Origin
Alta Sierra, CA
Night in Alta Sierra on Tuesday
Local time
9:55 PM
PDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Alta Sierra, CA to Bakersfield, CA
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
1h 20m
Distance
56 mi
90 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 15m
★
6 AM
1h 21m
8 AM
1h 33m
10 AM
1h 25m
12 PM
1h 24m
3 PM
1h 26m
5 PM
1h 33m
8 PM
1h 17m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Alta Sierra, CA
Patrick Gamelkoorn
Bakersfield, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Alta Sierra, CA to Bakersfield, CA covers 56 miles and takes about 1h 20m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Route 178, CHP Officer David W. Manning Memorial Freeway, Evans Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 31.9 miles on Route 178. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.87 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
28 miles from Alta Sierra, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 41m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 1h 20m highway drive covering 56 miles, with most of the trip on Route 178 and CHP Officer David W. Manning Memorial Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 31.9 miles on Route 178.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Route 178 is the longest continuous segment at about 31.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Route 178 and CHP Officer David W. Manning Memorial Freeway. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near CA 155 / Evans Road.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Alta Sierra, CA to Bakersfield, CA is easy. At 1h 20m with 70% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (CA 155 / Evans Road): Navigation decision point; at 7.8 miles (CA 155 / Wofford Heights Boulevard): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 14.3 miles: Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
4 of 4 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
CA 155 / Evans Road
Turn right onto CA 155 / Evans Road
Navigation decision point
5
7.8 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
CA 155 / Wofford Heights Boulevard
Turn sharp right onto CA 155 / Wofford Heights Boulevard
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
3
14.3 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
3
14.5 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
CA 178 / Isabella Walker Pass Road
Merge onto CA 178 / Isabella Walker Pass Road
Merge point - match speed before joining
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Route 178 | 31.9 mi | 46m |
| CHP Officer David W. Manning Memorial Freeway | 7.3 mi | 8m |
| Evans Road | 7.3 mi | 10m |
| Wofford Heights Boulevard | 6.5 mi | 9m |
| Isabella Walker Pass Road | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| Chester Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Old State Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| 24th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Route 178
— 31.9 mi, about 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Alta Sierra, CA and Bakersfield, CA.
1
Start on Old State Road
486 ft
·
21 sec
·
Old State Road
2
Continue on Old State Road
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Old State Road
3
Turn right onto CA 155
7.3 mi
·
10 min
·
Evans Road
4
Turn sharp right onto CA 155
6.5 mi
·
9 min
·
Wofford Heights Boulevard
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
6
Merge onto CA 178
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Isabella Walker Pass Road
7
Continue on CA 178
32 mi
·
46 min
·
Route 178
8
Continue on CA 178
7.3 mi
·
8 min
·
CHP Officer David W. Manning Memorial Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on CA 178
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
24th Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
10
Turn left onto Chester Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Chester Avenue
11
Turn left onto Truxtun Avenue
122 ft
·
7 sec
·
Truxtun Avenue
12
Arrive at destination
Truxtun Avenue
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 28 miles from Alta Sierra, CA, or about 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 31.9 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 56 miles or 1h 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 28 miles or 41m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bakersfield, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Alta Sierra, CA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Alta Sierra, CA
This is one driving day of about 56 miles and 1h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Alta Sierra, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Route 178 for about 31.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 28 mi from Alta Sierra, CA · 41m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 56 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 28 miles from Alta Sierra, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Bakersfield, CA
The final approach into Bakersfield, CA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Bakersfield, CA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.87 one way
$25.74 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $13.26 | $26.53 |
| premium | $6.18 | $13.62 | $27.24 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.36 | $24.73 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.8 | 0 | $5.88 | $2.69 |
| Efficient EV | 14 | 0 | $4.90 | $2.24 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.4 | 0 | $7.84 | $3.58 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Bakersfield, CA
Night in Bakersfield on Tuesday
Local time
9:55 PM
PDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
10 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 20m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Alta Sierra, CA to Bakersfield, CA covers 56 miles and takes about 1h 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Route 178, CHP Officer David W. Manning Memorial Freeway, Evans Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 28 miles from Alta Sierra, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.87 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
The drive from Alta Sierra, CA to Bakersfield, CA is easy. At 1h 20m with 70% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (CA 155 / Evans Road): Navigation decision point; at 7.8 miles (CA 155 / Wofford Heights Boulevard): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 14.3 miles: Navigation decision point.
The route from Alta Sierra, CA to Bakersfield, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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