Origin
Ridgecrest, CA
Morning in Ridgecrest on Thursday
Local time
10:55 AM
PDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ridgecrest, CA to Ricardo, CA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
49m
Distance
35.2 mi
57 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 45m
★
6 AM
0h 49m
8 AM
0h 57m
10 AM
0h 52m
12 PM
0h 51m
3 PM
0h 52m
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.
Ridgecrest, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Ricardo, CA
Efrem Efre
Trip Overview
The drive from Ridgecrest, CA to Ricardo, CA covers 35.2 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 $8.09 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 49m. Total distance: 35.2 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 35.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 9 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.
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 CA 178; US 395 BUS / North 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 49m drive. You will face about 6 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 (CA 178; US 395 BUS / North China Lake Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.6 miles (West Las Flores Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.6 miles (North Downs Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 6 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
|
CA 178; US 395 BUS / North China Lake Boulevard
Turn left onto CA 178; US 395 BUS / North China Lake Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
West Las Flores Avenue
Turn left onto West Las Flores Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
1.6 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
North Downs Street
Turn right onto North Downs Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
3.1 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
CA 178; US 395 BUS / West Inyokern Road
At end of road, turn left onto CA 178; US 395 BUS / West Inyokern Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
14.2 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
CA 14; CA 178; US 6 Hist / Aerospace Highway
At end of road, turn left onto CA 14; CA 178; US 6 Hist / Aerospace Highway
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Midland Trail | 17.7 mi | 20m |
| West Inyokern Road | 11.2 mi | 16m |
| Aerospace Highway | 2.5 mi | 2m |
| North Downs Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| West Las Flores Avenue | 1 mi | 1m |
| Abbott Drive | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| North China Lake Boulevard | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| West Ridgecrest Boulevard | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Midland Trail
— 17.7 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ridgecrest, CA and Ricardo, CA.
1
Start on West Ridgecrest Boulevard
268 ft
·
11 sec
·
West Ridgecrest Boulevard
2
Turn left onto CA 178; US 395 BUS
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North China Lake Boulevard
Use the left lane.
3
Turn left onto West Las Flores Avenue
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
West Las Flores Avenue
Use the left lane.
4
Turn right onto North Downs Street
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
North Downs Street
Use the right lane.
5
At end of road, turn left onto CA 178; US 395 BUS
11 mi
·
16 min
·
West Inyokern Road
Use the straight lane.
6
At end of road, turn left onto CA 14; CA 178; US 6 Hist
2.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Aerospace Highway
7
Continue on CA 14; CA 178; US 6 Hist
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Midland Trail
8
Turn right onto Abbott Drive
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Abbott Drive
9
Arrive at destination
Abbott Drive
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 17.6 mi from Ridgecrest, CA · 26m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.6 miles from Ridgecrest, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Ricardo, CA
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Ricardo, 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
$8.09 one way
$16.18 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $8.34 | $16.67 |
| premium | $6.18 | $8.56 | $17.12 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.77 | $15.54 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.6 | 0 | $3.70 | $1.69 |
| Efficient EV | 8.8 | 0 | $3.08 | $1.41 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.1 | 0 | $4.93 | $2.25 |
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.
Destination
Ricardo, CA
Morning in Ricardo on Thursday
Local time
10:55 AM
PDT
Current temp
79°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 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 Ridgecrest, CA to Ricardo, CA covers 35.2 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 17.6 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 $8.09 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 49m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (CA 178; US 395 BUS / North China Lake Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.6 miles (West Las Flores Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.6 miles (North Downs Street): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Ridgecrest, CA to Ricardo, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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