Origin
Bakersfield, CA
Afternoon in Bakersfield on Sunday
Local time
4:15 PM
PDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bakersfield, CA to Colton, CA
Drive Time
3h 13m
Distance
166 mi
267 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$38
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 2m
★
6 AM
3h 13m
8 AM
3h 37m
10 AM
3h 22m
12 PM
3h 19m
3 PM
3h 23m
5 PM
3h 36m
8 PM
3h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bakersfield, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Colton, CA
Luc Marshall
Trip Overview
The drive from Bakersfield, CA to Colton, CA covers 166 miles and takes about 3h 13m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on L Street, California Avenue, CA 99 South for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $38.44 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
83 miles from Bakersfield, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 36m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 13m drive with frequent turns across 166 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
L Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Bakersfield, CA to Colton, CA is easy. At 3h 13m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Bakersfield, CA to Colton, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| L Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| California Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| CA 99 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Golden State Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 210 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Foothill Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| CA 57 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Orange Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
L Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bakersfield, CA and Colton, CA.
1
Start on Truxtun Avenue
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
Truxtun Avenue
2
Turn right onto L Street
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
L Street
3
Turn right onto California Avenue
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
California Avenue
4
Take the ramp slight right toward CA 99 South
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
CA 99 South
5
Merge slight left onto Golden State Freeway
25 mi
·
27 min
·
Golden State Freeway
6
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
58 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
·
Golden State Freeway
7
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Golden State Freeway
8
Take the exit slight right toward I 210 East: Pasadena
0.3 mi
·
18 sec
·
I 210 East: Pasadena
9
Continue on Foothill Freeway
24 mi
·
28 min
·
Foothill Freeway
10
Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway
19 mi
·
22 min
·
Foothill Freeway
11
Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway
0.5 mi
·
33 sec
·
Foothill Freeway
12
Take the exit slight right toward CA 57 South: Santa Ana
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
CA 57 South: Santa Ana
13
Continue on Orange Freeway
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Orange Freeway
14
Take the exit slight right toward I 10 East, I 10 West: San Bernardino, Los Angeles
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
I 10 East, I 10 West: San Bernardino, Los Angeles
15
Keep slight left to continue on I 10 East: San Bernardino Freeway, San Bernardino
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
I 10 East: San Bernardino Freeway, San Bernardino
16
Merge slight left onto San Bernardino Freeway
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
17
Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway
4.0 mi
·
4 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
18
Keep slight left to continue on I-10 Metro ExpressLanes
9.0 mi
·
9 min
·
I-10 Metro ExpressLanes
19
Merge slight right onto San Bernardino Freeway
14 mi
·
15 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
20
Take the exit slight right toward Mount Vernon Avenue
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
Mount Vernon Avenue
21
Turn right onto South Mount Vernon Avenue
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South Mount Vernon Avenue
22
Turn right onto North Colton Avenue
75 ft
·
2 sec
·
North Colton Avenue
23
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 83 miles from Bakersfield, CA, or about 1h 36m into the drive.
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 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 83 miles or 1h 36m 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 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Colton, 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 166 miles and 3h 13m.
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.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 83 mi from Bakersfield, CA · 1h 36m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
83 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 83 miles from Bakersfield, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Colton, CA
The final approach into Colton, 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 Colton, 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
$38.44 one way
$76.88 round trip
$5.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
58 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $39.64 | $79.29 |
| premium | $6.24 | $40.80 | $81.60 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $36.88 | $73.76 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 58.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 49.8 | 0 | $17.43 | $7.97 |
| Efficient EV | 41.5 | 0 | $14.52 | $6.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 66.4 | 0 | $23.24 | $10.62 |
Gas CO2
58 kg
EV CO2
19 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Colton, CA
Afternoon in Colton on Sunday
Local time
4:15 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
3h 13m 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 Colton, CA covers 166 miles and takes about 3h 13m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are L Street, California Avenue, CA 99 South. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 83 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 $38.44 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Bakersfield, CA to Colton, CA is easy. At 3h 13m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Bakersfield, CA to Colton, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Bakersfield, CA to Colton, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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