Connecting Bakersfield to Diamond Bar, this 138.8-mile journey is a straightforward trek across California’s Pacific Coast region. You can easily complete the drive in 2 hours and 41 minutes, making it a perfect one-day trip that requires no overnight stay. Budgeting approximately $32 for fuel will cover your transit across the state’s major corridors. Because the route is entirely contained within the Pacific Coast region, you will experience a consistent environment throughout the transition from the Central Valley toward the Los Angeles basin. It is a practical, no-nonsense commute that favors efficiency over sightseeing.
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
69.4 miles from Bakersfield, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Golden State Freeway
84.9 mi
1h 36m
Foothill Freeway
44 mi
50m
Orange Freeway
6.3 mi
7m
California Avenue
1.5 mi
2m
L Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Sunset Crossing Road
0.1 mi
<1m
Truxtun Avenue
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Golden State Freeway
— 84.9 mi, about 1h 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bakersfield, CA and Diamond Bar, CA.
1
Start on Truxtun Avenue
0.1 mi·20 sec·Truxtun Avenue
2
Turn right onto L Street
0.3 mi·51 sec·L Street
3
Turn right onto California Avenue
1.5 mi·2 min·California Avenue
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward CA 99 SouthUse the right lane.
5
Merge onto CA 99
25 mi·27 min·Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99
58 mi·1 hr 6 min·Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
2.0 mi·2 min·Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·17 sec
Exit 161AToward I 210 East: PasadenaUse the slight right lane.
9
Continue on I 210
24 mi·28 min·Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 210
19 mi·22 min·Foothill Freeway
Toward CA 134 West, I 210 East: San Bernardino, VenturaUse the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 210
0.5 mi·32 sec·Foothill Freeway
12
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 44AToward CA 57 South: Santa AnaUse the slight right lane.
13
Continue on CA 57
6.3 mi·7 min·Orange Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 18Toward Sunset Crossing RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Turn left onto Sunset Crossing Road
0.1 mi·24 sec·Sunset Crossing Road
Use the left lane.
16
Turn left
39 ft·2 sec
17
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short drive of under three hours, you have significant flexibility with your departure time. However, plan for at least one stop to break up the monotony of the long highway stretches. Given the high reliance on the Golden State Freeway, check traffic reports before you leave to avoid peak congestion periods. Keep your $32 fuel budget in mind as you navigate, as prices can fluctuate significantly between Bakersfield and the more populated Diamond Bar area. Because the route is nearly entirely on highways, ensure your vehicle is ready for sustained high-speed driving before you hit the road.
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 69.4 miles from Bakersfield, CA, or about 1h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 84.9 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 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 69.4 miles or 1h 19m 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 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Diamond Bar, 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 138.8 miles and 2h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 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 Freeway for about 84.9 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 87 and 138.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
87 mi into trip|~1h 40m in
Take the exit toward I 210 East: Pasadena
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 161A
Toward I 210 East: Pasadena
8
111.7 mi into trip|~2h 8m in|I 210 / Foothill Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 210 / Foothill Freeway toward CA 134 West, I 210 East: San Bernardino, Ventura
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward CA 134 West, I 210 East: San Bernardino,...
7
131.2 mi into trip|~2h 31m in
Take the exit toward CA 57 South: Santa Ana
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 44A
Toward CA 57 South: Santa Ana
7
138.4 mi into trip|~2h 40m in
Take the exit toward Sunset Crossing Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 18
Toward Sunset Crossing Road
7
138.7 mi into trip|~2h 41m in|Sunset Crossing Road
Turn left onto Sunset Crossing Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.90 one way
$63.80 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg49 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$32.87
$65.75
premium
$6.18
$33.75
$67.51
diesel
$5.61
$30.65
$61.29
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
41.6
0
$14.57
$6.66
Efficient EV
34.7
0
$12.15
$5.55
EV Truck/SUV
55.5
0
$19.43
$8.88
Gas CO2
49 kg
EV CO2
16 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 14, 2026
Origin
Bakersfield, CA
Afternoon
in Bakersfield on Sunday
Local time
1:43 PM
PDT
Current temp
48°F
Partly Cloudy
NNW 0 to 5 mph9% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Diamond Bar, CA
Afternoon
in Diamond Bar on Sunday
Local time
1:43 PM
PDT
Current temp
53°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
5 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 41m 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.
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
The Santa Monica Mountains offer easy access to surprisingly wild places. Experience the famous beaches of Malibu or explore more than 500 miles of trails. The park abounds with historical and cultura...
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
Free
near mile 86.2
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...
25 mi from route
~63 min detour
Free
near mile 19.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highly efficient, highway-focused experience, as 97% of this trip is spent on major thoroughfares. You will spend the vast majority of your time cruising on the Golden State Freeway, which features the longest stretch of the journey at 84.9 miles. Transitions onto the Foothill Freeway and Orange Freeway keep you moving steadily toward your destination. This is not a winding mountain road or a leisurely backroads tour, but rather a focused interstate drive. You should be prepared for the steady flow of heavy traffic typical of these major California arteries.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 84.9 mi on Golden State Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Golden State Freeway and Foothill Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 87 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 138.8 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 87 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 111.7 miles (I 210 / Foothill Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 131.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Diamond Bar, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Ventura 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 41m. Total distance: 138.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 84.9 miles on Golden State Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Diamond Bar, 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 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 87 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 111.7 miles (I 210 / Foothill Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 131.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and 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 Diamond Bar, CA before heading back.
