Origin
Bakersfield, CA
Afternoon in Bakersfield on Sunday
Local time
12:22 PM
PDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
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Create accountDrive Time
2h 40m
Distance
131.7 mi
212 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$31
one way
Bakersfield, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Auberry, CA
Stephen Leonardi
The drive from Bakersfield, CA to Auberry, CA covers 131.7 miles and takes about 2h 40m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Golden State Highway, South Academy Avenue, Tollhouse Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 78.7 miles on Golden State Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $30.50 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
65.8 miles from Bakersfield, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 12m into the drive .
Expect a 2h 40m drive with frequent turns across 131.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in near Golden State Road.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 131.7 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles (Golden State Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 1.4 miles (CA 204; CA 99 BUS / Golden State Avenue): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.4 miles (CA 99 / Golden State Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Enter roundabout onto Golden State Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Merge onto CA 204; CA 99 BUS / Golden State Avenue
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto CA 99 / Golden State Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Road 12, 18th Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn right onto South Academy Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
On the drive from Bakersfield, CA to Auberry, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Road 12 along the way.
Road 12
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Golden State Highway | 78.7 mi | 1h 24m |
| South Academy Avenue | 22.6 mi | 32m |
| Tollhouse Road | 7.1 mi | 9m |
| Morgan Canyon Road | 5.3 mi | 7m |
| Golden State Freeway | 5.2 mi | 5m |
| Auberry Road | 4 mi | 6m |
| Golden State Avenue | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| Millerton Road | 1.9 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Bakersfield, CA and Auberry, CA.
Start on Truxtun Avenue
Continue on Truxtun Avenue
Turn right onto Chester Avenue
Enter roundabout onto Golden State Road
Continue on Golden State Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto CA 204; CA 99 BUS
Merge onto CA 99
Continue on CA 99
Take the exit
Turn right onto Road 12
Continue on 18th Avenue
Continue on South Mendocino Avenue
Turn left onto J40
Turn right onto South Academy Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto CA 168
Continue on CA 168
Continue on CA 168
Enter roundabout onto CA 168
Continue on CA 168
Continue on Auberry Road
Keep slight right at fork onto Auberry Road
Arrive at destination
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.
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 80 miles or 1h 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 65.8 miles or 1h 12m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Auberry, CA than in the middle of the route.
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 131.7 miles and 2h 40m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 65.8 mi from Bakersfield, CA · 1h 12m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
66 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 65.8 miles from Bakersfield, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Golden State Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 78.7 miles.
The final approach into Auberry, 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 Auberry, CA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$30.50 one way
$61.00 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $31.45 | $62.90 |
| premium | $6.24 | $32.37 | $64.74 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $29.26 | $58.52 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 39.5 | 0 | $13.83 | $6.32 |
| Efficient EV | 32.9 | 0 | $11.52 | $5.27 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 52.7 | 0 | $18.44 | $8.43 |
Gas CO2
46 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (67% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Bakersfield on Sunday
Local time
12:22 PM
PDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Destination
Afternoon in Auberry on Sunday
Local time
12:22 PM
PDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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