Origin
Ricardo, CA
Afternoon in Ricardo on Thursday
Local time
3:19 PM
PDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ricardo, CA to Tehachapi, CA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
50m
Distance
40.6 mi
65 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 47m
★
6 AM
0h 51m
8 AM
0h 59m
10 AM
0h 54m
12 PM
0h 53m
3 PM
0h 54m
5 PM
0h 59m
8 PM
0h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ricardo, CA
Efrem Efre
Tehachapi, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Trip Overview
The drive from Ricardo, CA to Tehachapi, CA covers 40.6 miles and takes about 50m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Aerospace Highway, Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway, Midland Trail for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 16.9 miles on Aerospace Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.33 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 50m. Total distance: 40.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
50m 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 with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 50m drive with frequent turns across 40.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
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.
Aerospace Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 16.9 miles.
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 0.8 miles in near CA 14; US 6 Hist / Midland Trail.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Ricardo, CA to Tehachapi, CA is easy. At 50m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles (CA 14; US 6 Hist / Midland Trail): Navigation decision point; at 22 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 22.5 miles (CA 58 / Barstow–Bakersfield Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 6 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
3
0.8 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
CA 14; US 6 Hist / Midland Trail
Turn right onto CA 14; US 6 Hist / Midland Trail
Navigation decision point
6
22 mi into trip
|
~27m in
Take the exit toward CA-58 West: Bakersfield
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward CA-58 West: Bakersfield
3
22.5 mi into trip
|
~28m in
|
CA 58 / Barstow–Bakersfield Highway
Merge onto CA 58 / Barstow–Bakersfield Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining
5
38 mi into trip
|
~46m in
Take the exit toward Monolith, Tehachapi Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Monolith, Tehachapi Boulevard
4
40.6 mi into trip
|
~50m in
|
CR 174 / South Curry Street
Turn left onto CR 174 / South Curry Street
Navigation decision point
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Ricardo, CA to Tehachapi, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Monolith along the way.
Monolith
38 mi in
|
~46m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Aerospace Highway | 16.9 mi | 19m |
| Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway | 12.5 mi | 14m |
| Midland Trail | 4.3 mi | 4m |
| East Tehachapi Boulevard | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| Barstow–Bakersfield Highway | 2.3 mi | 2m |
| Abbott Drive | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| Bakersfield–Tehachapi Highway | 0.7 mi | <1m |
| South Curry Street | <0.1 mi | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Aerospace Highway
— 16.9 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ricardo, CA and Tehachapi, CA.
1
Start on Abbott Drive
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Abbott Drive
2
Turn right onto CA 14; US 6 Hist
4.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Midland Trail
3
Continue on CA 14; US 6 Hist
17 mi
·
19 min
·
Aerospace Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
Toward CA-58 West: Bakersfield
5
Merge onto CA 58
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Barstow–Bakersfield Highway
6
Continue on CA 58
0.7 mi
·
50 sec
·
Bakersfield–Tehachapi Highway
7
Continue on CA 58
13 mi
·
14 min
·
Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Toward Monolith, Tehachapi Boulevard
9
Turn left onto CA 58 Business
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
East Tehachapi Boulevard
10
Turn left onto CR 174
46 ft
·
0 sec
·
South Curry Street
11
Arrive at destination
CR 174
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 20.3 mi from Ricardo, CA · 25m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 40.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.3 miles from Ricardo, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Tehachapi, CA
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Tehachapi, 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
$9.33 one way
$18.66 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $9.62 | $19.23 |
| premium | $6.18 | $9.87 | $19.75 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.96 | $17.93 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.2 | 0 | $4.26 | $1.95 |
| Efficient EV | 10.2 | 0 | $3.55 | $1.62 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.2 | 0 | $5.68 | $2.60 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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.
Destination
Tehachapi, CA
Afternoon in Tehachapi on Thursday
Local time
3:19 PM
PDT
Current temp
61°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
18 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
50m 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 Tehachapi, CA covers 40.6 miles and takes about 50m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Aerospace Highway, Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway, Midland Trail. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 20.3 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 $9.33 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 Tehachapi, CA is easy. At 50m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles (CA 14; US 6 Hist / Midland Trail): Navigation decision point; at 22 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 22.5 miles (CA 58 / Barstow–Bakersfield Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining.
On the drive from Ricardo, CA to Tehachapi, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Monolith along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include César E. Chávez National Monument.
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