Origin
Murray Field, CA
Late night in Murray Field on Wednesday
Local time
5:22 AM
PDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Murray Field, CA to Bakersfield, CA
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
10h 42m
Distance
548.3 mi
882 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$126
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
10h 33m
★
6 AM
10h 42m
8 AM
11h 1m
10 AM
10h 49m
12 PM
10h 47m
3 PM
10h 50m
5 PM
11h 0m
8 PM
10h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Murray Field, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Bakersfield, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Murray Field, CA to Bakersfield, CA covers 548.3 miles and takes about 10h 42m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on Redwood Highway, Westside Freeway, Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-distance drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 246.4 miles on Redwood Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $126.02 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
3 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
274.2 miles from Murray Field, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5h 38m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
At 548.3 miles and 10h 42m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are Redwood Highway and Westside Freeway.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Redwood Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 246.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
At 10h 42m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 256.5 miles in near I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 548.3 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 256.5 miles (I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 273.9 miles (I 580 / Interstate Highway 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 274.1 miles (I 580 / MacArthur Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
9
256.5 mi into trip
|
~5h 15m in
|
I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway toward I 580: Richmond Bridge, Oakland
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 451B
Toward I 580: Richmond Bridge, Oakland
8
273.9 mi into trip
|
~5h 37m in
|
I 580 / Interstate Highway 80
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580 / Interstate Highway 80 toward I 580 East, I 880 South: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, Stockton, Alameda, San Jose
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 580 East, I 880 South: Downtown Oaklan...
8
274.1 mi into trip
|
~5h 38m in
|
I 580 / MacArthur Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580 / MacArthur Freeway toward I 580: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, Stockton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 580: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, Stockt...
6
302 mi into trip
|
~6h 10m in
|
I 580 / Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580 / Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
529.4 mi into trip
|
~10h 15m in
|
CA 58
Take the exit onto CA 58 toward Stockdale Highway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 253
Toward Stockdale Highway
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Murray Field, CA and Bakersfield, CA, road signs point toward Oakland, Hayward, Stockton, Alameda and San Jose.
Oakland
256.5 mi in
|
~5h 15m
|
via I 580
Hayward
273.9 mi in
|
~5h 37m
|
via I 580
Stockton
273.9 mi in
|
~5h 37m
|
via I 580
Alameda
273.9 mi in
|
~5h 37m
|
via I 580
San Jose
273.9 mi in
|
~5h 37m
|
via I 580
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Redwood Highway | 246.4 mi | 4h 58m |
| Westside Freeway | 192.5 mi | 3h 26m |
| Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway | 29.3 mi | 33m |
| William Elton Brown Freeway | 17 mi | 18m |
| MacArthur Freeway | 16.4 mi | 18m |
| John T. Knox Freeway | 13.6 mi | 17m |
| Stockdale Highway | 9.2 mi | 12m |
| Westside Parkway | 6.7 mi | 7m |
Longest stretch:
Redwood Highway
— 246.4 mi, about 4h 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Murray Field, CA and Bakersfield, CA.
1
Start on Airport Road
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Airport Road
2
Continue on Airport Road
128 ft
·
7 sec
·
Airport Road
3
Turn left onto US 101
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Redwood Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Continue on US 101
1.5 mi
·
4 min
·
4th Street
Use the left / right lanes.
5
Turn left onto US 101
3.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Broadway Street
Use the left / right lanes.
6
Continue on US 101
129 mi
·
2 hr 38 min
·
Redwood Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on US 101
5.4 mi
·
6 min
·
Willits Bypass
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on US 101; CA 20
116 mi
·
2 hr 18 min
·
Redwood Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
14 mi
·
17 min
·
John T. Knox Freeway
Exit 451B
Toward I 580: Richmond Bridge, Oakland
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 80; I 580
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Eastshore Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
·
Interstate Highway 80
Toward I 580 East, I 880 South: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, Stockton, Alameda, San Jose
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
16 mi
·
18 min
·
MacArthur Freeway
Toward I 580: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, Stockton
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 580
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
11 mi
·
11 min
·
William Elton Brown Freeway
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
5.9 mi
·
6 min
·
William Elton Brown Freeway
17
Merge onto I 5
193 mi
·
3 hr 26 min
·
Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit onto CA 58
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
CA 58
Exit 253
Toward Stockdale Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Turn left onto CA 58
4.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Stockdale Highway
20
Enter roundabout onto CA 58
126 ft
·
1 sec
·
Stockdale Highway
21
Continue on CA 58
4.3 mi
·
6 min
·
Stockdale Highway
Use the straight lane.
22
Continue on Westside Parkway
6.7 mi
·
7 min
·
Westside Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
24
Turn straight onto Truxtun Avenue
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Truxtun Avenue
25
Arrive at destination
Truxtun Avenue
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 3 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 274.2 miles from Murray Field, CA, or about 5h 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 246.4 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 121 miles or 2h 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 274.2 miles or 5h 38m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 274.2 miles or 5h 38m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 9h 31m
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 Murray Field, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Murray Field, CA
Aim for roughly 274 miles and 5.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Bakersfield, CA
Aim for roughly 274 miles and 5.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 121 miles from Murray Field, CA.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 3 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Redwood Highway for about 246.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 274.2 mi from Murray Field, CA · 5h 38m into the drive
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
181 mi into the route
Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch
This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.
Second major stop
Overnight candidate
362 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Richmond, CAOvernight Options
Night 1
274 mi · about 5.4h in
A practical overnight split lands near Windsor, CA after about 274 miles or 5.4 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 121 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 274.2 miles from Murray Field, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Redwood Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 246.4 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 274 miles or 5.4 hours on the road.
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.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Bakersfield, CA with some flexibility left in the schedule.
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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$126.02 one way
$252.05 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
192 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $129.87 | $259.73 |
| premium | $6.18 | $133.34 | $266.68 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $121.06 | $242.12 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$126
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$256–$366
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 191.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $58 in charging · 2 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 164.5 | 2 | $57.57 | $26.32 |
| Efficient EV | 137.1 | 1 | $47.98 | $21.93 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 219.3 | 2 | $76.76 | $35.09 |
Gas CO2
192 kg
EV CO2
64 kg (67% less)
Plan for 2 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Late night in Bakersfield on Wednesday
Local time
5:22 AM
PDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
46°F
Richmond, CA
362 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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
21 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
10h 42m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Murray Field, CA to Bakersfield, CA covers 548.3 miles and takes about 10h 42m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Redwood Highway, Westside Freeway, Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 274 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 274.2 miles from Murray Field, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $126.02 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 3 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 548.3 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 256.5 miles (I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 273.9 miles (I 580 / Interstate Highway 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 274.1 miles (I 580 / MacArthur Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Murray Field, CA and Bakersfield, CA, road signs point toward Oakland, Hayward, Stockton, Alameda and San Jose.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Bakersfield, CA
More from Murray Field, CA
More trips to Bakersfield, CA
Explore more options from Murray Field, CA or browse trips ending in Bakersfield, CA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CA road trips.
Explore maps for Murray Field, CA or Bakersfield, CA on MapSof.net.