Spanning 110.9 miles, the drive from Lake Los Angeles to Bakersfield is a straightforward journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 18 minutes. Since this is a relatively short trip within the Pacific Coast region, it works perfectly as a one-day excursion, eliminating the need for an overnight stay. You can expect to budget roughly $26 for fuel, making it a cost-effective route for a quick change of scenery. You will primarily utilize CA 58 BUS, East Avenue J, and the Aerospace Highway to navigate between these two California locations. Whether you are heading out for business or a change of pace, this trip offers a direct connection that is easy to manage in a single sitting.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
55.4 miles from Lake Los Angeles, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 12m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 18m. Total distance: 110.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (54%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
This trip features a mixed driving profile, balancing local roads with more significant highway stretches. You will spend about 54% of your time on highways, providing a blend of paced travel and shorter, more localized driving segments. The most significant portion of your journey involves a 58-mile stretch on CA 58 BUS, which serves as the backbone of your route. As you transition from the local streets of Lake Los Angeles onto the larger highway corridors, the driving experience shifts from neighborhood navigation to a more consistent, open-road rhythm. Expect a functional drive that prioritizes efficiency as you move through these diverse California landscapes.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
CA 58 BUS is the longest continuous segment at about 58 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 5.4 miles in near N5 / East Avenue J.
Driving Effort5/10
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 110.9 miles you will encounter 10 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 5.4 miles (N5 / East Avenue J): Lane positioning matters here; at 27.3 miles (CA 14 / Aerospace Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 54.7 miles (CA 58 BUS): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
5.4 mi into trip|~8m in|N5 / East Avenue J
At end of road, turn left onto N5 / East Avenue J
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
27.3 mi into trip|~39m in|CA 14 / Aerospace Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 14 / Aerospace Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
6
54.7 mi into trip|~1h 11m in|CA 58 BUS
Take the ramp onto CA 58 BUS
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
109.2 mi into trip|~2h 14m in
Take the exit toward Chester Avenue, H Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 111
Toward Chester Avenue, H Street
6
109.5 mi into trip|~2h 15m in|South Chester Avenue
Turn right onto South Chester Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
CA 58 BUS
58 mi
1h 8m
East Avenue J
19.5 mi
28m
Aerospace Highway
19.1 mi
20m
170th Street East
5.3 mi
7m
Sierra Highway
4.8 mi
6m
Antelope Valley Freeway
2.2 mi
2m
South Chester Avenue
1.4 mi
2m
Richland Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
CA 58 BUS
— 58 mi, about 1h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lake Los Angeles, CA and Bakersfield, CA.
1
Start on 169th Street East
11 ft·5 sec·169th Street East
2
Turn left onto Park Valley Avenue
318 ft·21 sec·Park Valley Avenue
3
Turn left onto 170th Street East
5.3 mi·7 min·170th Street East
4
At end of road, turn left onto N5
19 mi·28 min·East Avenue J
Use the straight lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·17 sec
Toward CA 14 North, CA 138 West: Mojave
6
Merge onto CA 14; CA 138
2.2 mi·2 min·Antelope Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 14
19 mi·20 min·Aerospace Highway
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on CA 14; US 6 Hist
4.8 mi·6 min·Sierra Highway
9
Continue on CA 58 BUS
3.5 mi·5 min·CA 58 BUS
10
Take the ramp onto CA 58 BUS
55 mi·1 hr 3 min·CA 58 BUS
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Exit 111Toward Chester Avenue, H StreetUse the slight right lane.
12
Continue on Richland Street
0.1 mi·15 sec·Richland Street
13
Turn right onto South Chester Avenue
1.4 mi·2 min·South Chester Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Turn right onto Truxtun Avenue
19 ft·0 sec·Truxtun Avenue
15
Arrive at destination
Truxtun Avenue
Trip Plan
Because this is a manageable 2-hour and 18-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. Aim to leave during off-peak hours to ensure a smooth transition onto the 58-mile stretch of CA 58 BUS, which is the longest uninterrupted part of your journey. Since there are no mandatory stops scheduled, feel free to pace the trip according to your personal comfort, but remember to account for that $26 fuel estimate before you head out. Keep a close watch on your fuel gauge before merging onto the Aerospace Highway, as this ensures you won't need to make unnecessary detours. Embracing the simplicity of this route allows you to reach Bakersfield with minimal stress and maximum efficiency.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 55.4 miles from Lake Los Angeles, CA, or about 1h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 58 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 24 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 55.4 miles or 1h 12m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 53m
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 Lake Los Angeles, 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 Lake Los Angeles, CA
This is one driving day of about 110.9 miles and 2h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Lake Los Angeles, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on CA 58 BUS for about 58 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 55.4 mi from Lake Los Angeles, CA
· 1h 12m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.49 one way
$50.98 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg39 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$26.27
$52.53
premium
$6.18
$26.97
$53.94
diesel
$5.61
$24.49
$48.97
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 38.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
33.3
0
$11.64
$5.32
Efficient EV
27.7
0
$9.70
$4.44
EV Truck/SUV
44.4
0
$15.53
$7.10
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Lake Los Angeles, CA
Morning
in Lake Los Angeles on Friday
Local time
11:03 AM
PDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bakersfield, CA
Morning
in Bakersfield on Friday
Local time
11:03 AM
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
9 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 18m 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 Lake Los Angeles, CA to Bakersfield, CA covers 110.9 miles and takes about 2h 18m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are CA 58 BUS, East Avenue J, Aerospace Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 55.4 miles from Lake Los Angeles, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $25.49 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 110.9 miles you will encounter 10 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 5.4 miles (N5 / East Avenue J): Lane positioning matters here; at 27.3 miles (CA 14 / Aerospace Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 54.7 miles (CA 58 BUS): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Lake Los Angeles, CA to Bakersfield, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include César E. Chávez National Monument.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
