Bakersfield to Union City is 265.5 miles and takes about 4 hours 59 minutes via Westside Freeway, Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway, and William Elton Brown Freeway, with a fuel budget near $64 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, single-day trip primarily within California's Pacific Coast region. You'll spend most of your time on major freeways, making it a relatively quick transit between the two cities. Plan for a mostly highway experience that gets you from point A to point B efficiently.
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
132.7 miles from Bakersfield, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 29m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Westside Freeway
192.7 mi
3h 26m
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
28.3 mi
32m
William Elton Brown Freeway
17 mi
18m
Stockdale Highway
8.9 mi
12m
Westside Parkway
6.6 mi
8m
Nimitz Freeway
2.7 mi
3m
Truxtun Avenue
2.3 mi
4m
Jackson Street
1.7 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 192.7 mi, about 3h 26m
Traffic on I-5
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 76 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,391 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,030
Quietest
2 AM
~302 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
4.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 43 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bakersfield, CA and Union City, 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
193 mi·3 hr 26 min·Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
16 mi·17 min·William Elton Brown Freeway
Toward I 580 West: Tracy, San Francisco
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580 Bypass
1.1 mi·1 min·William Elton Brown Freeway
12
Merge onto I 580
18 mi·20 min·Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
10 mi·11 min·Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 36Toward Redwood RoadUse the slight right lane.
15
Turn left onto Redwood Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Redwood Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
16
Continue on A Street
0.9 mi·1 min·A Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Turn left onto Mission Boulevard
0.3 mi·44 sec·Mission Boulevard
Use the left lane.
18
Turn slight right onto CA 92
1.7 mi·3 min·Jackson Street
Use the right lane.
19
Take the exit
0.4 mi·27 sec
Exit 26AToward I 880 South: San JoseUse the slight right lane.
20
Merge onto I 880
1.2 mi·1 min·Nimitz Freeway
21
Keep slight right at fork onto I 880
1.5 mi·1 min·Nimitz Freeway
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Exit 24Toward Whipple Road, Dyer StreetUse the slight right lane.
23
Continue on Whipple Road
0.8 mi·1 min·Whipple Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
24
Turn left onto Union City Boulevard
0.7 mi·1 min·Union City Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
25
Turn right onto Cambridge Way
193 ft·8 sec·Cambridge Way
26
Arrive at destination
Cambridge Way
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour 59-minute estimated drive time, leaving Bakersfield in the morning should allow you to reach Union City within daylight hours. The route is mostly highway, so you can plan for a single stop for fuel or a break, perhaps around the halfway mark. With a 265.5-mile distance and 93% highway share, it's a manageable drive for one day. Keep an eye on your fuel as you approach the 192.7-mile mark on the Westside Freeway, as services can become less frequent in certain stretches.
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 132.7 miles from Bakersfield, CA, or about 2h 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 192.7 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 58 miles or 1h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 132.7 miles or 2h 29m 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
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Union City, 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 265.5 miles and 4h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 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 Westside Freeway for about 192.7 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 211.6 and 263.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
211.6 mi into trip|~3h 54m in|I 580 / William Elton Brown Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580 / William Elton Brown Freeway toward I 580 West: Tracy, San Francisco
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 580 West: Tracy, San Francisco
6
246.5 mi into trip|~4h 33m in|I 580 / Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580 / Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
256.8 mi into trip|~4h 44m in
Take the exit toward Redwood Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 36
Toward Redwood Road
7
260.6 mi into trip|~4h 52m in
Take the exit toward I 880 South: San Jose
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 26A
Toward I 880 South: San Jose
8
263.7 mi into trip|~4h 56m in
Take the exit toward Whipple Road, Dyer Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 24
Toward Whipple Road, Dyer Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$55.55 one way
$111.09 round trip
$5.31/gal25.4 MPG avg93 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.52
$57.69
$115.38
premium
$5.67
$59.21
$118.43
diesel
$4.80
$50.13
$100.26
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$56
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$81–$106
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 92.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
79.7
0
$27.88
$12.74
Efficient EV
66.4
0
$23.23
$10.62
EV Truck/SUV
106.2
1
$37.17
$16.99
Gas CO2
93 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Bakersfield, CA
Morning
in Bakersfield on Monday
Local time
6:58 AM
PDT
Current temp
72°F
Mostly Clear
NNW 0 to 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 11:13PM PDT until July 18 at 1:00AM PDT by NWS Las Vegas NV
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 17 at 12:53PM PDT until July 21 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Destination
Union City, CA
Morning
in Union City on Monday
Local time
6:58 AM
PDT
Current temp
56°F
Mostly Cloudy
WNW 3 to 7 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 11:13PM PDT until July 18 at 1:00AM PDT by NWS Las Vegas NV
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 17 at 12:53PM PDT until July 21 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard 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
16 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
4h 59m on the road
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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Established in 1988, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park celebrates America’s maritime heritage on the Pacific Coast. Our 50-acre park has grown around Aquatic Park Cove, a protected area...
21 mi from route
~54 min detour
Free
near mile 256.3
Caution: Temporary Closure Aquatic Park Cove Due to Dock Work
Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Celebrate and honor the contributions and sacrifices of American civilians on the WWII home front. Discover how diverse communities lived, worked, and interacted. Many faces, many stories, many truths...
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
Free
near mile 256.3
On July 17, 1944, a massive explosion jolted the San Francisco East Bay area, shattering windows and lighting up the night sky. At Port Chicago Naval Magazine, 320 men were killed instantly when two s...
25 mi from route
~63 min detour
Free
near mile 256.3
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 predominantly highway driving, with 93% of the 265.5 miles on freeways. You'll encounter a substantial stretch of 192.7 miles on the Westside Freeway, which means extended periods of consistent cruising. The freeway portion will likely feature frequent exits and merges as you navigate through various populated areas. Expect the highway sections to end as you approach Union City, transitioning to more local roads.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 192.7 mi on Westside Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 211.6 miles in near I 580 / William Elton Brown Freeway.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 265.5 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 211.6 miles (I 580 / William Elton Brown Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 246.5 miles (I 580 / Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 256.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
544 ft11 ft
Total Climb
533 ft
Total Descent
926 ft
Highest Point
544 ft
~132.7 mi in
Elevation Range
533 ft
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 Union City, CA, road signs begin pointing toward San Francisco 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."
Union City is a city of 70,000 people (in 2020) in the southern part of the East Bay portion of the San Francisco Bay Area region of California. It is bordered to the north by the city of Hayward and to the south by the city of Fremont. It is part of the Tri-Cities area, which consists of Union City, Fremont, and Newark.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 59m. Total distance: 265.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 192.7 miles on Westside Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 22 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Union City, 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. There are 22 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 211.6 miles (I 580 / William Elton Brown Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 246.5 miles (I 580 / Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 256.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park and Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial (4 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 5.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 10.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Union City, CA, but most travelers stay overnight.
