Origin
Bakersfield, CA
Afternoon in Bakersfield on Sunday
Local time
1:38 PM
PDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bakersfield, CA to Alta Sierra, CA
Drive Time
1h 20m
Distance
55.9 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 14m
★
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.
Bakersfield, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Alta Sierra, CA
Charlie Jordan
Trip Overview
The drive from Bakersfield, CA to Alta Sierra, CA covers 55.9 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 $12.95 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 Bakersfield, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 38m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 1h 20m highway drive covering 55.9 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near L Street.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 1h 20m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (L Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (CA 178 / CHP Officer David W. Manning Memorial Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 41.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
L Street
Turn left onto L Street
Navigation decision point
6
0.7 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
CA 178 / CHP Officer David W. Manning Memorial Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 178 / CHP Officer David W. Manning Memorial Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
5
41.3 mi into trip
|
~57m in
Take the exit toward CA 155
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 43
Toward CA 155
4
41.6 mi into trip
|
~58m in
|
CA 155 / Wofford Heights Boulevard
Turn left onto CA 155 / Wofford Heights Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
5
48.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 8m in
|
CA 155 / Evans Road
Turn sharp left onto CA 155 / Evans Road
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Route 178 | 31.9 mi | 46m |
| CHP Officer David W. Manning Memorial Freeway | 7.4 mi | 8m |
| Evans Road | 7.3 mi | 10m |
| Wofford Heights Boulevard | 6.6 mi | 9m |
| Isabella Walker Pass Road | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| Old State Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| L Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Truxtun Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Route 178
— 31.9 mi, about 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bakersfield, CA and Alta Sierra, CA.
1
Start on Truxtun Avenue
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
Truxtun Avenue
2
Turn left onto L Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
L Street
3
Turn right onto 23rd Street
420 ft
·
9 sec
·
23rd Street
4
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 178
7.4 mi
·
8 min
·
CHP Officer David W. Manning Memorial Freeway
Use the none lane.
5
Continue on CA 178
32 mi
·
46 min
·
Route 178
Use the none lane.
6
Continue on CA 178
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Isabella Walker Pass Road
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 43
Toward CA 155
8
Turn left onto CA 155
6.6 mi
·
9 min
·
Wofford Heights Boulevard
Use the none lane.
9
Turn sharp left onto CA 155
7.3 mi
·
10 min
·
Evans Road
10
Turn left onto Old State Road
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Old State Road
11
Continue on Old State Road
486 ft
·
21 sec
·
Old State Road
12
Arrive at destination
Old State Road
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 Bakersfield, CA, or about 38m 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 55.9 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 38m 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 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alta Sierra, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bakersfield, 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 Bakersfield, CA
This is one driving day of about 55.9 miles and 1h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Bakersfield, 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 Bakersfield, CA · 38m 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 55.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 28 miles from Bakersfield, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Alta Sierra, CA
The final approach into Alta Sierra, 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 Alta Sierra, 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
$12.95 one way
$25.89 round trip
$5.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $13.35 | $26.70 |
| premium | $6.24 | $13.74 | $27.48 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $12.42 | $24.84 |
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, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.8 | 0 | $5.87 | $2.68 |
| Efficient EV | 14 | 0 | $4.89 | $2.24 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.4 | 0 | $7.83 | $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
Alta Sierra, CA
Afternoon in Alta Sierra on Sunday
Local time
1:38 PM
PDT
Current temp
41°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
12 degrees cooler 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 Bakersfield, CA to Alta Sierra, CA covers 55.9 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 Bakersfield, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.95 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.
This is a straightforward 1h 20m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (L Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (CA 178 / CHP Officer David W. Manning Memorial Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 41.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Bakersfield, CA to Alta Sierra, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Alta Sierra, CA
More trips to Alta Sierra, CA
Explore more options from Bakersfield, CA or browse trips ending in Alta Sierra, CA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CA road trips.
Explore maps for Bakersfield, CA or Alta Sierra, CA on MapSof.net.