Skip to main content
Trip.ovh Logo
Trip.ovh

Trip from Del Rio, CA to Bakersfield, CA

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

4h 2m

Distance

212 mi

341 km

Drive Score

10/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$49

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

17 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min
4 AM
3h 49m ★
6 AM
4h 2m
8 AM
4h 28m
10 AM
4h 12m
12 PM
4h 9m
3 PM
4h 13m
5 PM
4h 27m
8 PM
3h 55m

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
Downtown Del Rio, CA, CA

Del Rio, CA

Ezequiel Barroso

city and county seat of Kern County, California, United States

Bakersfield, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Del Rio, CA to Bakersfield, CA covers 212 miles and takes about 4h 2m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on CA 99, Golden State Highway, Golden State Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 137.5 miles on CA 99. At current regular gas prices, budget about $48.73 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

106 miles from Del Rio, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 7m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 2m. Total distance: 212 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Drive Character

This is a 4h 2m highway drive covering 212 miles, with most of the trip on CA 99 and Golden State Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 137.5 miles on CA 99.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
CA 99 is the longest continuous segment at about 137.5 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on CA 99 and Golden State Highway. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 7.7 miles in near CA 99.

Driving Effort 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 212 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 7.7 miles (CA 99): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 104.2 miles (CA 99): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 145.2 miles (CA 99 / Golden State Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 12 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
7.7 mi into trip | ~14m in | CA 99

Merge onto CA 99

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
104.2 mi into trip | ~2h 5m in | CA 99

Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
145.2 mi into trip | ~2h 49m in | CA 99 / Golden State Highway

Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99 / Golden State Highway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
208.9 mi into trip | ~3h 57m in | CA 204; CA 99 BUS / Golden State Avenue

Keep slight right at fork onto CA 204; CA 99 BUS / Golden State Avenue toward CA 204 South: Golden State Avenue

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 27 Toward CA 204 South: Golden State Avenue
6
211 mi into trip | ~4h in | Chester Avenue

Enter roundabout onto Chester Avenue

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
CA 99 137.5 mi 2h 34m
Golden State Highway 58.6 mi 1h 2m
Golden State Freeway 5.2 mi 5m
Tully Road 4.3 mi 7m
Golden State Avenue 1.9 mi 2m
West Briggsmore Avenue 1.3 mi 2m
Chester Avenue 0.9 mi 1m
Carver Road 0.7 mi 1m
Longest stretch: CA 99 — 137.5 mi, about 2h 34m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Del Rio, CA and Bakersfield, CA.

1

Start on Del Rio Drive

420 ft · 20 sec · Del Rio Drive
2

Turn right onto Thunderbird Drive

0.4 mi · 1 min · Thunderbird Drive
3

At end of road, turn left onto Carver Road

0.7 mi · 1 min · Carver Road
4

Turn left onto Ladd Road

0.5 mi · 46 sec · Ladd Road
5

Turn right onto Tully Road

4.3 mi · 7 min · Tully Road
6

Turn right onto West Briggsmore Avenue

1.3 mi · 2 min · West Briggsmore Avenue
7

Continue on North Carpenter Road

520 ft · 13 sec · North Carpenter Road
8

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 40 sec
9

Merge onto CA 99

97 mi · 1 hr 50 min · CA 99
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99

41 mi · 44 min · CA 99
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99

59 mi · 1 hr 2 min · Golden State Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Continue on CA 99

5.2 mi · 5 min · Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Keep slight right at fork onto CA 204; CA 99 BUS

1.9 mi · 2 min · Golden State Avenue
Exit 27 Toward CA 204 South: Golden State Avenue Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Take the exit

475 ft · 13 sec
15

Continue on Golden State Road

0.1 mi · 11 sec · Golden State Road
16

Enter roundabout onto Chester Avenue

193 ft · 3 sec · Chester Avenue
17

Continue on Chester Avenue

0.9 mi · 1 min · Chester Avenue
18

Turn left onto Truxtun Avenue

122 ft · 7 sec · Truxtun Avenue
19

Arrive at destination

Truxtun Avenue

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 106 miles from Del Rio, CA, or about 2h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 137.5 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 47 miles or 59m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 106 miles or 2h 7m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 20m

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 Del Rio, 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 Del Rio, CA

This is one driving day of about 212 miles and 4h 2m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from Del Rio, 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 CA 99 for about 137.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 106 mi from Del Rio, CA · 2h 7m into the drive

city in San Bernardino County, California, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Barstow, CA

106 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

Winton, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 47 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Fresno, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 106 miles from Del Rio, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before CA 99 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 137.5 miles.

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.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

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

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

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 near mile 212
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$48.73 one way

$97.45 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 74 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $50.21 $100.42
premium $6.18 $51.56 $103.11
diesel $5.61 $46.81 $93.61

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$49

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$74–$99

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 74.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

17 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Rivian Adventure Network

Fresno, California

Rivian

1 DCFC

ChargePoint Charging Station

Merced, California

ChargePoint

1 DCFC

Tesla Supercharger

Fresno, California

Tesla

1 DCFC

Tesla Supercharger

Merced, California

Tesla

1 DCFC

ChargePoint Charging Station

Fresno, California

ChargePoint

1 DCFC

Tesla Supercharger

Fresno, California

Tesla

1 DCFC

Electrify America Charging Station

Atwater, California

Electrify America

1 DCFC

7Charge Charging Station

Fresno, California

Other

1 DCFC

EV Connect: 4 Tesla: 3 ChargePoint: 2 Electrify America: 2 EVgo: 2 EVCS: 2 Rivian: 1 Other: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 63.6 0 $22.26 $10.18
Efficient EV 53 0 $18.55 $8.48
EV Truck/SUV 84.8 1 $29.68 $13.57

Gas CO2

74 kg

EV CO2

25 kg (66% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 13, 2026

Origin

Del Rio, CA

Afternoon in Del Rio on Thursday

Local time

3:02 PM

PDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Bakersfield, CA

Afternoon in Bakersfield on Thursday

Local time

3:02 PM

PDT

Current temp

77°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

48°F

Barstow, CA

106 mi in

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

28 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

4h 2m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Del Rio, CA to Bakersfield, CA covers 212 miles and takes about 4h 2m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are CA 99, Golden State Highway, Golden State Freeway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 106 miles from Del Rio, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $48.73 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 212 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 7.7 miles (CA 99): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 104.2 miles (CA 99): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 145.2 miles (CA 99 / Golden State Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Del Rio, CA to Bakersfield, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Continue From Bakersfield, CA

Bayside, CA 551.5 mi · 10h 48m Willow Creek, CA 537.4 mi · 10h 7m Rio Dell, CA 519.2 mi · 10h 4m Susanville, CA 464.9 mi · 9h 13m

More from Del Rio, CA

San Diego, CA 442.4 mi · 8h 31m San Francisco, CA 91.1 mi · 1h 54m San Jose, CA 80.2 mi · 1h 44m Oakland, CA 79.5 mi · 1h 39m Sacramento, CA 73.8 mi · 1h 32m Laguna, CA 62.7 mi · 1h 20m

More trips to Bakersfield, CA

Eureka, CA 545.8 mi Willow Creek, CA 536.9 mi Susanville, CA 464.9 mi Redding, CA 437.9 mi Portola, CA 421.7 mi Gerber, CA 402.2 mi
Overnight trips from Del Rio, CA Scenic drives in CA

Explore more options from Del Rio, CA or browse trips ending in Bakersfield, CA.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CA road trips.

Explore maps for Del Rio, CA or Bakersfield, CA on MapSof.net.