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Trip from Bakersfield, CA to Laton, CA

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 51m

Distance

95.2 mi

153 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$21

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 25 min
4 AM
1h 43m ★
6 AM
1h 52m
8 AM
2h 8m
10 AM
1h 57m
12 PM
1h 56m
3 PM
1h 58m
5 PM
2h 7m
8 PM
1h 47m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time
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city and county seat of Kern County, California, United States

Bakersfield, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Laton, CA, CA

Laton, CA

El Puerto de Santa María

Trip Overview

The drive from Bakersfield, CA to Laton, CA covers 95.2 miles and takes about 1h 51m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Golden State Highway, CA 198, Central Valley Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 63.6 miles on Golden State Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.11 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

47.6 miles from Bakersfield, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 52m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Golden State Highway 63.6 mi 1h 8m
CA 198 10.4 mi 12m
Central Valley Highway 8.7 mi 13m
Golden State Freeway 5.2 mi 5m
Golden State Avenue 1.9 mi 2m
East Riverdale Avenue 1.7 mi 3m
De Woody Street 0.9 mi 1m
Chester Avenue 0.9 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Golden State Highway — 63.6 mi, about 1h 8m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bakersfield, CA and Laton, 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

64 mi · 1 hr 8 min · Golden State Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 33 sec
Exit 97 Toward CA 198 West: Hanford, Lemoore Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Continue on this road

0.4 mi · 46 sec · this road
Exit 97 Toward CA 198 West: Hanford, Lemoore
12

Merge onto CA 198

10 mi · 12 min · CA 198
13

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 44 sec
Toward CA 43: Selma, Corcoran
14

Turn right onto CA 43

0.1 mi · 12 sec · Central Valley Highway
15

Enter roundabout onto CA 43

103 ft · 1 sec · Central Valley Highway
16

Continue on CA 43

8.5 mi · 12 min · Central Valley Highway
17

Turn left onto Cairo Avenue

0.3 mi · 29 sec · Cairo Avenue
Use the left lane.
18

Continue on East Riverdale Avenue

1.7 mi · 3 min · East Riverdale Avenue
19

Continue on De Woody Street

0.9 mi · 1 min · De Woody Street
20

At end of road, turn left onto South Fowler Avenue

481 ft · 9 sec · South Fowler Avenue
21

Arrive at destination

South Fowler Avenue

Trip Plan

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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 47.6 miles from Bakersfield, CA, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 63.6 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 21 miles or 24m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 47.6 miles or 52m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 26m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Laton, 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.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Bakersfield, CA

This is one driving day of about 95.2 miles and 1h 51m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Bakersfield, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Golden State Highway for about 63.6 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in California, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Tulare, CA

48 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.

Pacing Suggestions

McFarland, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Tipton, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 47.6 miles from Bakersfield, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Golden State Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 63.6 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 15

5 decision points cluster between mile 1.2 and 92.1 — 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
72.1 mi into trip | ~1h 19m in

Take the exit toward CA 198 West: Hanford, Lemoore

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 97 Toward CA 198 West: Hanford, Lemoore
6
92.1 mi into trip | ~1h 46m in | Cairo Avenue

Turn left onto Cairo Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$21.11 one way

$42.21 round trip

$5.63/gal 25.4 MPG avg 33 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.81 $21.78 $43.56
premium $5.98 $22.42 $44.85
diesel $5.60 $20.99 $41.97

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$21

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$46–$71

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 33.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.

Driving Electric?

About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 28.6 0 $10.00 $4.57
Efficient EV 23.8 0 $8.33 $3.81
EV Truck/SUV 38.1 0 $13.33 $6.09

Gas CO2

33 kg

EV CO2

11 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 Aug 27, 2026

Origin

Bakersfield, CA

Afternoon in Bakersfield on Friday

Local time

12:26 PM

PDT

Current temp

75°F

Mostly Clear

NNE 0 to 5 mph 1% chance Live forecast

Heat Advisory

Heat Advisory issued August 26 at 9:31PM PDT until August 28 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS San Diego CA

Extreme Heat Warning

Extreme Heat Warning issued August 26 at 9:31PM PDT until August 28 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS San Diego CA

Destination

Laton, CA

Afternoon in Laton on Friday

Local time

12:26 PM

PDT

Current temp

69°F

Clear

NW 5 to 10 mph 1% chance Live forecast

Heat Advisory

Heat Advisory issued August 26 at 9:31PM PDT until August 28 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS San Diego CA

Extreme Heat Warning

Extreme Heat Warning issued August 26 at 9:31PM PDT until August 28 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS San Diego CA

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

6 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

1h 51m 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

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...

28 mi from route ~69 min detour Free
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

95.2 mi in 1h 51m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.

Only 16% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 63.6 mi on Golden State 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 around 1.2 miles in near Golden State Road.

Driving Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 1h 51m drive. You will face about 15 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

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

461 ft 247 ft

Total Climb

106 ft

Total Descent

263 ft

Highest Point

461 ft

~6.8 mi in

Elevation Range

214 ft

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 Laton, CA, road signs point toward Lemoore and Corcoran.

Lemoore

72.1 mi in | ~1h 19m

Corcoran

83.2 mi in | ~1h 32m

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 Laton, CA

Full guide →

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 51m. Total distance: 95.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (16%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 63.6 miles on Golden State Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

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 Laton, CA before heading back.

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 NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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