Spanning 141.6 miles, the drive from Apple Valley to Bakersfield is a manageable trip that typically takes about 2 hours and 33 minutes. Given the duration, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. You can expect to spend approximately $33 on fuel for the journey, making it a budget-friendly option for your travel plans. Because both cities are located within the Pacific Coast region, you won't experience significant shifts in climate or landscape. This is a practical, straightforward connection between two California hubs, ideal for those who prefer to keep their travel itinerary simple and efficient.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
70.8 miles from Apple Valley, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 26m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Apple Valley, CA and Bakersfield, CA.
1
Start on Outer Hwy 18 North
29 ft·5 sec·Outer Hwy 18 North
2
Turn left onto CA 18
6.8 mi·9 min·Happy Trails Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Continue on CA 18
1.4 mi·2 min·D Street
Use the straight lane.
4
Continue on US 66 Hist
1.8 mi·2 min·National Old Trails Highway
5
Turn left onto Air Expressway
5.3 mi·7 min·Air Expressway
6
Turn right onto US 395
30 mi·35 min·Blue Star Memorial Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Turn left
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 206Toward CA 58 West: MojaveUse the left lane.
8
Merge onto CA 58
4.8 mi·5 min·Barstow-Bakersfield Highway
9
Continue on CA 58
27 mi·29 min·Mojave-Barstow Highway
10
Continue on CA 58
8.2 mi·9 min·Barstow–Bakersfield Highway
11
Continue on CA 58
0.7 mi·50 sec·Bakersfield–Tehachapi Highway
12
Continue on CA 58
53 mi·1 hr 1 min·Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Exit 111Toward Chester Avenue, H StreetUse the slight right lane.
14
Continue on Richland Street
0.1 mi·15 sec·Richland Street
15
Turn right onto South Chester Avenue
1.4 mi·2 min·South Chester Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Turn right onto Truxtun Avenue
19 ft·0 sec·Truxtun Avenue
17
Arrive at destination
Truxtun Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short drive, you have the flexibility to depart whenever fits your schedule best, though leaving early can help you avoid local traffic congestion. Plan for at least one stop to stretch your legs and break up the turn-heavy nature of the drive. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before you head out, as the estimated $33 cost can fluctuate depending on your vehicle's efficiency and local gas prices. Because this route lacks long, uninterrupted stretches of highway, staying alert and pacing yourself through the local turns is the best way to ensure a comfortable arrival in Bakersfield.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 70.8 miles from Apple Valley, CA, or about 1h 26m 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 31 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 70.8 miles or 1h 26m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 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 Apple Valley, 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 Apple Valley, CA
This is one driving day of about 141.6 miles and 2h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Apple Valley, 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.
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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 140.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|CA 18 / Happy Trails Highway
Turn left onto CA 18 / Happy Trails Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
15.2 mi into trip|~22m in|US 395 / Blue Star Memorial Highway
Turn right onto US 395 / Blue Star Memorial Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
45.6 mi into trip|~57m in
Turn left toward CA 58 West: Mojave
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Exit 206
Toward CA 58 West: Mojave
8
139.9 mi into trip|~2h 46m 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
140.2 mi into trip|~2h 46m in|South Chester Avenue
Turn right onto South Chester Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.55 one way
$65.09 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg50 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$33.54
$67.08
premium
$6.18
$34.44
$68.87
diesel
$5.61
$31.26
$62.53
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 49.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
42.5
0
$14.87
$6.80
Efficient EV
35.4
0
$12.39
$5.66
EV Truck/SUV
56.6
0
$19.82
$9.06
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 kg (66% 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 20, 2026
Origin
Apple Valley, CA
Late night
in Apple Valley on Tuesday
Local time
3:40 AM
PDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bakersfield, CA
Late night
in Bakersfield on Tuesday
Local time
3:40 AM
PDT
Current temp
75°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
32 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 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
César E. Chávez National Monument
National Monument
Yes, we can! Widely recognized as the most important Latino leader in the United States during the twentieth century, Cesar Chavez led farm workers and supporters in the establishment of the country's...
1 mi from route
~2 min detour
Free
near mile 112.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route features zero highway miles. You will navigate via Hwy 18 North, Happy Trails Highway, and D Street, which requires your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike long, flat stretches of open road, these local roads offer a more technical driving experience. You should be prepared for frequent turns and varied road conditions as you transition through the local segments of the trip. The lack of major highway mileage means your speed and pace will be dictated by local traffic and the winding nature of the roads.
Only 4% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 53.2 mi on Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
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 early in the drive near CA 18 / Happy Trails Highway.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 49m 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: near the start (CA 18 / Happy Trails Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 15.2 miles (US 395 / Blue Star Memorial Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 45.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Apple Valley is a city in California's San Bernardino County. The apple orchards of the early 20th century have been replaced by housing developments: streets of ranch and traditional housed along with the mid-20th century modern and usonian architectural designs between Hwy 18 and Bear Valley Road. Urban development began in the mid-2000s bringing big-box retail, chain restaurants and movie theaters.
Bakersfield is a city in Kern County in the San Joaquin Valley of California. Bakersfield is famous for being the home of country music singers Buck Owens and Merle Haggard, and has the nickname "the country music capital of the West Coast."
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 53.2 miles on Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (CA 18 / Happy Trails Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 15.2 miles (US 395 / Blue Star Memorial Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 45.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — César E. Chávez National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Bakersfield, CA before heading back.
