The drive from Bakersfield, CA to London, CA covers 86.8 miles and takes about 1h 39m 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, Golden State Freeway, Avenue 368 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 73.7 miles on Golden State Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $19.95 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.
Midpoint
43.4 miles from Bakersfield, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 48m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 39m. Total distance: 86.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (6%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 39m drive with frequent turns across 86.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 18 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 73.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 14 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.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 86.8 miles you will encounter 14 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.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key points
These 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
82.2 mi into trip|~1h 29m in
Take the exit toward Merritt Drive
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 106B
Toward Merritt Drive
5
86.5 mi into trip|~1h 37m in|Kate Road
Turn right onto Kate Road
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Golden State Highway
73.7 mi
1h 18m
Golden State Freeway
5.2 mi
5m
Avenue 368
2.1 mi
3m
Golden State Avenue
1.9 mi
2m
Road 60
1 mi
1m
Chester Avenue
0.9 mi
1m
Merritt Drive
0.9 mi
1m
Truxtun Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Golden State Highway
— 73.7 mi, about 1h 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bakersfield, CA and London, 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
74 mi·1 hr 18 min·Golden State Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Exit 106BToward Merritt DriveUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn right onto J36
0.9 mi·1 min·Merritt Drive
12
Continue on J36
2.1 mi·3 min·Avenue 368
13
Turn left onto J31
1.0 mi·1 min·Road 60
14
Turn left onto Avenue 376
0.2 mi·25 sec·Avenue 376
15
Turn right onto Kate Road
0.1 mi·36 sec·Kate Road
16
Turn left onto Avenue 377
434 ft·21 sec·Avenue 377
17
Turn right onto Road 58
239 ft·10 sec·Road 58
18
Arrive at destination
Road 58
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 43.4 miles from Bakersfield, CA, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 73.7 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 19 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.4 miles or 48m 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 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near London, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Bakersfield, CA
This is one driving day of about 86.8 miles and 1h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Bakersfield, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Golden State Highway for about 73.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 43.4 mi from Bakersfield, CA
· 48m into the drive
The midpoint is around 43.4 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 Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 73.7 miles.
Arriving in London, CA
The final approach into London, CA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
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.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.95 one way
$39.90 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$20.56
$41.12
premium
$6.18
$21.11
$42.22
diesel
$5.61
$19.16
$38.33
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26
0
$9.11
$4.17
Efficient EV
21.7
0
$7.59
$3.47
EV Truck/SUV
34.7
0
$12.15
$5.56
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Bakersfield, CA
Late night
in Bakersfield on Friday
Local time
12:34 AM
PDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
London, CA
Late night
in London on Friday
Local time
12:34 AM
PDT
Current temp
74°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
3 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 39m 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 London, CA covers 86.8 miles and takes about 1h 39m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Golden State Highway, Golden State Freeway, Avenue 368. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 43.4 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 $19.95 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 86.8 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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.
The route from Bakersfield, CA to London, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include César E. Chávez National Monument.
Data sources
The figures on this page are computed from open government and mapping datasets, not crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Full methodology, refresh cadence, and limitations are documented on the
methodology page.
