If you are planning a trip from Bakersfield to Auberry, expect a 131.7-mile journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 40 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking overnight stays along the way. You can anticipate a fuel budget of approximately $31, making it a fairly economical trip for your vehicle. The drive transitions you through the Pacific Coast region, moving from the valley floor toward the foothills. Because this is a turn-heavy local drive, it offers a more engaging experience than a simple interstate commute. It is a straightforward trip that provides enough variety to keep you focused without demanding a multi-day commitment.
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
65.8 miles from Bakersfield, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 12m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Golden State Highway
78.7 mi
1h 24m
South Academy Avenue
22.6 mi
32m
Tollhouse Road
7.1 mi
9m
Morgan Canyon Road
5.3 mi
7m
Golden State Freeway
5.2 mi
5m
Auberry Road
4 mi
6m
Golden State Avenue
1.9 mi
2m
Millerton Road
1.9 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Golden State Highway
— 78.7 mi, about 1h 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bakersfield, CA and Auberry, CA.
1
Start on Truxtun Avenue
0.1 mi·23 sec·Truxtun Avenue
2
Continue on Truxtun Avenue
0.1 mi·26 sec·Truxtun Avenue
3
Turn right onto Chester Avenue
0.9 mi·1 min·Chester Avenue
4
Enter roundabout onto Golden State Road
0.1 mi·11 sec·Golden State Road
5
Continue on Golden State Road
427 ft·8 sec·Golden State Road
6
Take the ramp
395 ft·10 sec
7
Merge onto CA 204; CA 99 BUS
1.9 mi·2 min·Golden State Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto CA 99
5.2 mi·5 min·Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on CA 99
79 mi·1 hr 24 min·Golden State Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·45 sec
Exit 111Toward Road 12, 18th AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn right onto Road 12
0.1 mi·11 sec·Road 12
12
Continue on 18th Avenue
1.5 mi·2 min·18th Avenue
13
Continue on South Mendocino Avenue
1.1 mi·1 min·South Mendocino Avenue
14
Turn left onto J40
0.5 mi·45 sec·East Mountain View Avenue
15
Turn right onto South Academy Avenue
23 mi·32 min·South Academy Avenue
16
At end of road, turn right onto CA 168
7.1 mi·9 min·Tollhouse Road
17
Continue on CA 168
1.9 mi·2 min·Millerton Road
18
Continue on CA 168
5.3 mi·7 min·Morgan Canyon Road
19
Enter roundabout onto CA 168
121 ft·2 sec·Auberry Road
20
Continue on CA 168
1.1 mi·1 min·Auberry Road
21
Continue on Auberry Road
2.9 mi·5 min·Auberry Road
22
Keep slight right at fork onto Auberry Road
361 ft·10 sec·Auberry Road
23
Arrive at destination
Auberry Road
Trip Plan
Since this is a 2-hour and 40-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time, though planning for at least one stop is recommended to break up the journey. Keep in mind that the majority of your travel occurs on local roads, so factor in potential traffic variations when estimating your arrival. Given the $31 fuel estimate, it is wise to ensure your tank is topped off before leaving Bakersfield to avoid any unnecessary stops in smaller towns. Pay close attention to the transition onto Tollhouse Road, as the shift from highway driving to more technical local roads happens steadily throughout the trip. Using your single allotted stop to stretch your legs before hitting the turn-heavy final stretch will make the drive much more comfortable.
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 65.8 miles from Bakersfield, CA, or about 1h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 78.7 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 29 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 65.8 miles or 1h 12m 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 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Auberry, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Bakersfield, CA
This is one driving day of about 131.7 miles and 2h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Bakersfield, 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 Golden State Highway for about 78.7 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.2 and 113.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.2 mi into trip|~2m in|Golden State Road
Enter roundabout onto Golden State Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
1.4 mi into trip|~3m in|CA 204; CA 99 BUS / Golden State Avenue
Merge onto CA 204; CA 99 BUS / Golden State Avenue
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
3.4 mi into trip|~5m in|CA 99 / Golden State Freeway
Merge onto CA 99 / Golden State Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
87.2 mi into trip|~1h 35m in
Take the exit toward Road 12, 18th Avenue
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 111
Toward Road 12, 18th Avenue
5
113.4 mi into trip|~2h 14m in|CA 168 / Tollhouse Road
At end of road, turn right onto CA 168 / Tollhouse Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.27 one way
$60.54 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg46 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$31.19
$62.39
premium
$6.18
$32.03
$64.06
diesel
$5.61
$29.08
$58.16
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
39.5
0
$13.83
$6.32
Efficient EV
32.9
0
$11.52
$5.27
EV Truck/SUV
52.7
0
$18.44
$8.43
Gas CO2
46 kg
EV CO2
15 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 17, 2026
Origin
Bakersfield, CA
Morning
in Bakersfield on Tuesday
Local time
6:37 AM
PDT
Current temp
78°F
Sunny
WNW 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 17 at 9:40AM PDT until April 17 at 2:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 17 at 9:40AM PDT until April 17 at 2:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Destination
Auberry, CA
Morning
in Auberry on Tuesday
Local time
6:37 AM
PDT
Current temp
67°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
11 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
2h 40m 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.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mix of driving environments as you navigate the 131.7 miles, starting with a significant 78.7-mile stretch on the Golden State Highway. While roughly 4% of your total mileage is spent on highways, the character of the road shifts considerably as you transition to South Academy Avenue and eventually Tollhouse Road. This profile is defined as a turn-heavy local drive, requiring you to stay alert through the winding sections. You will find that the initial fast-paced highway segment contrasts sharply with the technical, local nature of the final approach. Being behind the wheel here means trading cruise control for active steering as you head toward your destination.
Only 4% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 78.7 mi on Golden State Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in near Golden State Road.
Driving Effort5/10
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 131.7 miles you will encounter 13 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: at 1.2 miles (Golden State Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 1.4 miles (CA 204; CA 99 BUS / Golden State Avenue): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.4 miles (CA 99 / Golden State Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
814 ft257 ft
Total Climb
603 ft
Total Descent
192 ft
Highest Point
814 ft
~122.2 mi in
Elevation Range
557 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Bakersfield, CA to Auberry, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Road 12 along the way.
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."
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 40m. Total distance: 131.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (4%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 78.7 miles on Golden State 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: at 1.2 miles (Golden State Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 1.4 miles (CA 204; CA 99 BUS / Golden State Avenue): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.4 miles (CA 99 / Golden State Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 Auberry, CA before heading back.
