Origin
Bakersfield, CA
Late night in Bakersfield on Friday
Local time
12:59 AM
PDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bakersfield, CA to Lodi, CA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 34m
Distance
242.5 mi
390 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$56
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 21m
★
6 AM
4h 35m
8 AM
5h 1m
10 AM
4h 44m
12 PM
4h 41m
3 PM
4h 45m
5 PM
5h 0m
8 PM
4h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bakersfield, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Lodi, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 242.5-mile drive from Bakersfield, CA, to Lodi, CA, will take you about 4 hours and 34 minutes, making it a manageable one-day trip. You'll primarily be on the Golden State Highway and Northbound California State Route 99 (CA 99), with 51% of the journey on highways. Expect a fuel cost of around $56 for this journey through the Pacific Coast region. The overall profile is a mixed drive, offering a straightforward transit between these two California locations. This route is well-suited for a single day of travel without the need for an overnight stay.
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
121.2 miles from Bakersfield, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 12m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 34m. Total distance: 242.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Drive Character
Your drive will largely follow the Golden State Highway and CA 99, a common corridor for travel within California's Central Valley. With 51% of the drive on highways, you'll experience a mix of faster-paced travel and potentially some local road sections. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 113.1 miles, so plan accordingly for breaks. This route offers a mixed drive profile, meaning you won't encounter consistently challenging terrain or highly technical driving, but rather a blend of highway speeds and potentially slower segments as you pass through various towns.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Golden State Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 113.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in near Golden State Road.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 242.5 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 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.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
1.2 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
Golden State Road
Enter roundabout onto Golden State Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
1.4 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
CA 204; CA 99 BUS / Golden State Avenue
Merge onto CA 204; CA 99 BUS / Golden State Avenue
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
3.4 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
CA 99 / Golden State Freeway
Merge onto CA 99 / Golden State Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
119.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 11m in
Take the exit toward Avenue 7
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 144
Toward Avenue 7
7
141.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 35m in
|
CA 99 / Northbound California State Route 99
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 99 / Northbound California State Route 99 toward CA 99
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward CA 99
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Bakersfield, CA to Lodi, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Avenue 7 along the way.
Avenue 7
119.9 mi in
|
~2h 11m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Golden State Highway | 113.1 mi | 2h 2m |
| Northbound California State Route 99 | 84.6 mi | 1h 38m |
| CA 99 | 32.4 mi | 36m |
| Golden State Freeway | 5.2 mi | 5m |
| Golden State Avenue | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| Old U.S. Route 99E | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Cherokee Lane | 1 mi | 1m |
| Chester Avenue | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Golden State Highway
— 113.1 mi, about 2h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bakersfield, CA and Lodi, CA.
1
Start on Truxtun Avenue
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
Truxtun Avenue
2
Continue on Truxtun Avenue
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
Truxtun Avenue
3
Turn right onto Chester Avenue
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Chester Avenue
4
Enter roundabout onto Golden State Road
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
Golden State Road
5
Continue on Golden State Road
427 ft
·
8 sec
·
Golden State Road
6
Take the ramp
395 ft
·
10 sec
7
Merge onto CA 204; CA 99 BUS
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Golden State Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto CA 99
5.2 mi
·
5 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on CA 99
111 mi
·
2 hr
·
Golden State Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 144
Toward Avenue 7
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto CA 99
21 mi
·
24 min
·
CA 99
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 99
85 mi
·
1 hr 38 min
·
Northbound California State Route 99
Toward CA 99
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on CA 99
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Golden State Highway
14
Continue on CA 99
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Old U.S. Route 99E
15
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99
11 mi
·
12 min
·
CA 99
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
Toward CA 12 West: Kettleman Lane
17
Turn left onto CA 12
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
East Kettleman Lane
18
Turn right onto CA 99 Business
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Cherokee Lane
19
Turn left onto East Lodi Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Lodi Avenue
20
Turn left onto South Sacramento Street
50 ft
·
2 sec
·
South Sacramento Street
21
Arrive at destination
South Sacramento Street
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour and 34-minute trip, starting your drive in the morning will give you ample time to reach Lodi comfortably. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing yourself. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 113.1-mile stretch on the Golden State Highway, as services might be more spread out. The estimated fuel cost is $56, so factoring this into your budget is wise. This is a straightforward drive, so focus on enjoying the journey and arriving at your destination without unnecessary stress.
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 121.2 miles from Bakersfield, CA, or about 2h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 113.1 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 53 miles or 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 121.2 miles or 2h 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 3h 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lodi, 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 242.5 miles and 4h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 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 Highway for about 113.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 121.2 mi from Bakersfield, CA · 2h 12m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
121 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 53 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 121.2 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 113.1 miles.
Arriving in Lodi, CA
The final approach into Lodi, 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 Lodi, CA.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$55.74 one way
$111.47 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
85 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $57.44 | $114.87 |
| premium | $6.18 | $58.97 | $117.95 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $53.54 | $107.08 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$56
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$81–$106
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 84.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 72.8 | 0 | $25.46 | $11.64 |
| Efficient EV | 60.6 | 0 | $21.22 | $9.70 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 97 | 1 | $33.95 | $15.52 |
Gas CO2
85 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Lodi, CA
Late night in Lodi on Friday
Local time
12:59 AM
PDT
Current temp
68°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
9 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
4h 34m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 Lodi, CA covers 242.5 miles and takes about 4h 34m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Golden State Highway, Northbound California State Route 99, CA 99. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 121.2 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 $55.74 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 242.5 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 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.
On the drive from Bakersfield, CA to Lodi, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Avenue 7 along the way.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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