Bakersfield, CA to Westwood, CA is 108.7 miles and takes about 2h 7m via Golden State Freeway, with a fuel budget near $25 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, highway-focused drive that keeps you within California's Pacific Coast region for the entire journey. Expect the majority of your travel to be on major freeways, making it a quick and efficient trip for a single day. You'll spend most of your time on the Golden State Freeway, so plan for typical freeway conditions. This route is ideal when you need to get from point A to point B without many detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
54.3 miles from Bakersfield, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 2m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Golden State Freeway
87 mi
1h 38m
I 405 Truck
17.7 mi
20m
California Avenue
1.5 mi
2m
Santa Monica Boulevard
1.2 mi
2m
L Street
0.3 mi
<1m
I 5 Truck
0.3 mi
<1m
Westholme Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
Truxtun Avenue
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Golden State Freeway
— 87 mi, about 1h 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bakersfield, CA and Westwood, 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
4.1 mi·4 min·Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
0.3 mi·17 sec·I 5 Truck
Exit 158Toward I 405 SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405 Truck
18 mi·20 min·I 405 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Exit 55AToward CA 2: Santa Monica BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn left onto CA 2; US 66 Hist
1.2 mi·2 min·Santa Monica Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
12
Turn left onto Westholme Avenue
0.2 mi·45 sec·Westholme Avenue
Use the left lane.
13
Turn right onto Kinnard Avenue
165 ft·7 sec·Kinnard Avenue
14
Arrive at destination
Kinnard Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of 2 hours and 7 minutes, this is a comfortable same-day trip. You can easily depart anytime and arrive with plenty of daylight to spare. With a fuel cost estimated at $25, it's an economical option. Since there are no recommended stops and the drive is under 110 miles, you have the flexibility to leave when convenient. The longest stretch on the Golden State Freeway is 87 miles, so plan your last fuel stop before beginning that segment if you're concerned about tank levels, though most vehicles can comfortably cover that distance on a full tank.
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 54.3 miles from Bakersfield, CA, or about 1h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 87 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 24 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 54.3 miles or 1h 2m 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 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Westwood, 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 108.7 miles and 2h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 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 Freeway for about 87 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 26.8 and 107.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
26.8 mi into trip|~31m in|CA 99 / Golden State Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99 / Golden State Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
85 mi into trip|~1h 37m in|I 5 / Golden State Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 / Golden State Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
89.1 mi into trip|~1h 42m in|I 5 Truck
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck toward I 405 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 158
Toward I 405 South
6
89.4 mi into trip|~1h 42m in|I 405 Truck
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405 Truck
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
107.1 mi into trip|~2h 3m in
Take the exit toward CA 2: Santa Monica Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 55A
Toward CA 2: Santa Monica Boulevard
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.98 one way
$49.97 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg38 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$25.75
$51.49
premium
$6.18
$26.43
$52.87
diesel
$5.61
$24.00
$48.00
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 38 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
32.6
0
$11.41
$5.22
Efficient EV
27.2
0
$9.51
$4.35
EV Truck/SUV
43.5
0
$15.22
$6.96
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 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 16, 2026
Origin
Bakersfield, CA
Morning
in Bakersfield on Tuesday
Local time
6:45 AM
PDT
Current temp
74°F
Mostly Sunny
NW 0 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Westwood, CA
Morning
in Westwood on Tuesday
Local time
6:45 AM
PDT
Current temp
68°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
2h 7m 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...
17 mi from route
~42 min detour
Free
near mile 101.2
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 18.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is overwhelmingly a highway-focused drive, with 97% of the route utilizing major freeways. You'll experience a long, uninterrupted stretch of 87 miles on the Golden State Freeway, which means consistent speeds and minimal traffic interruptions for the bulk of your journey. While the primary roads include California Avenue and I-405 Truck, the dominant experience is the freeway. The character of the drive is largely consistent, emphasizing forward momentum rather than varied scenery or winding roads. Be prepared for a steady, high-speed transit.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 87 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 I 405 Truck. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 26.8 miles in near CA 99 / Golden State Freeway.
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 12 significant decision points across 108.7 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 26.8 miles (CA 99 / Golden State Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 85 miles (I 5 / Golden State Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 89.1 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 7m. Total distance: 108.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 7m 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 87 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 Westwood, 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 26.8 miles (CA 99 / Golden State Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 85 miles (I 5 / Golden State Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 89.1 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Westwood, CA before heading back.
