Bakersfield to Lone Pine is 169.3 miles and takes about 3 hours 19 minutes via Grand Army of the Republic Highway, with a fuel budget near $39 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive takes you from the Pacific Coast region of California to another part of the same region, offering a direct path north. Given its relatively short duration and the nature of the roads, this trip is best suited for a single day of travel. The route is characterized by a series of turns, making it a more engaging drive than a straightforward interstate journey. You'll appreciate the focused drive as you head towards your destination.
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
84.7 miles from Bakersfield, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 39m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
56.1 mi
1h 4m
Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway
53.5 mi
1h 1m
Aerospace Highway
23.8 mi
27m
Midland Trail
22 mi
25m
Blue Star Memorial Highway
6.8 mi
7m
Barstow–Bakersfield Highway
2.2 mi
2m
South Main Street
1.9 mi
4m
Union Avenue
1.1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
— 56.1 mi, about 1h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bakersfield, CA and Lone Pine, CA.
1
Start on Truxtun Avenue
0.1 mi·20 sec·Truxtun Avenue
2
Turn right onto L Street
0.3 mi·49 sec·L Street
3
Turn left onto California Avenue
0.8 mi·1 min·California Avenue
4
Turn right onto CA 204; CA 99 BUS
1.1 mi·1 min·Union Avenue
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward CA 58 East: Mojave
6
Merge onto CA 58
53 mi·1 hr 1 min·Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on CA 58
2.2 mi·2 min·Barstow–Bakersfield Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·56 sec
Toward CA 14: Bishop, Mojave
9
Merge onto CA 14; US 6 Hist
17 mi·19 min·Aerospace Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on CA 14; US 6 Hist
22 mi·25 min·Midland Trail
11
Continue on CA 14; CA 178; US 6 Hist
6.7 mi·7 min·Aerospace Highway
12
Merge onto US 395; US 6 Hist
6.8 mi·7 min·Blue Star Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on US 395; US 6 Hist
56 mi·1 hr 4 min·Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on US 395; US 6 Hist
1.9 mi·4 min·South Main Street
15
Turn left onto West Bush Street
296 ft·15 sec·West Bush Street
16
Turn right onto North Washington Street
78 ft·3 sec·North Washington Street
17
Arrive at destination
North Washington Street
Trip Plan
Given this is a single-day drive of just over three hours, you have the flexibility to leave later in the morning if you prefer. Plan for one stop to break up the 169.3 miles, perhaps around the halfway point, to stretch your legs and refuel. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longest stretch of 56.1 miles on the Grand Army of the Republic Highway, as services might be more spaced out on these local roads. The estimated fuel cost of $39 is a good baseline, but it's always wise to have a bit extra for unexpected detours or price fluctuations.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 84.7 miles from Bakersfield, CA, or about 1h 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 56.1 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 37 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 84.7 miles or 1h 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 2h 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lone Pine, 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 169.3 miles and 3h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 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 Grand Army of the Republic Highway for about 56.1 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.6 and 169.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.6 mi into trip|~4m in|CA 58 / Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway
Merge onto CA 58 / Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
58.2 mi into trip|~1h 8m in
Take the exit toward CA 14: Bishop, Mojave
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward CA 14: Bishop, Mojave
5
58.7 mi into trip|~1h 9m in|CA 14; US 6 Hist / Aerospace Highway
Merge onto CA 14; US 6 Hist / Aerospace Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
104.5 mi into trip|~2h 2m in|US 395; US 6 Hist / Blue Star Memorial Highway
Merge onto US 395; US 6 Hist / Blue Star Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
169.3 mi into trip|~3h 19m in|North Washington Street
Turn right onto North Washington Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$38.91 one way
$77.82 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg59 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$40.10
$80.20
premium
$6.18
$41.17
$82.34
diesel
$5.61
$37.38
$74.76
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
50.8
0
$17.78
$8.13
Efficient EV
42.3
0
$14.81
$6.77
EV Truck/SUV
67.7
0
$23.70
$10.84
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 kg (66% 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 20, 2026
Origin
Bakersfield, CA
Late night
in Bakersfield on Tuesday
Local time
3:49 AM
PDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lone Pine, CA
Late night
in Lone Pine on Tuesday
Local time
3:49 AM
PDT
Current temp
69°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
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
3h 19m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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?
This route is described as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' with no highway percentage, indicating it's primarily on surface streets and county roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 56.1 miles along the Grand Army of the Republic Highway. Expect a dynamic driving experience that requires your attention due to frequent changes in direction, rather than a monotonous cruise. The journey is built around navigating these turns, making it feel more like a connected series of local roads than a high-speed transit.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 56.1 mi on Grand Army of the Republic 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 2.6 miles in near CA 58 / Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 19m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.6 miles (CA 58 / Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 58.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 58.7 miles (CA 14; US 6 Hist / Aerospace Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 Lone Pine, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Mojave 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."
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 56.1 miles on Grand Army of the Republic Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 2.6 miles (CA 58 / Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 58.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 58.7 miles (CA 14; US 6 Hist / Aerospace Highway): 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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Lone Pine, CA, but most travelers stay overnight.
