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Trip from Bakersfield, CA to Nevada City, CA

Drive Time

6h 24m

Distance

334.6 mi

538 km

Drive Score

10/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$77

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min
4 AM
6h 12m ★
6 AM
6h 25m
8 AM
6h 50m
10 AM
6h 34m
12 PM
6h 31m
3 PM
6h 35m
5 PM
6h 49m
8 PM
6h 17m

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

Downtown Nevada City, CA, CA

Nevada City, CA

Stephen Leonardi

Trip Overview

The drive from Bakersfield, CA to Nevada City, CA covers 334.6 miles and takes about 6h 24m 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, Northbound California State Route 99, CA 99 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 113.1 miles on Golden State Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $77.48 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

167.3 miles from Bakersfield, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 5m into the drive .

Drive Character

The drive from Bakersfield, CA to Nevada City, CA covers 334.6 miles and takes about 6h 24m, using a mix of highways and local roads.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 29 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 119.9 miles in.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 334.6 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 119.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 141.8 miles (CA 99 / Northbound California State Route 99): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 229.4 miles (CA 99): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 18 key points

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

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
6
229.4 mi into trip | ~4h 17m in | CA 99

Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
306.9 mi into trip | ~5h 46m in

Take the exit toward CA 49 North: Grass Valley, Placerville

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 119B Toward CA 49 North: Grass Valley, Placerville
6
307.1 mi into trip | ~5h 47m in | CA 49 / Grass Valley Highway

Turn left onto CA 49 / Grass Valley Highway

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / straight lanes.

Towns Along This Route

Between Bakersfield, CA and Nevada City, CA, road signs point toward Avenue 7 and Placerville.

Avenue 7

119.9 mi in | ~2h 11m

Placerville

306.9 mi in | ~5h 46m

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 66.1 mi 1h 15m
State Highway 49 18.9 mi 24m
Alan S. Hart Freeway 16.9 mi 19m
Capital City Freeway 8.9 mi 9m
Grass Valley Highway 8.3 mi 12m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway 7 mi 8m
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 Nevada City, 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

45 mi · 51 min · CA 99
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Continue on Capital City Freeway

8.9 mi · 9 min · Capital City Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Continue on I 80

7.0 mi · 8 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

Continue on I 80

17 mi · 19 min · Alan S. Hart Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 30 sec
Exit 119B Toward CA 49 North: Grass Valley, Placerville Use the slight right lane.
20

Turn left onto CA 49

5.8 mi · 9 min · Grass Valley Highway
Use the left / straight lanes.
21

Enter roundabout onto CA 49

117 ft · 3 sec · Grass Valley Highway
22

Continue on CA 49

1.3 mi · 1 min · Grass Valley Highway
23

Enter roundabout onto CA 49

117 ft · 3 sec · Grass Valley Highway
24

Continue on CA 49

1.1 mi · 1 min · Grass Valley Highway
25

Continue on CA 49

19 mi · 24 min · State Highway 49
Use the straight lane.
26

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 26 sec
Toward Broad Street
27

Turn left onto Broad Street

214 ft · 11 sec · Broad Street
28

Take the ramp

239 ft · 4 sec
29

Arrive at destination

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 167.3 miles from Bakersfield, CA, or about 3h 5m 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 80 miles or 1h 28m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 167.3 miles or 3h 5m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 5h 9m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Nevada City, 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 334.6 miles and 6h 24m.

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 Highway for about 113.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 167.3 mi from Bakersfield, CA · 3h 5m into the drive

Downtown Turlock, CA, CA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Turlock, CA

167 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

Fresno, CA

Fuel and coffee

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

Turlock, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 167.3 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 113.1 miles.

Arriving in Nevada City, CA

The final approach into Nevada City, 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 Nevada City, 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

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...

28 mi from route ~69 min detour Free
View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$77.48 one way

$154.97 round trip

$5.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 117 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.07 $79.91 $159.82
premium $6.24 $82.24 $164.48
diesel $5.64 $74.34 $148.67

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$77

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$102–$127

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 117.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $35 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 100.4 1 $35.13 $16.06
Efficient EV 83.7 0 $29.28 $13.38
EV Truck/SUV 133.8 1 $46.84 $21.41

Gas CO2

117 kg

EV CO2

39 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 days ago

Origin

Bakersfield, CA

Late night in Bakersfield on Monday

Local time

3:12 AM

PDT

Current temp

53°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Nevada City, CA

Late night in Nevada City on Monday

Local time

3:12 AM

PDT

Current temp

45°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

8 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

6h 24m 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 Nevada City, CA covers 334.6 miles and takes about 6h 24m 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 167.3 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 $77.48 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 18 significant decision points across 334.6 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 119.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 141.8 miles (CA 99 / Northbound California State Route 99): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 229.4 miles (CA 99): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Bakersfield, CA and Nevada City, CA, road signs point toward Avenue 7 and Placerville.

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