Origin
Bodfish, CA
Night in Bodfish on Friday
Local time
10:19 PM
PDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bodfish, CA to Bakersfield, CA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 3m
Distance
43 mi
69 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 58m
★
6 AM
1h 4m
8 AM
1h 14m
10 AM
1h 7m
12 PM
1h 6m
3 PM
1h 8m
5 PM
1h 13m
8 PM
1h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bodfish, CA
Nour Abiad
Bakersfield, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Bodfish to Bakersfield is 43 miles and takes about 1 hour 3 minutes via Route 178, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, highway-focused drive connecting two points within California's Pacific Coast region. Expect a simple journey primarily on well-maintained roads. With minimal driving time and a low fuel cost, this route is ideal for a quick transition between locations or as part of a larger California road trip.
About the Cities
Arriving in Bakersfield, CA
Full guide →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 1h 3m. Total distance: 43 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This drive is predominantly a highway experience, with 91% of the journey on established roadways. You'll spend most of your time on Route 178, which includes the CHP Officer David W. Manning Memorial Freeway and Lake Isabella Boulevard. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 31.9 miles on Route 178, offering a consistent pace. The road maintains a highway feel for the majority of the trip, making for an efficient and predictable drive.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Route 178 is the longest continuous segment at about 31.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Route 178 and CHP Officer David W. Manning Memorial Freeway. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Caliente Bodfish Road.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Bodfish, CA to Bakersfield, CA is easy. At 1h 3m with 91% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Caliente Bodfish Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles (Elizabeth Norris Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.4 miles: Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
4 of 4 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Caliente Bodfish Road
Turn right onto Caliente Bodfish Road
Navigation decision point
4
1.9 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
Elizabeth Norris Road
Turn left onto Elizabeth Norris Road
Navigation decision point
3
2.4 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the ramp toward CA 178
Navigation decision point
Toward CA 178
3
2.6 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
CA 178 / Isabella Walker Pass Road
Merge onto CA 178 / Isabella Walker Pass Road
Merge point - match speed before joining
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Route 178 | 31.9 mi | 46m |
| CHP Officer David W. Manning Memorial Freeway | 7.3 mi | 8m |
| Lake Isabella Boulevard | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| Elizabeth Norris Road | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Chester Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Isabella Walker Pass Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Columbus Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 24th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Route 178
— 31.9 mi, about 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bodfish, CA and Bakersfield, CA.
1
Start on Columbus Avenue
0.2 mi
·
57 sec
·
Columbus Avenue
2
Turn right onto Caliente Bodfish Road
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Caliente Bodfish Road
3
Continue on Lake Isabella Boulevard
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Lake Isabella Boulevard
4
Turn left onto Elizabeth Norris Road
0.6 mi
·
59 sec
·
Elizabeth Norris Road
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward CA 178
6
Merge onto CA 178
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
·
Isabella Walker Pass Road
7
Continue on CA 178
32 mi
·
46 min
·
Route 178
8
Continue on CA 178
7.3 mi
·
8 min
·
CHP Officer David W. Manning Memorial Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on CA 178
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
24th Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
10
Turn left onto Chester Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Chester Avenue
11
Turn left onto Truxtun Avenue
122 ft
·
7 sec
·
Truxtun Avenue
12
Arrive at destination
Truxtun Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 21.5 mi from Bodfish, CA · 33m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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 43 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.5 miles from Bodfish, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Bakersfield, CA
The final approach into Bakersfield, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.88 one way
$19.77 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $10.18 | $20.37 |
| premium | $6.18 | $10.46 | $20.91 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.49 | $18.99 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 15 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.9 | 0 | $4.52 | $2.06 |
| Efficient EV | 10.8 | 0 | $3.76 | $1.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.2 | 0 | $6.02 | $2.75 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (67% 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
Bakersfield, CA
Night in Bakersfield on Friday
Local time
10:19 PM
PDT
Current temp
77°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
35 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 3m 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 Bodfish, CA to Bakersfield, CA covers 43 miles and takes about 1h 3m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Route 178, CHP Officer David W. Manning Memorial Freeway, Lake Isabella Boulevard. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 21.5 miles from Bodfish, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.88 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.
The drive from Bodfish, CA to Bakersfield, CA is easy. At 1h 3m with 91% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Caliente Bodfish Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles (Elizabeth Norris Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.4 miles: Navigation decision point.
The route from Bodfish, CA to Bakersfield, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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