Origin
Bakersfield, CA
Afternoon in Bakersfield on Sunday
Local time
12:22 PM
PDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
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Create accountDrive Time
5h 31m
Distance
295.6 mi
476 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$68
one way
Bakersfield, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Suisun, CA
Dominik Gryzbon
If you are planning to travel from Bakersfield to Suisun, expect a straightforward journey covering 295.6 miles. With a driving time of approximately 5 hours and 31 minutes, this trek is easily manageable as a single-day trip. You will spend most of your time on major corridors like the Westside Freeway, the Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway, and the William Elton Brown Freeway. Budgeting around $68 for fuel should keep you covered for the entire trip. Since both cities are located within the Pacific Coast region, the transition is seamless rather than a drastic change in climate or geography. It is a practical, efficient route designed for those prioritizing speed over scenic detours.
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
147.8 miles from Bakersfield, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 45m into the drive .
This trip is a highway-focused drive, with 85% of your travel time spent on high-speed roads. You will settle into a steady rhythm early on, facing a significant 192.7-mile stretch along the Westside Freeway that serves as the backbone of your journey. Because the route relies heavily on major freeways, you can expect a consistent, fast-paced experience rather than technical or winding secondary roads. While the landscape remains steady, the transition between freeway systems keeps the drive feeling structured and predictable. It is a classic interstate experience that rewards drivers who appreciate a direct, no-nonsense path.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 248.1 miles in.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 295.6 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 248.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 248.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 268.8 miles (I 680 / Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Take the exit toward I 680 South, I 680 North: San Jose, Sacramento, Concord, Walnut Creek
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 680 North: Walnut Creek, Concord, Sacramento
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto I 680 / Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway toward I 680 North: Martinez, Sacramento
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 80 East, CA 12 East: Fairfield, Sacramento
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 12 toward CA 12 East: Rio Vista
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Between Bakersfield, CA and Suisun, CA, road signs point toward San Francisco, Sacramento, Concord and Walnut Creek.
San Francisco
Sacramento
Concord
Walnut Creek
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Westside Freeway | 192.7 mi | 3h 26m |
| Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway | 19.6 mi | 22m |
| William Elton Brown Freeway | 17 mi | 18m |
| Donald D Doyle Highway | 15.2 mi | 17m |
| Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway | 12.9 mi | 14m |
| Luther E Gibson Freeway | 12 mi | 13m |
| Stockdale Highway | 8.9 mi | 12m |
| Westside Parkway | 6.6 mi | 8m |
Step-by-step road directions between Bakersfield, CA and Suisun, CA.
Start on Truxtun Avenue
Continue on Truxtun Avenue
Take the ramp
Continue on Westside Parkway
Continue on Stockdale Highway
Enter roundabout onto CA 58
Continue on CA 58
Take the exit onto CA 58
Merge onto I 5; CA 58
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580 Bypass
Merge onto I 580
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 680
Continue on I 680
Keep slight left at fork onto I 680
Keep slight left at fork onto I 680
Keep slight right at fork onto I 680
Keep slight right at fork onto I 680
Continue on I 680
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 80; CA 12
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 12
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn slight right onto Lotz Way
Turn left onto Main Street
Turn left onto Solano Street
Arrive at destination
To keep your drive smooth, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs during the 5.5-hour transit. Because the majority of your time is spent on long freeway stretches, consider leaving early in the morning to avoid potential congestion on the busier freeway sections as you approach your destination. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge before entering the 192.7-mile Westside Freeway segment, as refueling opportunities may be more spread out there compared to urban interchanges. Since this is a one-day trip, you have the flexibility to adjust your departure based on local traffic reports. Prioritize comfort and hydration to stay alert during the long, uninterrupted highway segments.
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.
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 147.8 miles or 2h 45m 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 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Suisun, CA than in the middle of the route.
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 295.6 miles and 5h 31m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 147.8 mi from Bakersfield, CA · 2h 45m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
148 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 147.8 miles from Bakersfield, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Westside Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 192.7 miles.
The final approach into Suisun, 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 Suisun, 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.
Regular Gas
$68.45 one way
$136.91 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $70.59 | $141.19 |
| premium | $6.24 | $72.65 | $145.31 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $65.67 | $131.34 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$68
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$93–$118
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 103.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 88.7 | 1 | $31.04 | $14.19 |
| Efficient EV | 73.9 | 0 | $25.87 | $11.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 118.2 | 1 | $41.38 | $18.92 |
Gas CO2
103 kg
EV CO2
35 kg (66% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Bakersfield on Sunday
Local time
12:22 PM
PDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Destination
Afternoon in Suisun on Sunday
Local time
12:22 PM
PDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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