Trip from Maricopa, CA to Bakersfield, CA

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

49m

Distance

42.7 mi

69 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$10

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 13 min

4 AM

0h 45m ★

6 AM

0h 49m

8 AM

0h 58m

10 AM

0h 52m

12 PM

0h 51m

3 PM

0h 53m

5 PM

0h 57m

8 PM

0h 47m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Trip Overview

This 42.7-mile drive from Maricopa, CA to Bakersfield, CA takes approximately 49 minutes and is best tackled as a single-day trip. With a modest fuel cost of around $10, this route offers a straightforward journey through the Pacific Coast region. It's a turn-heavy local drive, so don't expect long stretches of open highway. The main roads you'll be navigating include West Side Highway, Taft Highway, and SR 119, making it a practical and efficient way to get between these two California locations. This trip is ideal for those looking for a quick and direct connection without significant time commitments.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 49m. Total distance: 42.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

49m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this 42.7-mile route, with no highway driving to speak of. The journey is broken up by frequent turns, as you'll be utilizing West Side Highway, Taft Highway, and SR 119. Since there's no longest uninterrupted stretch of highway, you'll be constantly engaged with the road and your navigation. The road's character remains consistent throughout, focusing on local connectivity rather than expansive travel. This makes for a dynamic driving experience that keeps you attentive from start to finish.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

West Side Highway 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 Maricopa, CA to Bakersfield, CA is easy. At 49m 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 Maricopa, CA to Bakersfield, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
West Side Highway	—	—
Taft Highway	—	—
SR 119	—	—
Enos Lane	—	—
CA 58	—	—
Stockdale Highway	—	—
Westside Parkway	—	—
Truxtun Avenue	—	—

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: West Side Highway — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on California Street

0.4 mi · 48 sec · California Street

2

Continue on West Side Highway

5.7 mi · 7 min · West Side Highway

3

Continue on Taft Highway

17 mi · 23 min · Taft Highway

4

Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward SR 119/SR43 Taft Hwy Roundabout

312 ft · 5 sec · SR 119/SR43 Taft Hwy Roundabout

5

Exit the rotary onto Enos Lane

5.9 mi · 8 min · Enos Lane

6

Take the ramp slight right toward CA 58

0.2 mi · 35 sec · CA 58

7

Merge slight left onto Stockdale Highway

4.2 mi · 5 min · Stockdale Highway

8

Continue on Westside Parkway

6.7 mi · 7 min · Westside Parkway

9

Take the exit slight right

0.5 mi · 1 min

10

Turn straight onto Truxtun Avenue

2.2 mi · 4 min · Truxtun Avenue

11

Arrive at your destination

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 21.4 mi from Maricopa, CA · 24m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Hights Corner, CA

21 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

Oildale, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 42.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Hights Corner, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 21.4 miles from Maricopa, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Bakersfield, CA

Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Bakersfield, CA if you are unfamiliar with the area.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$9.81 one way

$19.63 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 15 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$6.02	$10.11	$20.23
premium	$6.18	$10.38	$20.77
diesel	$5.61	$9.43	$18.86

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$10

Estimated CO2 emission: 14.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	12.8	$4.48	$2.05
Efficient EV	10.7	$3.74	$1.71
EV Truck/SUV	17.1	$5.98	$2.73

Gas CO2

15 kg

EV CO2

5 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 16, 2026

Origin

Maricopa, CA

Afternoon in Maricopa on Thursday

Local time

1:06 PM

PDT

Current temp

51°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Bakersfield, CA

Afternoon in Bakersfield on Thursday

Local time

1:06 PM

PDT

Current temp

77°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

26 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

49m 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 Maricopa, CA to Bakersfield, CA covers 42.7 miles and takes about 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are West Side Highway, Taft Highway, SR 119. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 21.4 miles from Maricopa, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.81 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.

The drive from Maricopa, CA to Bakersfield, CA is easy. At 49m 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 Maricopa, CA to Bakersfield, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Maricopa, CA to Bakersfield, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Explore More

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

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