Origin
Colton, CA
Afternoon in Colton on Sunday
Local time
2:59 PM
PDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Colton, CA to Bakersfield, CA
Drive Time
2h 42m
Distance
166.4 mi
268 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$39
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 32m
★
6 AM
2h 42m
8 AM
3h 4m
10 AM
2h 50m
12 PM
2h 48m
3 PM
2h 51m
5 PM
3h 3m
8 PM
2h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Colton, CA
Luc Marshall
Bakersfield, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Trip Overview
The drive from Colton, CA to Bakersfield, CA covers 166.4 miles and takes about 2h 42m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North Mount Vernon Avenue, I 10 West, San Bernardino Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $38.53 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
83.2 miles from Colton, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 21m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 42m drive with frequent turns across 166.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Mount Vernon Avenue 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.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Colton, CA to Bakersfield, CA is easy. At 2h 42m 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 Colton, CA to Bakersfield, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Mount Vernon Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 10 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| San Bernardino Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I-10 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| CA 57 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| CA 57 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 210 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Foothill Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
North Mount Vernon Avenue
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Colton, CA and Bakersfield, CA.
1
Start on North Colton Avenue
75 ft
·
4 sec
·
North Colton Avenue
2
Turn left onto North Mount Vernon Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Mount Vernon Avenue
3
Take the ramp right toward I 10 West
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
I 10 West
4
Merge slight left onto San Bernardino Freeway
13 mi
·
14 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
5
Keep slight left to continue on I-10 Metro ExpressLanes
9.3 mi
·
9 min
·
I-10 Metro ExpressLanes
6
Merge slight right onto San Bernardino Freeway
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
7
Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
8
Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
9
Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
10
Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway
0.8 mi
·
55 sec
·
San Bernardino Freeway
11
Take the exit slight right toward CA 57: Santa Ana
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
CA 57: Santa Ana
12
Keep slight right to continue on CA 57 North
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
·
CA 57 North
13
Continue straight
3.4 mi
·
3 min
14
Keep slight left to continue on I 210 West: Pasadena
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
I 210 West: Pasadena
15
Merge slight left onto Foothill Freeway
18 mi
·
21 min
·
Foothill Freeway
16
Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway
26 mi
·
29 min
·
Foothill Freeway
17
Keep slight right
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
18
Merge slight right
1.0 mi
·
1 min
19
Keep slight left
36 mi
·
41 min
20
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
22 mi
·
25 min
·
Golden State Freeway
21
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
25 mi
·
27 min
·
Golden State Freeway
22
Take the exit slight right toward California Avenue
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
California Avenue
23
Turn right onto California Avenue
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
California Avenue
24
Turn left onto Chester Avenue
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
Chester Avenue
25
Turn right onto Truxtun Avenue
20 ft
·
Truxtun Avenue
26
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 83.2 miles from Colton, CA, or about 1h 21m 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 80 miles or 1h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 83.2 miles or 1h 21m 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 13m
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 Colton, 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 Colton, CA
This is one driving day of about 166.4 miles and 2h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Colton, 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 83.2 mi from Colton, CA · 1h 21m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
83 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 83.2 miles from Colton, 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
$38.53 one way
$77.07 round trip
$5.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
58 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $39.74 | $79.48 |
| premium | $6.24 | $40.90 | $81.80 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $36.97 | $73.94 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 58.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 49.9 | 0 | $17.47 | $7.99 |
| Efficient EV | 41.6 | 0 | $14.56 | $6.66 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 66.6 | 0 | $23.30 | $10.65 |
Gas CO2
58 kg
EV CO2
19 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
Afternoon in Bakersfield on Sunday
Local time
2:59 PM
PDT
Current temp
53°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
2h 42m 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 Colton, CA to Bakersfield, CA covers 166.4 miles and takes about 2h 42m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Mount Vernon Avenue, I 10 West, San Bernardino Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 83.2 miles from Colton, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $38.53 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 Colton, CA to Bakersfield, CA is easy. At 2h 42m 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 Colton, CA to Bakersfield, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Colton, CA to Bakersfield, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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