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Trip from Bakersfield, CA to Sunland, CA

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

1h 58m

Distance

100.6 mi

162 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$23

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 26 min
4 AM
1h 50m ★
6 AM
1h 59m
8 AM
2h 16m
10 AM
2h 5m
12 PM
2h 3m
3 PM
2h 6m
5 PM
2h 15m
8 PM
1h 54m

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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city and county seat of Kern County, California, United States

Bakersfield, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Sunland, CA, CA

Sunland, CA

Dominik Gryzbon

Trip Overview

The drive from Bakersfield, CA to Sunland, CA covers 100.6 miles and takes about 1h 58m 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, Foothill Freeway, California Avenue 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 $23.12 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

50.3 miles from Bakersfield, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 58m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 58m. Total distance: 100.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 1h 58m highway drive covering 100.6 miles, with most of the trip on Golden State Freeway and Foothill Freeway. 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 15 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 Foothill Freeway. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 26.8 miles in near CA 99 / Golden State Freeway.

Driving Effort 6/10

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 100.6 miles you will encounter 11 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 26.8 miles (CA 99 / Golden State Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 85 miles (I 5 / Golden State Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 87 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 11 key points

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

6
26.8 mi into trip | ~31m in | CA 99 / Golden State Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99 / Golden State Freeway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
85 mi into trip | ~1h 37m in | I 5 / Golden State Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 / Golden State Freeway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
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
7
98.1 mi into trip | ~1h 52m in

Take the exit toward Sunland Boulevard

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 11 Toward Sunland Boulevard
6
99.9 mi into trip | ~1h 56m in | Woodward Avenue

Turn left onto Woodward Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Golden State Freeway 84.9 mi 1h 36m
Foothill Freeway 10.8 mi 12m
California Avenue 1.5 mi 2m
Foothill Boulevard 0.9 mi 2m
Sunland Boulevard 0.5 mi <1m
Woodward Avenue 0.5 mi 1m
L Street 0.3 mi <1m
Wentworth Street 0.3 mi <1m
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 Sunland, 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

11 mi · 12 min · Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 45 sec
Exit 11 Toward Sunland Boulevard Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Turn left onto Sunland Boulevard

0.5 mi · 57 sec · Sunland Boulevard
12

Continue on Foothill Boulevard

0.9 mi · 2 min · Foothill Boulevard
13

Turn left onto Woodward Avenue

0.5 mi · 1 min · Woodward Avenue
Use the left lane.
14

Turn right onto Wentworth Street

0.3 mi · 42 sec · Wentworth Street
15

Arrive at destination

Wentworth Street

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 50.3 miles from Bakersfield, CA, or about 58m 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 22 miles or 25m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 50.3 miles or 58m 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 35m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sunland, 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 100.6 miles and 1h 58m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 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 Freeway for about 84.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 50.3 mi from Bakersfield, CA · 58m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Castaic, CA

50 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

Greenfield, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 22 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Castaic, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 50.3 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 Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 84.9 miles.

Arriving in Sunland, CA

The final approach into Sunland, 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.

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 ~54 min detour Free near mile 83.3
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 ~63 min detour Free near mile 17.4
View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$23.12 one way

$46.24 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 35 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $23.83 $47.65
premium $6.18 $24.46 $48.93
diesel $5.61 $22.21 $44.42

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$23

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$48–$73

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 35.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 30.2 0 $10.56 $4.83
Efficient EV 25.2 0 $8.80 $4.02
EV Truck/SUV 40.2 0 $14.08 $6.44

Gas CO2

35 kg

EV CO2

12 kg (66% 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

Afternoon in Bakersfield on Thursday

Local time

3:24 PM

PDT

Current temp

77°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Sunland, CA

Afternoon in Sunland on Thursday

Local time

3:24 PM

PDT

Current temp

50°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

27 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 58m 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 Sunland, CA covers 100.6 miles and takes about 1h 58m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Golden State Freeway, Foothill Freeway, California Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 50.3 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 $23.12 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 100.6 miles you will encounter 11 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 26.8 miles (CA 99 / Golden State Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 85 miles (I 5 / Golden State Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 87 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Bakersfield, CA to Sunland, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and César E. Chávez National Monument.

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Plan the drive back the other way.

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