Origin
Ridgecrest, CA
Afternoon in Ridgecrest on Thursday
Local time
4:17 PM
PDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ridgecrest, CA to Bakersfield, CA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
2h 18m
Distance
112.1 mi
180 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 9m
★
6 AM
2h 19m
8 AM
2h 38m
10 AM
2h 25m
12 PM
2h 24m
3 PM
2h 26m
5 PM
2h 37m
8 PM
2h 13m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ridgecrest, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Bakersfield, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Ridgecrest, CA to Bakersfield, CA covers 112.1 miles and takes about 2h 18m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway, Aerospace Highway, Redrock Randsburg Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 53.2 miles on Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $25.77 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
56.1 miles from Ridgecrest, 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: 112.1 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 (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 18m drive with frequent turns across 112.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 53.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 395 BUS / South China Lake Boulevard.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 18m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 395 BUS / South China Lake Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 15.9 miles (Garlock Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 53.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 395 BUS / South China Lake Boulevard
Turn right onto US 395 BUS / South China Lake Boulevard
Navigation decision point
5
15.9 mi into trip
|
~20m in
|
Garlock Road
Turn right onto Garlock Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
53.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
Take the exit toward CA-58 West: Bakersfield
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward CA-58 West: Bakersfield
8
110.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 15m 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
110.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 16m in
|
South Chester Avenue
Turn right onto South Chester Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway | 53.2 mi | 1h 1m |
| Aerospace Highway | 16.9 mi | 19m |
| Redrock Randsburg Road | 12.1 mi | 16m |
| Blue Star Memorial Highway | 9.9 mi | 11m |
| Garlock Road | 8.4 mi | 12m |
| South China Lake Boulevard | 6 mi | 9m |
| Barstow–Bakersfield Highway | 2.3 mi | 2m |
| South Chester Avenue | 1.4 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway
— 53.2 mi, about 1h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ridgecrest, CA and Bakersfield, CA.
1
Start on West Ridgecrest Boulevard
268 ft
·
13 sec
·
West Ridgecrest Boulevard
2
Turn right onto US 395 BUS
6.0 mi
·
9 min
·
South China Lake Boulevard
3
Turn left onto US 395
9.9 mi
·
11 min
·
Blue Star Memorial Highway
4
Turn right onto Garlock Road
8.4 mi
·
12 min
·
Garlock Road
Use the right lane.
5
Continue on 797
12 mi
·
16 min
·
Redrock Randsburg Road
6
Continue on CA 14; US 6 Hist
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
·
Midland Trail
7
Continue on CA 14; US 6 Hist
17 mi
·
19 min
·
Aerospace Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
Toward CA-58 West: Bakersfield
9
Merge onto CA 58
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Barstow–Bakersfield Highway
10
Continue on CA 58
0.7 mi
·
50 sec
·
Bakersfield–Tehachapi Highway
11
Continue on CA 58
53 mi
·
1 hr 1 min
·
Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 111
Toward Chester Avenue, H Street
Use the slight right lane.
13
Continue on Richland Street
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Richland Street
14
Turn right onto South Chester Avenue
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
South Chester Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Turn right onto Truxtun Avenue
19 ft
·
0 sec
·
Truxtun Avenue
16
Arrive at destination
Truxtun Avenue
Trip Plan
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 56.1 miles from Ridgecrest, CA, or about 1h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 53.2 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 25 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 56.1 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 54m
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 Ridgecrest, 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 Ridgecrest, CA
This is one driving day of about 112.1 miles and 2h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Ridgecrest, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway for about 53.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 56.1 mi from Ridgecrest, CA · 1h 12m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
56 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 25 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 56.1 miles from Ridgecrest, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.77 one way
$51.53 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
39 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $26.55 | $53.10 |
| premium | $6.18 | $27.26 | $54.52 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $24.75 | $49.50 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 39.2 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 | 33.6 | 0 | $11.77 | $5.38 |
| Efficient EV | 28 | 0 | $9.81 | $4.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 44.8 | 0 | $15.69 | $7.17 |
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.
Destination
Bakersfield, CA
Afternoon in Bakersfield on Thursday
Local time
4:17 PM
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
2 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 Ridgecrest, CA to Bakersfield, CA covers 112.1 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 Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway, Aerospace Highway, Redrock Randsburg Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 56.1 miles from Ridgecrest, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $25.77 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 is a straightforward 2h 18m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 395 BUS / South China Lake Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 15.9 miles (Garlock Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 53.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Ridgecrest, CA to Bakersfield, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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