Origin
Buellton, CA
Evening in Buellton on Friday
Local time
8:42 PM
PDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Buellton, 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
2h 46m
Distance
153.5 mi
247 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$35
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 35m
★
6 AM
2h 46m
8 AM
3h 8m
10 AM
2h 54m
12 PM
2h 52m
3 PM
2h 55m
5 PM
3h 7m
8 PM
2h 40m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Buellton, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Bakersfield, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Buellton, CA to Bakersfield, CA covers 153.5 miles and takes about 2h 46m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 101 North, CA 166 East, Cuyama Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $35.28 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.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
76.8 miles from Buellton, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 23m into the drive .
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 2h 46m. Total distance: 153.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 46m drive with frequent turns across 153.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 101 North is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Buellton, CA to Bakersfield, CA is easy. At 2h 46m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Buellton, CA to Bakersfield, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 101 North | — | — |
| CA 166 East | — | — |
| Cuyama Highway | — | — |
| Poso Street | — | — |
| California Street | — | — |
| West Side Highway | — | — |
| Taft Highway | — | — |
| SR 119 | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
US 101 North
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Buellton, CA and Bakersfield, CA.
1
Start on the route
161 ft
·
17 sec
·
the route
2
At the end of the road, turn left
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
3
Take the ramp left toward US 101 North
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
US 101 North
4
Merge slight left
34 mi
·
39 min
5
Take the exit slight right toward CA 166 East
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
CA 166 East
6
Turn right onto Cuyama Highway
76 mi
·
1 hr 29 min
·
Cuyama Highway
7
Continue on Poso Street
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Poso Street
8
Turn left onto California Street
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
California Street
9
Continue on West Side Highway
5.7 mi
·
7 min
·
West Side Highway
10
Continue on Taft Highway
17 mi
·
23 min
·
Taft Highway
11
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward SR 119/SR43 Taft Hwy Roundabout
312 ft
·
5 sec
·
SR 119/SR43 Taft Hwy Roundabout
12
Exit the rotary onto Enos Lane
5.9 mi
·
8 min
·
Enos Lane
13
Take the ramp slight right toward CA 58
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
CA 58
14
Merge slight left onto Stockdale Highway
4.2 mi
·
5 min
·
Stockdale Highway
15
Continue on Westside Parkway
6.7 mi
·
7 min
·
Westside Parkway
16
Take the exit slight right
0.5 mi
·
1 min
17
Turn straight onto Truxtun Avenue
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Truxtun Avenue
18
Arrive at your destination
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 76.8 miles from Buellton, CA, or about 1h 23m into the drive.
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 34 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 76.8 miles or 1h 23m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bakersfield, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Buellton, 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 Buellton, CA
This is one driving day of about 153.5 miles and 2h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 miles from Buellton, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 76.8 mi from Buellton, CA · 1h 23m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
77 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 34 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 76.8 miles from Buellton, 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.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Bakersfield, CA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.28 one way
$70.56 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
54 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $36.36 | $72.71 |
| premium | $6.18 | $37.33 | $74.66 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $33.89 | $67.78 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 53.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 46.1 | 0 | $16.12 | $7.37 |
| Efficient EV | 38.4 | 0 | $13.43 | $6.14 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 61.4 | 0 | $21.49 | $9.82 |
Gas CO2
54 kg
EV CO2
18 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
Evening in Bakersfield on Friday
Local time
8:42 PM
PDT
Current temp
77°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
10 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
2h 46m 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 Buellton, CA to Bakersfield, CA covers 153.5 miles and takes about 2h 46m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 101 North, CA 166 East, Cuyama Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 76.8 miles from Buellton, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $35.28 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Buellton, CA to Bakersfield, CA is easy. At 2h 46m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Buellton, CA to Bakersfield, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Buellton, 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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