Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Bakersfield, CA to Arcata, CA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 11, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
10h 49m
Distance
552.5 mi
889 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$126
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
10h 39m
★
6 AM
10h 49m
8 AM
11h 9m
10 AM
10h 56m
12 PM
10h 54m
3 PM
10h 57m
5 PM
11h 8m
8 PM
10h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bakersfield, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Arcata, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Bakersfield to Arcata is 552.5 miles and takes about 10h 49m via Westside Freeway, Redwood Highway, and Saint Helena Highway, with a fuel budget near $126 and an overnight recommendation. This long-haul drive traverses California from the southern end of the Pacific Coast region to the northern reaches of the same region. You'll experience a significant shift in landscape and feel as you head north. Given the nearly 11-hour estimated drive time, splitting this trip over two days is highly recommended for a more relaxed pace.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
3 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
276.2 miles from Bakersfield, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5h 7m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Westside Freeway | 192.7 mi | 3h 26m |
| Redwood Highway | 190.2 mi | 3h 54m |
| Saint Helena Highway | 51.2 mi | 59m |
| Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway | 19.6 mi | 22m |
| William Elton Brown Freeway | 17 mi | 18m |
| Donald D Doyle Highway | 15.2 mi | 17m |
| Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway | 12.9 mi | 14m |
| Stockdale Highway | 8.9 mi | 12m |
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 192.7 mi, about 3h 26m
Traffic on I-5
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 76 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,635 veh/hr typical · worst 2,375
Quietest
2 AM
~316 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 89 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bakersfield, CA and Arcata, CA.
1
Start on Truxtun Avenue
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
Truxtun Avenue
2
Continue on Truxtun Avenue
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Truxtun Avenue
3
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward CA 58: Westside Parkway West
4
Continue on Westside Parkway
6.6 mi
·
8 min
·
Westside Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on Stockdale Highway
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Stockdale Highway
Use the straight lane.
6
Enter roundabout onto CA 58
149 ft
·
2 sec
·
Stockdale Highway
7
Continue on CA 58
4.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Stockdale Highway
8
Take the exit onto CA 58
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
CA 58
Toward I 5 North
9
Merge onto I 5; CA 58
193 mi
·
3 hr 26 min
·
Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
16 mi
·
17 min
·
William Elton Brown Freeway
Toward I 580 West: Tracy, San Francisco
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580 Bypass
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
William Elton Brown Freeway
12
Merge onto I 580
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
Exit 44B
Toward I 680 South, I 680 North: San Jose, Sacramento, Concord, Walnut Creek
Use the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
Toward I 680 North: Walnut Creek, Concord, Sacramento
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Merge onto I 680
15 mi
·
17 min
·
Donald D Doyle Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on I 680
5.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Toward I 680, CA 24
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 680
6.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Toward I 680 North: Martinez, Sacramento
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto I 680
243 ft
·
3 sec
·
Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
20
Keep slight right at fork onto I 680
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Use the slight right lane.
21
Keep slight left at fork onto I 780
6.7 mi
·
7 min
·
I 780
Toward I 780: Benicia
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 1B
Toward I 80 East: Sacramento
Use the slight right lane.
23
Keep slight left at fork
448 ft
·
11 sec
Toward I 80 East: Sacramento
Use the slight left lane.
24
Merge onto I 80
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Exit 33
Toward CA 37: Napa, Novato, Auto Mall, Columbus Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward CA 37: Napa
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Continue on CA 37
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
CA 37
Toward CA 37
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Exit 19
Toward CA 29: Napa, Sonoma Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Turn right onto CA 29
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Sonoma Boulevard
Use the right lane.
30
Continue on CA 29
4.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Broadway Street
Use the straight lane.
31
Continue on CA 29
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Napa–Vallejo Highway
Use the left lane.
32
Continue on CA 12; CA 29
22 mi
·
25 min
·
Saint Helena Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
33
Continue on CA 29; CA 128
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
34
Continue on CA 29; CA 128
6.8 mi
·
7 min
·
Saint Helena Highway
35
Continue on CA 128
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Foothill Boulevard
36
Continue on CA 128
16 mi
·
18 min
·
Saint Helena Highway
37
Continue on CA 128
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
Saint Helena Highway
38
At end of road, turn right onto CA 128
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Geyserville Avenue
39
Turn left onto CA 128
359 ft
·
6 sec
·
Canyon Road
40
Take the exit onto CA 128
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
CA 128
41
Merge onto US 101; CA 128
55 mi
·
1 hr 7 min
·
Redwood Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
42
Continue on US 101
4.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Willits Bypass
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
43
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
48 sec
44
Merge onto US 101
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
Willits Bypass
45
Continue on US 101
129 mi
·
2 hr 38 min
·
Redwood Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
46
Continue on US 101
2.9 mi
·
6 min
·
Broadway Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
47
Turn right onto US 101
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
West 5th Street
48
Continue on US 101
6.1 mi
·
8 min
·
Redwood Highway
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
49
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Toward CA 255: Arcata, Sunnybrae
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
50
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
51
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Use the straight lane.
52
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 552.5-mile drive, plan for an overnight stop; attempting it in one day would mean nearly 11 hours of driving. The $126 fuel cost is a good estimate, but keep an eye on gas prices, especially in more remote northern areas. With 3 recommended stops, you can break up the drive effectively, perhaps stopping around the halfway point or aligning with services along the Redwood Highway. Leave early in the morning from Bakersfield to maximize daylight for your first day's travel.
