Origin
Ukiah, CA
Morning in Ukiah on Monday
Local time
8:55 AM
PDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ukiah, CA to Bakersfield, CA
Drive Time
6h 15m
Distance
396.2 mi
638 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$92
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 3m
★
6 AM
6h 16m
8 AM
6h 41m
10 AM
6h 24m
12 PM
6h 22m
3 PM
6h 26m
5 PM
6h 40m
8 PM
6h 8m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ukiah, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Bakersfield, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Trip Overview
The drive from Ukiah, CA to Bakersfield, CA covers 396.2 miles and takes about 6h 15m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on East Perkins Street, Redwood Highway, John T for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $91.75 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
198.1 miles from Ukiah, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 7m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 6h 15m drive with frequent turns across 396.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East Perkins Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
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.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 15m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Ukiah, CA to Bakersfield, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Perkins Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Redwood Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| John T | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Eastshore Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 80 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| MacArthur Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Arthur H | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| William Elton Brown Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
East Perkins Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ukiah, CA and Bakersfield, CA.
1
Start on North State Street
56 ft
·
9 sec
·
North State Street
2
Turn left onto East Perkins Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East Perkins Street
3
Take the ramp left
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
4
Merge slight left onto Redwood Highway
97 mi
·
1 hr 55 min
·
Redwood Highway
5
Keep slight right to continue on John T. Knox Freeway
14 mi
·
17 min
·
John T. Knox Freeway
6
Merge slight left onto Eastshore Freeway
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Eastshore Freeway
7
Keep slight left to continue on Interstate Highway 80
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
·
Interstate Highway 80
8
Keep slight left to continue on MacArthur Freeway
16 mi
·
18 min
·
MacArthur Freeway
9
Merge slight left onto Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
10
Keep slight right to continue on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
11
Keep slight right to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
11 mi
·
12 min
·
William Elton Brown Freeway
12
Keep slight left to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
5.9 mi
·
6 min
·
William Elton Brown Freeway
13
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
193 mi
·
3 hr 26 min
·
Westside Freeway
14
Take the exit slight right toward Stockdale Highway
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
Stockdale Highway
15
Turn left onto Stockdale Highway
4.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Stockdale Highway
16
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Stockdale Highway
128 ft
·
2 sec
·
Stockdale Highway
17
Exit the roundabout onto Stockdale Highway
4.3 mi
·
6 min
·
Stockdale Highway
18
Continue on Westside Parkway
6.7 mi
·
7 min
·
Westside Parkway
19
Take the exit slight right
0.5 mi
·
1 min
20
Turn straight onto Truxtun Avenue
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Truxtun Avenue
21
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 198.1 miles from Ukiah, CA, or about 3h 7m into the drive.
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 87 miles or 1h 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 198.1 miles or 3h 7m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 18m
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 Ukiah, 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 Ukiah, CA
This is one driving day of about 396.2 miles and 6h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 87 miles from Ukiah, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 198.1 mi from Ukiah, CA · 3h 7m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
198 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 87 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 198.1 miles from Ukiah, 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
$91.75 one way
$183.50 round trip
$5.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
139 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $94.62 | $189.24 |
| premium | $6.24 | $97.38 | $194.76 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $88.02 | $176.04 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$92
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$117–$142
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 138.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $42 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 118.9 | 1 | $41.60 | $19.02 |
| Efficient EV | 99.1 | 1 | $34.67 | $15.85 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 158.5 | 1 | $55.47 | $25.36 |
Gas CO2
139 kg
EV CO2
46 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Morning in Bakersfield on Monday
Local time
8:55 AM
PDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
46°F
Richmond, CA
198 mi in
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
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
6h 15m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Ukiah, CA to Bakersfield, CA covers 396.2 miles and takes about 6h 15m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East Perkins Street, Redwood Highway, John T. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 198.1 miles from Ukiah, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $91.75 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 15m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Ukiah, CA to Bakersfield, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Ukiah, CA to Bakersfield, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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