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Trip from Bakersfield, CA to Imperial, CA

Drive Time

6h 7m

Distance

318.3 mi

512 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$74

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min
4 AM
5h 54m ★
6 AM
6h 7m
8 AM
6h 33m
10 AM
6h 16m
12 PM
6h 13m
3 PM
6h 17m
5 PM
6h 31m
8 PM
5h 59m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Bakersfield, CA, CA

Bakersfield, CA

Stephen Leonardi

city in Imperial County, California, United States

Imperial, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Bakersfield, CA to Imperial, CA covers 318.3 miles and takes about 6h 7m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Golden State Freeway, CA 86, Foothill Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 84.9 miles on Golden State Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $73.71 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

159.2 miles from Bakersfield, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 4m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 6h 7m highway drive covering 318.3 miles, with most of the trip on Golden State Freeway and CA 86. The longest continuous stretch is about 84.9 miles on Golden State Freeway.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 30 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Golden State Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 84.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Golden State Freeway and CA 86. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 87 miles in.

Route Complexity 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 25 significant decision points across 318.3 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 87 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 111.7 miles (I 210 / Foothill Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 135.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 25 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

7
87 mi into trip | ~1h 40m in

Take the exit toward I 210 East: Pasadena

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 161A Toward I 210 East: Pasadena
8
111.7 mi into trip | ~2h 8m in | I 210 / Foothill Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 210 / Foothill Freeway toward CA 134 West, I 210 East: San Bernardino, Ventura

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward CA 134 West, I 210 East: San Bernardino,...
8
135.5 mi into trip | ~2h 37m in

Take the exit toward I 10 East, I 10 West: San Bernardino, Los Angeles

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 22A; 22B Toward I 10 East, I 10 West: San Bernardino, Lo...
9
135.7 mi into trip | ~2h 37m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 10 East: San Bernardino Freeway, San Bernardino

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Exit 22B Toward I 10 East: San Bernardino Freeway, San B...
8
238.3 mi into trip | ~4h 30m in | CA 86

Keep slight right at fork onto CA 86 toward CA 86 South: CA 86 South, Brawley, El Centro

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight lane. Toward CA 86 South: CA 86 South, Brawley, El Ce...

Towns Along This Route

Between Bakersfield, CA and Imperial, CA, road signs point toward Ventura, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Redlands, Palm Springs and Brawley - among others.

Ventura

111.7 mi in | ~2h 8m | via I 210

Los Angeles

135.5 mi in | ~2h 37m

San Bernardino

135.7 mi in | ~2h 37m

Redlands

165.5 mi in | ~3h 11m | via I 10

Palm Springs

165.5 mi in | ~3h 11m | via I 10

Brawley

238.3 mi in | ~4h 30m | via CA 86

El Centro

238.3 mi in | ~4h 30m | via CA 86

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Golden State Freeway 84.9 mi 1h 36m
CA 86 78.4 mi 1h 32m
Foothill Freeway 44 mi 50m
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway 40.3 mi 44m
Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway 32.5 mi 34m
San Bernardino Freeway 20.1 mi 23m
I-10 Metro ExpressLanes 9 mi 9m
Orange Freeway 3.4 mi 3m
Longest stretch: Golden State Freeway — 84.9 mi, about 1h 36m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bakersfield, CA and Imperial, 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

0.2 mi · 25 sec
Toward CA 99 South Use the right lane.
5

Merge onto CA 99

25 mi · 27 min · Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99

58 mi · 1 hr 6 min · Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

2.0 mi · 2 min · Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 17 sec
Exit 161A Toward I 210 East: Pasadena Use the slight right lane.
9

Continue on I 210

24 mi · 28 min · Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Keep slight right at fork onto I 210

19 mi · 22 min · Foothill Freeway
Toward CA 134 West, I 210 East: San Bernardino, Ventura Use the slight right lane.
11

Keep slight right at fork onto I 210

0.5 mi · 32 sec · Foothill Freeway
12

Take the exit

0.9 mi · 1 min
Exit 44A Toward CA 57 South: Santa Ana Use the slight right lane.
13

Continue on CA 57

3.4 mi · 3 min · Orange Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 22 sec
Exit 22A; 22B Toward I 10 East, I 10 West: San Bernardino, Los Angeles Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Keep slight left at fork

0.7 mi · 1 min
Exit 22B Toward I 10 East: San Bernardino Freeway, San Bernardino Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
16

