useful midpoint, sitting about 251.9 miles from Thermal and 257.1 miles from Oakland.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 448.2 miles (721.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 60.8 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 $112.45 one way or $224.90 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 159.6 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Thermal and Sunny near Oakland.
Stop Ideas Near Buttonwillow
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 Buttonwillow.
Wasco station
Bakersfield
Corcoran station
Kettleman City, California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Thermal and Oakland. Straight-line distance: 448.21 mi (721.33 km).
#1 Thermal
Situated within Riverside County's Coachella Valley near the Salton Sea, this desert community lies at an elevation of approximately 118 feet below sea level.
| Population | 0 |
| Coordinates | 33.6403000, -116.1394500 |
| Altitude | -36 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Oakland
The third most populous city in California, Oakland is a major center for business, manufacturing, and culture.
| Population | 424,891 |
| Coordinates | 37.8043700, -122.2708000 |
| Altitude | 13 |
| Country | United States |
End: 14th Street (-122.270903, 37.804207)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 819 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 16h 57m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 12h 43m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 10h 10m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 08h 29m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 07h 16m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 06h 21m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $6.26 | $112.45 | $224.90 |
| Mid-grade | $6.50 | $116.72 | $233.44 |
| Premium | $6.69 | $120.13 | $240.27 |
| Diesel | $8.41 | $151.10 | $302.19 |
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 · Oct 15, 2026