How far is Vacaville, CA from Bakersfield, CA?
The driving distance from Vacaville, CA to Bakersfield, CA is about 305.7 miles (491.9 km), with a travel time of about 05h 01m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 263.5 miles (424 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 03m 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 01m.
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.
Census-designated place in Merced County, California
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Chance Light Rain
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Vacaville and Bakersfield.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Vacaville and Bakersfield.
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1
Start on Merchant Street
5 m · 1 sec · Merchant Street
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2
Continue on Main Street
107 m · 17 sec · Main Street
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3
Turn right onto Davis Street
1682 ft · 54 sec · Davis Street
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4
Turn right onto Hickory Lane
139 m · 13 sec · Hickory Lane
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5
Take the ramp straight
1089 ft · 27 sec
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6
Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
12.5 mi · 14 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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7
Take the exit slight right toward I 680: Benicia, San Jose
3211 ft · 1 min
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8
Continue on Luther E Gibson Freeway
12.4 mi · 14 min · Luther E Gibson Freeway
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9
Continue on Benicia-Martinez Bridge
8 mi · 9 min · Benicia-Martinez Bridge
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10
Keep slight right to continue on Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
4.8 mi · 6 min · Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
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11
Continue on Donald D Doyle Highway
1.4 mi · 2 min · Donald D Doyle Highway
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12
Keep slight right to continue on Donald D Doyle Highway
13.4 mi · 16 min · Donald D Doyle Highway
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13
Take the exit slight right toward I 580 East: Livermore, Stockton
1362 ft · 33 sec
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14
Keep slight left to continue on I 580 East: Livermore, Stockton
1.1 km · 1 min
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15
Keep slight left to continue on I 580: Stockton
1581 ft · 39 sec
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16
Merge slight left onto Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
1.4 mi · 2 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
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17
Keep slight right to continue on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
17.8 mi · 21 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
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18
Keep slight right to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
11.1 mi · 12 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
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19
Keep slight left to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
5.9 mi · 6 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
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20
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
192.5 mi · 3 hr 26 min · Westside Freeway
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21
Take the exit slight right toward Stockdale Highway
1185 ft · 36 sec
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22
Turn left onto Stockdale Highway
4.8 mi · 7 min · Stockdale Highway
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23
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Stockdale Highway
39 m · 2 sec · Stockdale Highway
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24
Exit the roundabout onto Stockdale Highway
4.3 mi · 6 min · Stockdale Highway
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25
Continue on Westside Parkway
6.7 mi · 8 min · Westside Parkway
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26
Take the exit slight right
2846 ft · 1 min
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27
Turn straight onto Truxtun Avenue
2.2 mi · 4 min · Truxtun Avenue
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28
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Truxtun Avenue
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Vacaville and Bakersfield.
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
193 mi · 03h 26m
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.
Chance Light Rain leaving Vacaville and Mostly Sunny near Bakersfield.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Vacaville to Bakersfield?
The road trip is about 305.7 miles (491.9 km) and usually takes 05h 01m 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?
South Dos Palos is a useful midpoint, sitting about 151.4 miles from Vacaville and 154.2 miles from Bakersfield.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 263.5 miles (424 km), while the road route adds roughly 42.2 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 6:56 AM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $62.25 one way or $124.50 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 95.9 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Chance Light Rain around Vacaville and Mostly Sunny near Bakersfield.
Stop Ideas Near South Dos Palos
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 South Dos Palos.
Merced station
Madera
Denair station
Fresno station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Vacaville and Bakersfield. Straight-line distance: 263.45 mi (423.98 km).
#1 Vacaville
The most populous city in Solano County, California.
| Population | 101,332 |
| Coordinates | 38.3565800, -121.9877400 |
| Altitude | 53 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Bakersfield
The fifth most populous city in California and the center of the Bakersfield metropolitan area.
| Population | 385,725 |
| Coordinates | 35.3732900, -119.0187100 |
| Altitude | 123 |
| Country | United States |
End: Truxtun Avenue (-119.01871, 35.373244)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 492 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 10h 11m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 07h 38m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 06m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 05m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 21m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 48m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $62.25 | $124.50 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $65.45 | $130.90 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $67.36 | $134.72 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $81.65 | $163.30 |
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 23, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.