Merge onto I 10

1.9 mi · 2 min · San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Keep slight right at fork onto I 10

4.0 mi · 4 min · San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 EXPR

9.0 mi · 9 min · I-10 Metro ExpressLanes
Use the slight left lane.
19

Merge onto I 10

14 mi · 16 min · San Bernardino Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
20

Continue on I 10

40 mi · 44 min · Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Toward Redlands, Palm Springs Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21

Keep slight left at fork onto I 10

32 mi · 34 min · Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22

Keep slight right at fork onto CA 86

70 mi · 1 hr 22 min · CA 86
Toward CA 86 South: CA 86 South, Brawley, El Centro Use the straight lane.
23

Turn right onto CA 86

0.4 mi · 27 sec · South 1st Street
24

Continue on CA 86

0.9 mi · 1 min · South Brawley Avenue
Use the straight lane.
25

Turn left

326 ft · 18 sec
26

Turn right

0.1 mi · 46 sec
27

At end of road, turn right

471 ft · 23 sec
28

Turn left onto CA 86

8.4 mi · 10 min · CA 86
29

Turn right onto S28

103 ft · 2 sec · East Barioni Boulevard
30

Arrive at destination

S28

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Evening Departure

This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 159.2 miles from Bakersfield, CA, or about 3h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 84.9 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 80 miles or 1h 32m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 159.2 miles or 3h 4m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 57m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Imperial, 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 318.3 miles and 6h 7m.

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.
The longest stretch is on Golden State Freeway for about 84.9 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 159.2 mi from Bakersfield, CA · 3h 4m into the drive

Downtown Ontario, CA, CA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Ontario, CA

159 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

Santa Clarita, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Riverside, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 159.2 miles from Bakersfield, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Golden State Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 84.9 miles.

Arriving in Imperial, CA

The final approach into Imperial, 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 Imperial, CA.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

National Recreation Area

The Santa Monica Mountains offer easy access to surprisingly wild places. Experience the famous beaches of Malibu or explore more than 500 miles of trails. The park abounds with historical and cultura...

22 mi from route ~56 min detour Free near mile 87.8
View on nps.gov
Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree National Park

National Park

Two distinct desert ecosystems, the Mojave and the Colorado, come together in Joshua Tree National Park. A fascinating variety of plants and animals make their homes in a land sculpted by strong winds...

24 mi from route ~61 min detour $30 near mile 241.5
View on nps.gov
César E. Chávez National Monument

César E. Chávez National Monument

National Monument

Yes, we can! Widely recognized as the most important Latino leader in the United States during the twentieth century, Cesar Chavez led farm workers and supporters in the establishment of the country's...

25 mi from route ~64 min detour Free near mile 22
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$73.71 one way

$147.42 round trip

$5.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 111 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.07 $76.02 $152.03
premium $6.24 $78.23 $156.47
diesel $5.64 $70.72 $141.43

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$74

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$99–$124

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 111.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $33 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 95.5 1 $33.42 $15.28
Efficient EV 79.6 0 $27.85 $12.73
EV Truck/SUV 127.3 1 $44.56 $20.37

Gas CO2

111 kg

EV CO2

37 kg (67% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 hours ago

Origin

Bakersfield, CA

Morning in Bakersfield on Monday

Local time

9:01 AM

PDT

Current temp

49°F

Slight Chance Light Rain

0 mph 30% chance Live forecast

Winter Weather Advisory

Winter Weather Advisory issued April 13 at 12:17AM PDT until April 13 at 7:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA

Winter Weather Advisory

Winter Weather Advisory issued April 13 at 12:17AM PDT until April 13 at 7:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA

Destination

Imperial, CA

Morning in Imperial on Monday

Local time

9:01 AM

PDT

Current temp

60°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

77°F

Ontario, CA

159 mi in

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

11 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

6h 7m on the road

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

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 Imperial, CA covers 318.3 miles and takes about 6h 7m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Golden State Freeway, CA 86, Foothill Freeway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 159.2 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 $73.71 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 25 significant decision points across 318.3 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 87 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 111.7 miles (I 210 / Foothill Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 135.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Bakersfield, CA and Imperial, CA, road signs point toward Ventura, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Redlands, Palm Springs and Brawley - among others.

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Return Trip

Imperial, CA to Bakersfield, CA

Plan the drive back the other way.

317.4 mi 6h 4m

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