This 114.7-mile drive from Bakersfield, CA, to Templeton, CA, is an easy one-day trip, taking about 2 hours and 20 minutes. You'll primarily be on the Paso Robles Highway, Westside Freeway, and CA 41, with about half the journey on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this Pacific Coast region excursion is around $26. It's a straightforward drive that doesn't require an overnight stop, making it a convenient option for a quick journey between these two California points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
57.3 miles from Bakersfield, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 11m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Paso Robles Highway
32.3 mi
39m
Westside Freeway
24.8 mi
26m
CA 41
24.5 mi
28m
Stockdale Highway
8.9 mi
12m
Antelope Road
6.8 mi
8m
Westside Parkway
6.6 mi
8m
El Camino Real
5.1 mi
5m
Truxtun Avenue
2.3 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Paso Robles Highway
— 32.3 mi, about 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bakersfield, CA and Templeton, CA.
1
Start on Truxtun Avenue
0.1 mi·23 sec·Truxtun Avenue
2
Continue on Truxtun Avenue
2.2 mi·4 min·Truxtun Avenue
3
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward CA 58: Westside Parkway West
4
Continue on Westside Parkway
6.6 mi·8 min·Westside Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on Stockdale Highway
4.3 mi·5 min·Stockdale Highway
Use the straight lane.
6
Enter roundabout onto CA 58
149 ft·2 sec·Stockdale Highway
7
Continue on CA 58
4.5 mi·6 min·Stockdale Highway
8
Take the exit onto CA 58
0.5 mi·1 min·CA 58
Toward I 5 North
9
Merge onto I 5; CA 58
25 mi·26 min·Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·27 sec
Exit 278Toward CA 46: Lost Hills, Paso RoblesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn left onto CA 46
2.6 mi·4 min·Paso Robles Highway
12
Continue on this road
0.3 mi·19 sec·this road
13
Merge onto CA 46
30 mi·34 min·Paso Robles Highway
14
Continue on CA 46
6.8 mi·8 min·Antelope Road
15
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 41; CA 46
24 mi·28 min·CA 41; CA 46
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward US 101
17
Merge onto US 101; CA 46
5.1 mi·5 min·El Camino Real
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward North Main Street
19
Turn left onto North Main Street
1.3 mi·2 min·North Main Street
20
Turn right
160 ft·11 sec
21
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
With a duration of just over two hours, this is a flexible drive. You can easily tackle it in one day, leaving whenever suits your schedule. There are no mandatory stops suggested, but keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the 32.3-mile stretch on Paso Robles Highway, to avoid needing to search for stations. The estimated fuel cost of $26 should help you budget accordingly for this trip within the Pacific Coast region.
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 57.3 miles from Bakersfield, CA, or about 1h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 32.3 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 25 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 57.3 miles or 1h 11m 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 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Templeton, 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 114.7 miles and 2h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Bakersfield, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Paso Robles Highway for about 32.3 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 13.8 and 107.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
13.8 mi into trip|~20m in|CA 58 / Stockdale Highway
Enter roundabout onto CA 58 / Stockdale Highway
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
18.4 mi into trip|~26m in|CA 58
Take the exit onto CA 58 toward I 5 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 5 North
5
18.9 mi into trip|~27m in|I 5; CA 58 / Westside Freeway
Merge onto I 5; CA 58 / Westside Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
43.6 mi into trip|~54m in
Take the exit toward CA 46: Lost Hills, Paso Robles
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 278
Toward CA 46: Lost Hills, Paso Robles
6
107.9 mi into trip|~2h 11m in
Take the exit toward US 101
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 101
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.36 one way
$52.73 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg40 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$27.17
$54.33
premium
$6.18
$27.89
$55.79
diesel
$5.61
$25.32
$50.65
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
34.4
0
$12.04
$5.51
Efficient EV
28.7
0
$10.04
$4.59
EV Truck/SUV
45.9
0
$16.06
$7.34
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (68% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Bakersfield, CA
Morning
in Bakersfield on Sunday
Local time
8:49 AM
PDT
Current temp
74°F
Sunny
NW 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 14 at 2:09PM PDT until April 15 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Reno NV
Lake Wind Advisory
Lake Wind Advisory issued April 14 at 2:09PM PDT until April 16 at 7:00AM PDT by NWS Reno NV
Destination
Templeton, CA
Morning
in Templeton on Sunday
Local time
8:49 AM
PDT
Current temp
43°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
31 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 20m 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 mixed drive on this route, with 49% of it being highway driving. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 32.3 miles on Paso Robles Highway, offering a good amount of uninterrupted travel. The road's character shifts throughout the journey, providing a blend of faster-paced sections and potentially more local road experiences as you progress toward Templeton. This variety keeps the drive from becoming monotonous.
49% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 32.3 mi on Paso Robles Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 13.8 miles in near CA 58 / Stockdale Highway.
Driving Effort6/10
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 114.7 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 13.8 miles (CA 58 / Stockdale Highway): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 18.4 miles (CA 58): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 18.9 miles (I 5; CA 58 / Westside Freeway): 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 Templeton, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Paso Robles 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 20m. Total distance: 114.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (49%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 32.3 miles on Paso Robles Highway. 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 Templeton, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 13.8 miles (CA 58 / Stockdale Highway): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 18.4 miles (CA 58): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 18.9 miles (I 5; CA 58 / Westside 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 Templeton, CA before heading back.
