Origin
Bakersfield, CA
Afternoon in Bakersfield on Thursday
Local time
4:26 PM
PDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bakersfield, CA to Taft, CA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
52m
Distance
36.1 mi
58 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 49m
★
6 AM
0h 53m
8 AM
1h 2m
10 AM
0h 56m
12 PM
0h 55m
3 PM
0h 56m
5 PM
1h 1m
8 PM
0h 50m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bakersfield, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Taft, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Bakersfield, CA to Taft, CA covers 36.1 miles and takes about 52m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Taft Highway, Westside Parkway, Enos Lane for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 14.4 miles on Taft Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.30 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 52m. Total distance: 36.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (18%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 52m drive with frequent turns across 36.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Taft Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 14.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 13.8 miles in near CA 43 / Enos Lane.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 52m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 13.8 miles (CA 43 / Enos Lane): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 19.8 miles (CA 43 / Enos Lane): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 34.3 miles (Harrison Street): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 6 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
13.8 mi into trip
|
~20m in
|
CA 43 / Enos Lane
Enter roundabout onto CA 43 / Enos Lane
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
19.8 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
CA 43 / Enos Lane
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 43 / Enos Lane
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
4
34.3 mi into trip
|
~49m in
|
Harrison Street
Turn right onto Harrison Street
Navigation decision point
4
35.9 mi into trip
|
~52m in
|
CA 33 / Kern Street
Turn left onto CA 33 / Kern Street
Navigation decision point
5
36.1 mi into trip
|
~52m in
|
4th Street
Turn left onto 4th Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Taft Highway | 14.4 mi | 20m |
| Westside Parkway | 6.6 mi | 8m |
| Enos Lane | 6 mi | 9m |
| Stockdale Highway | 4.3 mi | 5m |
| Truxtun Avenue | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| Harrison Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| 6th Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Kern Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Taft Highway
— 14.4 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bakersfield, CA and Taft, CA.
1
Start on Truxtun Avenue
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
Truxtun Avenue
2
Continue on Truxtun Avenue
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Truxtun Avenue
3
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward CA 58: Westside Parkway West
4
Continue on Westside Parkway
6.6 mi
·
8 min
·
Westside Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on Stockdale Highway
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Stockdale Highway
Use the straight lane.
6
Enter roundabout onto CA 43
323 ft
·
4 sec
·
Enos Lane
7
Continue on CA 43
5.9 mi
·
8 min
·
Enos Lane
8
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 43
288 ft
·
5 sec
·
Enos Lane
Use the right lane.
9
Turn straight onto CA 119
14 mi
·
20 min
·
Taft Highway
10
Turn right onto Harrison Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Harrison Street
11
Continue on 6th Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
6th Street
12
Turn left onto CA 33
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
Kern Street
13
Turn left onto 4th Street
104 ft
·
4 sec
·
4th Street
14
Arrive at destination
4th Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 18.1 mi from Bakersfield, CA · 26m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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 36 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.1 miles from Bakersfield, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Taft, CA
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Taft, CA if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.30 one way
$16.59 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $8.55 | $17.10 |
| premium | $6.18 | $8.78 | $17.56 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.97 | $15.94 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.8 | 0 | $3.79 | $1.73 |
| Efficient EV | 9 | 0 | $3.16 | $1.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.4 | 0 | $5.05 | $2.31 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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.
Destination
Taft, CA
Afternoon in Taft on Thursday
Local time
4:26 PM
PDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
10 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
52m 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 Taft, CA covers 36.1 miles and takes about 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Taft Highway, Westside Parkway, Enos Lane. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 18.1 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 $8.30 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 is a straightforward 52m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 13.8 miles (CA 43 / Enos Lane): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 19.8 miles (CA 43 / Enos Lane): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 34.3 miles (Harrison Street): Navigation decision point.
The route from Bakersfield, CA to Taft, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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