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.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 3 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 276.2 miles from Bakersfield, CA, or about 5h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 192.7 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 122 miles or 2h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 276.2 miles or 5h 7m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 276.2 miles or 5h 7m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 9h 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Arcata, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bakersfield, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Bakersfield, CA
Aim for roughly 276 miles and 5.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Arcata, CA
Aim for roughly 276 miles and 5.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 122 miles from Bakersfield, CA.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 3 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Westside Freeway for about 192.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
182 mi into the route
Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch
This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.
Second major stop
Overnight candidate
365 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Orland, CAOvernight Options
Night 1
276 mi · about 5.4h in
A practical overnight split lands near Windsor, CA after about 276 miles or 5.4 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 122 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 276.2 miles from Bakersfield, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Westside Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 192.7 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 276 miles or 5.4 hours on the road.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Irvine Lodge Rest Area
0 mi from route
Moss Cove Rest Area
0 mi from route
Empire Camp Rest Area
0 mi from route
Dos Amigos Vista Point
0.1 mi from route
EZ Trip Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
EZ Trip Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Auto Repair
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Coalinga Avenal Safety Roadside Rest Area - Northbound
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Coalinga - Avenal Rest Area - Southbound
0.2 mi from route
Coalinga - Avenal Rest Area - Northbound
0.2 mi from route
John "Chuck" Erreca Southbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Buttonwillow Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Buttonwillow Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Westley Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Lost Hills Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
John "Chuck" Erreca Northbound Rest Area
0.3 mi from route
Westley Rest Area
0.3 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
Hunter Hill Rest Area
0.8 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.8 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
2 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 345 decision points cluster between mile 248.1 and 286.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
248.1 mi into trip
|
~4h 34m in
Take the exit toward I 680 South, I 680 North: San Jose, Sacramento, Concord, Walnut Creek
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 44B
Toward I 680 South, I 680 North: San Jose, Sacr...
9
248.2 mi into trip
|
~4h 35m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 680 North: Walnut Creek, Concord, Sacramento
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 680 North: Walnut Creek, Concord, Sacr...
8
268.8 mi into trip
|
~4h 58m in
|
I 680 / Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 680 / Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway toward I 680 North: Martinez, Sacramento
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 680 North: Martinez, Sacramento
8
283.6 mi into trip
|
~5h 16m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 80 East: Sacramento
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 80 East: Sacramento
8
286.4 mi into trip
|
~5h 19m in
Take the exit toward CA 37: Napa, Novato, Auto Mall, Columbus Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 33
Toward CA 37: Napa, Novato, Auto Mall, Columbus...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$125.88 one way
$251.76 round trip
$5.79/gal
25.4 MPG avg
193 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.96 | $129.62 | $259.24 |
| premium | $6.14 | $133.56 | $267.11 |
| diesel | $5.97 | $129.79 | $259.59 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$126
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$256–$366
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 193.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-09-07.
Driving Electric?
About $58 in charging · 2 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 165.8 | 2 | $58.01 | $26.52 |
| Efficient EV | 138.1 | 1 | $48.34 | $22.10 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 221 | 2 | $77.35 | $35.36 |
Gas CO2
193 kg
EV CO2
65 kg (66% less)
Plan for 2 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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.
Origin
Bakersfield, CA
Afternoon in Bakersfield on Friday
Local time
1:41 PM
PDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Arcata, CA
Afternoon in Arcata on Friday
Local time
1:41 PM
PDT
Current temp
63°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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
3 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
10h 49m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This route features 44% highway driving, with the longest continuous stretch covering 192.7 miles on the Westside Freeway. You'll transition from freeway cruising to more winding surface roads, particularly along the Saint Helena Highway. Expect to notice the changing density of exits and the shift from more developed areas to increasingly rural landscapes as you progress north.
44% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
52 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 192.7 mi on Westside Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
At 10h 49m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 248.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 34 significant decision points across 552.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 248.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 248.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 268.8 miles (I 680 / Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,663 ft
1 ft
Total Climb
2,296 ft
Total Descent
2,681 ft
Highest Point
1,663 ft
~434.1 mi in
Elevation Range
1,662 ft
Notable High Points
1,663 ft at ~434.1 miles
+896 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Bakersfield, CA and Arcata, CA, road signs point toward San Francisco, Sacramento, Concord, Walnut Creek, Novato and Auto Mall.
San Francisco
211.6 mi in
|
~3h 54m
|
via I 580
Sacramento
248.1 mi in
|
~4h 34m
Concord
248.1 mi in
|
~4h 34m
Walnut Creek
248.1 mi in
|
~4h 34m
Novato
286.4 mi in
|
~5h 19m
Auto Mall
286.4 mi in
|
~5h 19m
About the Cities
Starting in Bakersfield, CA
Full guide →Founded 1869
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."
Arriving in Arcata, CA
Full guide →Arcata is a city in the North Coast of California. Arcata is a small university town on the north end of Humboldt Bay. It is well known for its hippie counter culture, progressive politics, and vegetarian restaurants. Arcata is the perfect place to relax while enjoying fresh air, the ocean, and the tallest trees on Earth. The pace of things is quite calm here, with usually as many bicyclists or people on foot as cars go by.
Top landmarks
- • Hotel Arcata — historic hotel in Arcata, California
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 192.7 miles on Westside Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 276 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 31 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Arcata, CA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 3 meaningful breaks. There are 31 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 248.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 248.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 268.8 miles (I 680 / Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 10.8 hours each way, a round trip means 21.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Arcata, CA before the return drive.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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