Trip from Ricardo, CA to Ridgecrest, CA

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

49m

Distance

35 mi

56 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$8

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 13 min

4 AM

0h 45m ★

6 AM

0h 50m

8 AM

0h 58m

10 AM

0h 52m

12 PM

0h 52m

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

The drive from Ricardo, CA to Ridgecrest, CA covers 35 miles and takes about 49m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Midland Trail, West Inyokern Road, Aerospace Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 17.7 miles on Midland Trail. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.04 one way before food or hotel costs.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 49m. Total distance: 35 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 49m drive with frequent turns across 35 miles of local and secondary roads.

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

There are about 7 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Midland Trail is the longest continuous segment at about 17.7 miles.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

3,228 ft 2,290 ft

Total Climb

831 ft

Total Descent

1,121 ft

Highest Point

3,228 ft

~17.5 mi in

Elevation Range

939 ft

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. The trickiest moment comes around 20.9 miles in near CA 178 / West Inyokern Road.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Ricardo, CA to Ridgecrest, CA is easy. At 49m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 20.9 miles (CA 178 / West Inyokern Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 32.1 miles (North Downs Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 34.1 miles (West Ridgecrest Boulevard): Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

3 of 3 key points

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

6

20.9 mi into trip | ~26m in | CA 178 / West Inyokern Road

Turn right onto CA 178 / West Inyokern Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.

5

32.1 mi into trip | ~43m in | North Downs Street

Turn right onto North Downs Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.

3

34.1 mi into trip | ~47m in | West Ridgecrest Boulevard

Turn left onto West Ridgecrest Boulevard

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Midland Trail	17.7 mi	20m
West Inyokern Road	11.1 mi	17m
Aerospace Highway	2.5 mi	2m
North Downs Street	2 mi	3m
West Ridgecrest Boulevard	1 mi	2m
Abbott Drive	0.8 mi	2m

Longest stretch: Midland Trail — 17.7 mi, about 20m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Ricardo, CA and Ridgecrest, CA.

1

Start on Abbott Drive

0.8 mi · 2 min · Abbott Drive

2

Turn left onto CA 14; US 6 Hist

18 mi · 20 min · Midland Trail

3

Continue on CA 14; CA 178; US 6 Hist

2.5 mi · 2 min · Aerospace Highway

4

Turn right onto CA 178

11 mi · 17 min · West Inyokern Road

Use the straight lane.

5

Turn right onto North Downs Street

2.0 mi · 3 min · North Downs Street

Use the straight lane.

6

Turn left onto West Ridgecrest Boulevard

1.0 mi · 2 min · West Ridgecrest Boulevard

7

Arrive at destination

West Ridgecrest Boulevard

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 17.5 mi from Ricardo, CA · 22m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Inyokern, CA

18 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

China Lake Acres, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Indian Wells, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 17.5 miles from Ricardo, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Ridgecrest, CA

Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Ridgecrest, 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

$8.04 one way

$16.09 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 12 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$6.02	$8.29	$16.58
premium	$6.18	$8.51	$17.02
diesel	$5.61	$7.73	$15.46

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$8

Estimated CO2 emission: 12.2 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	10.5	$3.68	$1.68
Efficient EV	8.8	$3.06	$1.40
EV Truck/SUV	14	$4.90	$2.24

Gas CO2

12 kg

EV CO2

4 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 13, 2026

Origin

Ricardo, CA

Afternoon in Ricardo on Thursday

Local time

3:42 PM

PDT

Current temp

79°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Ridgecrest, CA

Afternoon in Ridgecrest on Thursday

Local time

3:42 PM

PDT

Current temp

75°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

4 degrees cooler 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 Ricardo, CA to Ridgecrest, CA covers 35 miles and takes about 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Midland Trail, West Inyokern Road, Aerospace Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 17.5 miles from Ricardo, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.04 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 Ricardo, CA to Ridgecrest, CA is easy. At 49m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

The main spots that need attention: at 20.9 miles (CA 178 / West Inyokern Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 32.1 miles (North Downs Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 34.1 miles (West Ridgecrest Boulevard): Navigation decision point.

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

Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 2,290 ft to 3,228 ft elevation with about 831 ft of total climbing.

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