Skip to main content
Trip.ovh Logo
Trip.ovh

Trip from Bakersfield, CA to South San Francisco, CA

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

5h 19m

Distance

278.5 mi

448 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$64

one way

EV Charging

Fair

4 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 41 min
4 AM
5h 6m ★
6 AM
5h 20m
8 AM
5h 47m
10 AM
5h 29m
12 PM
5h 27m
3 PM
5h 31m
5 PM
5h 45m
8 PM
5h 12m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
city and county seat of Kern County, California, United States

Bakersfield, CA

Wikimedia Commons

city in San Mateo County, California, United States

South San Francisco, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Bakersfield, CA to South San Francisco, CA covers 278.5 miles and takes about 5h 19m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Westside Freeway, US 101, CA 152 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 149.6 miles on Westside Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $64.01 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

139.3 miles from Bakersfield, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 36m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Westside Freeway 149.6 mi 2h 40m
US 101 47.8 mi 55m
CA 152 41.1 mi 51m
South Valley Freeway 19.9 mi 22m
Stockdale Highway 8.9 mi 12m
Westside Parkway 6.6 mi 8m
Truxtun Avenue 2.3 mi 4m
CA 58 0.5 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Westside Freeway — 149.6 mi, about 2h 40m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bakersfield, CA and South San Francisco, 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 58

149 ft · 2 sec · Stockdale Highway
7

Continue on CA 58

4.5 mi · 6 min · Stockdale Highway
8

Take the exit onto CA 58

0.5 mi · 1 min · CA 58
Toward I 5 North
9

Merge onto I 5; CA 58

150 mi · 2 hr 40 min · Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 26 sec
Exit 403B Toward CA 152 West: Gilroy, Hollister, San Jose
11

Continue on CA 152; CA33

29 mi · 33 min · CA 152; CA33
Use the straight lane.
12

Keep slight right at fork onto CA 152

12 mi · 16 min · CA 152
13

Take the exit onto CA 152

0.5 mi · 1 min · CA 152
Toward US 101 North: San Jose
14

Merge onto US 101; CA 152

20 mi · 22 min · South Valley Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
15

Keep slight left at fork onto US 101

22 mi · 25 min · US 101
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Keep slight left at fork onto US 101

26 mi · 29 min · US 101
Use the slight left lane.
17

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 31 sec
Exit 424 Toward South Airport Boulevard Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

Turn left onto South Airport Boulevard

0.2 mi · 27 sec · South Airport Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
19

Turn left onto South Airport Boulevard

0.2 mi · 23 sec · South Airport Boulevard
Use the left lane.
20

Continue on Airport Boulevard

0.4 mi · 43 sec · Airport Boulevard
21

Arrive at destination

Airport Boulevard

Trip Plan

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 139.3 miles from Bakersfield, CA, or about 2h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 149.6 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 61 miles or 1h 12m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 139.3 miles or 2h 36m 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 20m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near South San Francisco, 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 278.5 miles and 5h 19m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 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 Westside Freeway for about 149.6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in Santa Clara County, California, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Gilroy, CA

139 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

Avenal, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 61 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Mendota, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 139.3 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 Westside Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 149.6 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Urban Putt San Jose

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

San Jose, California

Near the end, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 238.8

Hours: 5–10 pm

+18339984994

Visit website

Round1 Bowling & Arcade Eastridge Shopping Center

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

San Jose, California

2.4 mi

Urban Putt San Jose

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 238.8

San Jose, California

Hours: 5–10 pm

+18339984994

Visit website

Round1 Bowling & Arcade Eastridge Shopping Center

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 238.8

San Jose, California

Hours: 10 am–2 pm

+14085138290

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

3.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 99.5

Coalinga, California

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Electrify America Charging Station

3.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 99.5

Coalinga, California

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

Electrify America Charging Station

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, ~12 min detour

4.6 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 79.6

Kettleman City, California

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

EV Range Charging Station

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, ~12 min detour

4.7 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 79.6

Kettleman City, California

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18333872643

Visit website

Orange Memorial Park

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 278.5

South San Francisco, California

Hours: 6 am–7 pm

+16508756973

Visit website

Happy Hollow Park & Zoo

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 238.8

San Jose, California

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+14087946400

Visit website

Kelley Park

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 238.8

San Jose, California

Hours: 8 am–7 pm

+14087947275

Visit website

OMESCAPE San Jose

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 238.8

San Jose, California

Hours: 1–10 pm

+14086220505

Visit website

Japanese Friendship Garden

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 238.8

San Jose, California

Hours: 10 am–6 pm

+14087947275

Visit website

History San Jose

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 238.8

San Jose, CA

Hours: 8 am–4 pm

+14082872290

Visit website

Nealon Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 258.7

Menlo Park, California

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

+16503302223

Visit website

Palo Alto Junior Museum and Zoo

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 258.7

Palo Alto, California

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+16503292111

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 13

5 decision points cluster between mile 18.9 and 277.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
18.9 mi into trip | ~27m in | I 5; CA 58 / Westside Freeway

