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Trip from Wofford Heights, CA to Bakersfield, CA

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

1h 8m

Distance

48.2 mi

78 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$11

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 17 min
4 AM
1h 3m ★
6 AM
1h 9m
8 AM
1h 20m
10 AM
1h 12m
12 PM
1h 11m
3 PM
1h 13m
5 PM
1h 19m
8 PM
1h 5m

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

Downtown Wofford Heights, CA, CA

Wofford Heights, CA

Stephen Leonardi

city and county seat of Kern County, California, United States

Bakersfield, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This straightforward 48.2-mile drive from Wofford Heights, CA to Bakersfield, CA takes about 1 hour and 8 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. You'll primarily be on Route 178 and the CHP Officer David W. Manning Memorial Freeway. With a fuel cost estimated at $11, it's an economical journey. The drive is focused on highway travel, offering a direct path between the Pacific Coast regions of California. You won't need to plan for overnight stays on this relatively short and efficient route.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 8m. Total distance: 48.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

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

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (81%). Straightforward navigation.

Drive Character

Expect a highway-focused experience for about 81% of this 48.2-mile trip. You'll spend a good portion of the time on Route 178, including a continuous stretch of 31.9 miles. This segment offers a consistent pace, allowing you to cover ground efficiently. While primarily highway, the route provides a direct and uncomplicated journey, transitioning smoothly between the open road and freeway conditions as you approach Bakersfield.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 10 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Route 178 is the longest continuous segment at about 31.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Route 178 and CHP Officer David W. Manning Memorial Freeway. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CA 155 / Wofford Heights Boulevard.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Wofford Heights, CA to Bakersfield, CA is easy. At 1h 8m with 81% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (CA 155 / Wofford Heights Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 6.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 6.7 miles (CA 178 / Isabella Walker Pass Road): Merge point - match speed before joining.

Critical Maneuvers

3 of 3 key points

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

3
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | CA 155 / Wofford Heights Boulevard

Turn left onto CA 155 / Wofford Heights Boulevard

Navigation decision point

3
6.5 mi into trip | ~9m in

Take the ramp

Navigation decision point

3
6.7 mi into trip | ~10m in | CA 178 / Isabella Walker Pass Road

Merge onto CA 178 / Isabella Walker Pass Road

Merge point - match speed before joining

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Route 178 31.9 mi 46m
CHP Officer David W. Manning Memorial Freeway 7.3 mi 8m
Wofford Heights Boulevard 6.5 mi 9m
Isabella Walker Pass Road 1.4 mi 1m
Chester Avenue 0.5 mi 1m
24th Street 0.2 mi <1m
Truxtun Avenue <0.1 mi <1m
East Evans Road <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Route 178 — 31.9 mi, about 46m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on East Evans Road

47 ft · 2 sec · East Evans Road
2

Turn left onto CA 155

6.5 mi · 9 min · Wofford Heights Boulevard
3

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 26 sec
4

Merge onto CA 178

1.4 mi · 1 min · Isabella Walker Pass Road
5

Continue on CA 178

32 mi · 46 min · Route 178
6

Continue on CA 178

7.3 mi · 8 min · CHP Officer David W. Manning Memorial Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Continue on CA 178

0.2 mi · 26 sec · 24th Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
8

Turn left onto Chester Avenue

0.5 mi · 1 min · Chester Avenue
9

Turn left onto Truxtun Avenue

122 ft · 7 sec · Truxtun Avenue
10

Arrive at destination

Truxtun Avenue

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 24.1 mi from Wofford Heights, CA · 34m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Bodfish, CA

24 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

Bodfish, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Bodfish, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 24.1 miles from Wofford Heights, 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.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$11.08 one way

$22.16 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 17 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $11.42 $22.83
premium $6.18 $11.72 $23.44
diesel $5.61 $10.64 $21.28

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$11

Estimated CO2 emission: 16.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 14.5 0 $5.06 $2.31
Efficient EV 12.1 0 $4.22 $1.93
EV Truck/SUV 19.3 0 $6.75 $3.08

Gas CO2

17 kg

EV CO2

6 kg (65% 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 16, 2026

Origin

Wofford Heights, CA

Afternoon in Wofford Heights on Thursday

Local time

12:57 PM

PDT

Current temp

45°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Bakersfield, CA

Afternoon in Bakersfield on Thursday

Local time

12:57 PM

PDT

Current temp

74°F

Mostly Sunny

NW 0 to 10 mph 0% chance 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

29 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

1h 8m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Wofford Heights, CA to Bakersfield, CA covers 48.2 miles and takes about 1h 8m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Route 178, CHP Officer David W. Manning Memorial Freeway, Wofford Heights Boulevard. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 24.1 miles from Wofford Heights, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.08 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 Wofford Heights, CA to Bakersfield, CA is easy. At 1h 8m with 81% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (CA 155 / Wofford Heights Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 6.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 6.7 miles (CA 178 / Isabella Walker Pass Road): Merge point - match speed before joining.
The route from Wofford Heights, CA to Bakersfield, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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