Trip from Shafter, CA to Bakersfield, CA

Q: How long is the trip from Shafter, CA to Bakersfield, CA?

The drive from Shafter, CA to Bakersfield, CA covers 18.5 miles and takes about 23m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

Q: What are the main roads on this route?

The main roads are East Lerdo Highway, Golden State Freeway, Golden State Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

Q: Is this a good same-day trip?

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Q: Where should I stop halfway?

The midpoint is about 9.2 miles from Shafter, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

Q: How much does gas cost for this trip?

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.25 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Q: What is the best time to leave?

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

Q: What towns show up on signs driving from Shafter, CA to Bakersfield, CA?

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

Q: Is the drive from Shafter, CA to Bakersfield, CA flat or hilly?

Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 345 ft to 460 ft elevation with about 125 ft of total climbing.

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

23m

Distance

18.5 mi

30 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$4

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 6 min

4 AM

0h 21m ★

6 AM

0h 23m

8 AM

0h 27m

10 AM

0h 25m

12 PM

0h 24m

3 PM

0h 25m

5 PM

0h 27m

8 PM

0h 22m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

Google Maps Waze Apple Maps

Download GPX

Trip Overview

If you are traveling between Shafter and Bakersfield, California, you are looking at a quick 18.5-mile journey that typically takes about 23 minutes. Since both cities are located within the Pacific Coast region, you will remain in the same geographic area for the duration of your trip. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, as it is far too short to require an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $4 for fuel to cover the distance comfortably. It is a straightforward, practical drive that functions well for commuters or anyone needing to move between these two Central Valley locations efficiently.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 23m. Total distance: 18.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

23m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

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

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (28%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your attention rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. You will spend roughly 28% of your time on highways, utilizing both the Golden State Freeway and the Golden State Highway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 6-mile segment on East Lerdo Highway, which provides a brief period of steady travel before shifting back into more localized road conditions. Because this path relies heavily on regional thoroughfares, the road feel changes noticeably as you transition from the smaller lanes of Shafter into the more active traffic patterns leading into Bakersfield.

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

There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

East Lerdo Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 6 miles.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

460 ft 345 ft

Total Climb

125 ft

Total Descent

66 ft

Highest Point

460 ft

~11.9 mi in

Elevation Range

115 ft

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CA 43 / Central Valley Highway.

Driving Effort 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 18.5 miles you will encounter 7 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (CA 43 / Central Valley Highway): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (East Lerdo Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.1 miles: Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 7 key points

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

4

0 mi into trip | ~0m in | CA 43 / Central Valley Highway

Turn right onto CA 43 / Central Valley Highway

Navigation decision point

4

0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | East Lerdo Highway

Turn left onto East Lerdo Highway

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.

4

6.1 mi into trip | ~8m in

Take the ramp toward CA 99 South

Navigation decision point

Toward CA 99 South

8

15.4 mi into trip | ~18m in | CA 204; CA 99 BUS / Golden State Avenue

Keep slight right at fork onto CA 204; CA 99 BUS / Golden State Avenue toward CA 204 South: Golden State Avenue

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 27 Toward CA 204 South: Golden State Avenue

6

17.5 mi into trip | ~21m in | Chester Avenue

Enter roundabout onto Chester Avenue

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
East Lerdo Highway	6 mi	7m
Golden State Freeway	5.2 mi	5m
Golden State Highway	3.9 mi	4m
Golden State Avenue	1.9 mi	2m
Chester Avenue	0.9 mi	1m
Golden State Road	0.1 mi	<1m
Central Valley Highway	<0.1 mi	<1m
Truxtun Avenue	<0.1 mi	<1m

Longest stretch: East Lerdo Highway — 6 mi, about 7m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Jackson Avenue

47 ft · 3 sec · Jackson Avenue

2

Turn right onto CA 43

422 ft · 9 sec · Central Valley Highway

3

Turn left onto East Lerdo Highway

6.0 mi · 7 min · East Lerdo Highway

Use the straight lane.

4

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 35 sec

Toward CA 99 South

5

Merge onto CA 99

3.9 mi · 4 min · Golden State Highway

6

Continue on CA 99

5.2 mi · 5 min · Golden State Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

7

Keep slight right at fork onto CA 204; CA 99 BUS

1.9 mi · 2 min · Golden State Avenue

Exit 27 Toward CA 204 South: Golden State Avenue Use the straight / slight right lanes.

8

Take the exit

475 ft · 13 sec

9

Continue on Golden State Road

0.1 mi · 11 sec · Golden State Road

10

Enter roundabout onto Chester Avenue

193 ft · 3 sec · Chester Avenue

11

Continue on Chester Avenue

0.9 mi · 1 min · Chester Avenue

12

Turn left onto Truxtun Avenue

122 ft · 7 sec · Truxtun Avenue

13

Arrive at destination

Truxtun Avenue

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$4.25 one way

$8.50 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 7 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$6.02	$4.38	$8.76
premium	$6.18	$4.50	$9.00
diesel	$5.61	$4.08	$8.17

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$4

Estimated CO2 emission: 6.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	5.6	$1.94	$0.89
Efficient EV	4.6	$1.62	$0.74
EV Truck/SUV	7.4	$2.59	$1.18

Gas CO2

6 kg

EV CO2

2 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 15, 2026

Origin

Shafter, CA

Afternoon in Shafter on Thursday

Local time

4:44 PM

PDT

Current temp

76°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Bakersfield, CA

Afternoon in Bakersfield on Thursday

Local time

4:44 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

1 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

23m 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