Merge onto I 5; CA 58 / Westside Freeway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
168.5 mi into trip | ~3h 7m in

Take the exit toward CA 152 West: Gilroy, Hollister, San Jose

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

Exit 403B Toward CA 152 West: Gilroy, Hollister, San Jose
6
229.7 mi into trip | ~4h 22m in | US 101

Keep slight left at fork onto US 101

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
251.6 mi into trip | ~4h 47m in | US 101

Keep slight left at fork onto US 101

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane.
7
277.6 mi into trip | ~5h 17m in

Take the exit toward South Airport Boulevard

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 424 Toward South Airport Boulevard

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$64.01 one way

$128.02 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 97 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $65.96 $131.93
premium $6.18 $67.73 $135.46
diesel $5.61 $61.49 $122.98

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$64

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$89–$114

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 97.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 83.6 1 $29.24 $13.37
Efficient EV 69.6 0 $24.37 $11.14
EV Truck/SUV 111.4 1 $38.99 $17.82

Gas CO2

97 kg

EV CO2

33 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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Bakersfield, CA

Morning in Bakersfield on Saturday

Local time

11:26 AM

PDT

Current temp

77°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

South San Francisco, CA

Morning in South San Francisco on Saturday

Local time

11:26 AM

PDT

Current temp

66°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

11 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

5h 19m on the road

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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Established in 1988, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park celebrates America’s maritime heritage on the Pacific Coast. Our 50-acre park has grown around Aquatic Park Cove, a protected area...

11 mi from route ~27 min detour Free near mile 278.5
Park Closure: Hyde Street Pier Closure
Caution: Sick Birds and Wildlife, H5N1
View on nps.gov
Golden Gate National Recreation Area

Golden Gate National Recreation Area

National Recreation Area

Experience a park so rich it supports 19 distinct ecosystems with over 2,000 plant and animal species. Go for a hike, enjoy a vista, have a picnic or learn about the centuries of overlapping history f...

18 mi from route ~44 min detour Free near mile 278.5
View on nps.gov
Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park

Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Celebrate and honor the contributions and sacrifices of American civilians on the WWII home front. Discover how diverse communities lived, worked, and interacted. Many faces, many stories, many truths...

18 mi from route ~45 min detour Free near mile 278.5
View on nps.gov
Muir Woods National Monument

Muir Woods National Monument

National Monument

Walk among old growth coast redwoods, cooling their roots in the fresh water of Redwood Creek and lifting their crowns to reach the sun and fog. Federally protected as a National Monument since 1908,...

19 mi from route ~48 min detour $15 near mile 278.5
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...

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.

What kind of drive is this?

278.5 mi in 5h 19m, mostly highway — 149.6 mi of that is on Westside Freeway.

95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 149.6 mi on Westside Freeway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and US 101. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 18.9 miles in near I 5; CA 58 / Westside Freeway.

Driving Effort 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 278.5 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 18.9 miles (I 5; CA 58 / Westside Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 168.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 229.7 miles (US 101): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Bakersfield, CA and South San Francisco, CA, road signs point toward Hollister and San Jose.

Hollister

168.5 mi in | ~3h 7m

San Jose

168.5 mi in | ~3h 7m

About the Cities

Starting in Bakersfield, CA

Full guide →

Founded 1869

Bakersfield is a city in Kern County in the San Joaquin Valley of California. Bakersfield is famous for being the home of country music singers Buck Owens and Merle Haggard, and has the nickname "the country music capital of the West Coast."

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 19m. Total distance: 278.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

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

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 149.6 miles on Westside Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at South San Francisco, CA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: at 18.9 miles (I 5; CA 58 / Westside Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 168.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 229.7 miles (US 101): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes — San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, Golden Gate National Recreation Area and Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park (5 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Not recommended in a single day. At 5.3 hours each way, a round trip means 10.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at South San Francisco, CA before the return drive.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Return Trip

South San Francisco, CA to Bakersfield, CA

Plan the drive back the other way.

278.8 mi 5h 19m

Continue From South San Francisco, CA

Riverside, CA 428.2 mi · 8h 12m Sacramento, CA 95.2 mi · 1h 56m Stockton, CA 84.1 mi · 1h 42m San Jose, CA 38.5 mi · 47m

More from Bakersfield, CA

Willow Creek, CA 537.4 mi · 10h 7m Rio Dell, CA 519.2 mi · 10h 4m Susanville, CA 464.9 mi · 9h 13m Forest Ranch, CA 379.4 mi · 7h 16m Windsor, CA 338.9 mi · 6h 23m Big River, CA 336.5 mi · 6h 24m
Overnight trips from Bakersfield, CA Scenic drives in CA

Explore more options from Bakersfield, CA or browse trips ending in South San Francisco, CA.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CA road trips.