Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 28m
Distance
289.9 mi
467 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$67
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bakersfield, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Citrus Heights, CA
Stephen Leonardi
This 289.9-mile drive from Bakersfield to Citrus Heights, California, will take approximately 5 hours and 28 minutes of driving time. You'll primarily be on the Golden State Highway and Northbound California State Route 99. With a fuel cost estimated at $67, this route is easily manageable as a single-day trip, though you might consider breaking it up if you prefer a more relaxed pace. The drive offers a mixed profile, spending 57% of its time on highways, making it a straightforward journey through the Pacific Coast region.
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
144.9 miles from Bakersfield, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 39m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Golden State Highway | 113.1 mi | 2h 2m |
| Northbound California State Route 99 | 84.6 mi | 1h 38m |
| CA 99 | 66.1 mi | 1h 15m |
| Capital City Freeway | 8.9 mi | 9m |
| Golden State Freeway | 5.2 mi | 5m |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 5 mi | 5m |
| Golden State Avenue | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| Antelope Road | 1.4 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Bakersfield, CA and Citrus Heights, CA.
Start on Truxtun Avenue
Continue on Truxtun Avenue
Turn right onto Chester Avenue
Enter roundabout onto Golden State Road
Continue on Golden State Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto CA 204; CA 99 BUS
Merge onto CA 99
Continue on CA 99
Take the exit
Merge onto CA 99
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 99
Continue on CA 99
Continue on CA 99
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99
Continue on Capital City Freeway
Continue on I 80
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn straight onto Antelope Road
Turn left onto Mariposa Avenue
Turn right
Arrive at destination
For this 5-hour and 28-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Bakersfield to maximize your daylight and avoid potential traffic as you head north. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing yourself, but be mindful of the longest stretch of 113.1 miles on the Golden State Highway – plan a break before or after this segment. The estimated fuel cost of $67 is a good benchmark for your budget. A specific tip for this route: keep an eye on CA 99 signage as it's a key artery for much of your travel, ensuring you stay on track towards Citrus Heights.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 64 miles or 1h 10m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 144.9 miles or 2h 39m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Citrus Heights, CA than in the middle of the route.
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 289.9 miles and 5h 28m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
145 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.
A short stop after about 64 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 144.9 miles from Bakersfield, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Golden State Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 113.1 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 119.9 and 288.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward Avenue 7
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 99 / Northbound California State Route 99 toward CA 99
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Antelope Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward Antelope Road, Citrus Heights
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$66.63 one way
$133.26 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $68.66 | $137.33 |
| premium | $6.18 | $70.50 | $141.00 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $64.01 | $128.01 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$67
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$92–$117
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 101.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 87 | 1 | $30.44 | $13.92 |
| Efficient EV | 72.5 | 0 | $25.37 | $11.60 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 116 | 1 | $40.59 | $18.55 |
Gas CO2
101 kg
EV CO2
34 kg (66% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Bakersfield on Tuesday
Local time
2:14 AM
PDT
Current temp
76°F
Sunny
Destination
Late night in Citrus Heights on Tuesday
Local time
2:14 AM
PDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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.
Expect a mixed drive on this route, with 57% of the journey utilizing highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 113.1 miles on the Golden State Highway. While much of the drive is on well-traveled roadways, the overall character is a blend of efficient highway travel and potentially some local road transitions as you approach your destination. This isn't a purely monotonous interstate grind, but rather a route that keeps you moving steadily through the landscape.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 119.9 miles in.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 289.9 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 119.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 141.8 miles (CA 99 / Northbound California State Route 99): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 229.4 miles (CA 99): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Bakersfield, CA to Citrus Heights, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Avenue 7 along the way.
Avenue 7
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."
Founded 1997
Citrus Heights is a city of 88,000 people (2019) in the Sierra Nevada foothills in Sacramento County in California.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 28m. Total distance: 289.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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