Dos Amigos Vista Point
0.1 mi from route
Trip from Bakersfield, CA to Willits, CA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 11, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
7h 52m
Distance
410.8 mi
661 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$94
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
7h 43m
★
6 AM
7h 52m
8 AM
8h 10m
10 AM
7h 59m
12 PM
7h 57m
3 PM
8h 0m
5 PM
8h 10m
8 PM
7h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bakersfield, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Willits, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Bakersfield to Willits is 410.8 miles and takes about 7h 52m via Truxtun Avenue, CA 58, and Westside Parkway, with a fuel budget near $91 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within California, beginning in the Pacific Coast region and ending in the same area. With a profile that's mostly surface roads, expect a less highway-intensive experience. This route is best suited for a single day of driving if you're comfortable with a longer stretch behind the wheel, offering a direct path north.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
205.4 miles from Bakersfield, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 47m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Westside Freeway | 192.7 mi | 3h 26m |
| Redwood Highway | 56.9 mi | 1h 9m |
| Saint Helena Highway | 51.2 mi | 59m |
| Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway | 19.6 mi | 22m |
| William Elton Brown Freeway | 17 mi | 18m |
| Donald D Doyle Highway | 15.2 mi | 17m |
| Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway | 12.9 mi | 14m |
| Stockdale Highway | 8.9 mi | 12m |
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
~1,635 veh/hr typical · worst 2,375
Quietest
2 AM
~316 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 89 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 Willits, 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
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
Exit 44B
Toward I 680 South, I 680 North: San Jose, Sacramento, Concord, Walnut Creek
Use the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
Toward I 680 North: Walnut Creek, Concord, Sacramento
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Merge onto I 680
15 mi
·
17 min
·
Donald D Doyle Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on I 680
5.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Toward I 680, CA 24
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 680
6.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Toward I 680 North: Martinez, Sacramento
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto I 680
243 ft
·
3 sec
·
Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
20
Keep slight right at fork onto I 680
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Use the slight right lane.
21
Keep slight left at fork onto I 780
6.7 mi
·
7 min
·
I 780
Toward I 780: Benicia
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 1B
Toward I 80 East: Sacramento
Use the slight right lane.
23
Keep slight left at fork
448 ft
·
11 sec
Toward I 80 East: Sacramento
Use the slight left lane.
24
Merge onto I 80
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Exit 33
Toward CA 37: Napa, Novato, Auto Mall, Columbus Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward CA 37: Napa
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Continue on CA 37
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
CA 37
Toward CA 37
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Exit 19
Toward CA 29: Napa, Sonoma Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Turn right onto CA 29
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Sonoma Boulevard
Use the right lane.
30
Continue on CA 29
4.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Broadway Street
Use the straight lane.
31
Continue on CA 29
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Napa–Vallejo Highway
Use the left lane.
32
Continue on CA 12; CA 29
22 mi
·
25 min
·
Saint Helena Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
33
Continue on CA 29; CA 128
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
34
Continue on CA 29; CA 128
6.8 mi
·
7 min
·
Saint Helena Highway
35
Continue on CA 128
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Foothill Boulevard
36
Continue on CA 128
16 mi
·
18 min
·
Saint Helena Highway
37
Continue on CA 128
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
Saint Helena Highway
38
At end of road, turn right onto CA 128
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Geyserville Avenue
39
Turn left onto CA 128
359 ft
·
6 sec
·
Canyon Road
40
Take the exit onto CA 128
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
CA 128
41
Merge onto US 101; CA 128
55 mi
·
1 hr 7 min
·
Redwood Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
42
Take the exit onto CA 20
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
CA 20
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
43
Turn left onto CA 20
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Redwood Highway
44
Continue on CA 20
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
South Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
45
Turn left onto West Valley Street
430 ft
·
21 sec
·
West Valley Street
46
At end of road, turn right onto Coast Street
165 ft
·
12 sec
·
Coast Street
47
Turn left onto Pine Street
148 ft
·
6 sec
·
Pine Street
48
Arrive at destination
Pine Street
Trip Plan
Given the 7 hour 52 minute estimated drive time, leaving Bakersfield in the early morning is advisable to maximize daylight. You'll have two designated stops along the way, so plan to take breaks roughly every 2.5 to 3 hours to stay refreshed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $91 for the 410.8-mile trip, and gas availability might be less frequent on some stretches of surface roads compared to major highways. Ensure your vehicle is in good condition before you depart.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 205.4 miles from Bakersfield, CA, or about 3h 47m 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 90 miles or 1h 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 205.4 miles or 3h 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Willits, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Bakersfield, CA
This is one driving day of about 410.8 miles and 7h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 90 miles from Bakersfield, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks 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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
205 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 90 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 205.4 miles from Bakersfield, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Westside Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 192.7 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
EZ Trip Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
EZ Trip Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Coalinga Avenal Safety Roadside Rest Area - Northbound
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Coalinga - Avenal Rest Area - Southbound
0.2 mi from route
Coalinga - Avenal Rest Area - Northbound
0.2 mi from route
John "Chuck" Erreca Southbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Buttonwillow Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Buttonwillow Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Westley Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Lost Hills Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
John "Chuck" Erreca Northbound Rest Area
0.3 mi from route
Westley Rest Area
0.3 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
Hunter Hill Rest Area
0.8 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.8 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
2 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 335 decision points cluster between mile 248.1 and 286.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
248.1 mi into trip
|
~4h 34m in
Take the exit toward I 680 South, I 680 North: San Jose, Sacramento, Concord, Walnut Creek
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 44B
Toward I 680 South, I 680 North: San Jose, Sacr...
9
248.2 mi into trip
|
~4h 35m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 680 North: Walnut Creek, Concord, Sacramento
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 680 North: Walnut Creek, Concord, Sacr...
8
268.8 mi into trip
|
~4h 58m in
|
I 680 / Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 680 / Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway toward I 680 North: Martinez, Sacramento
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 680 North: Martinez, Sacramento
8
283.6 mi into trip
|
~5h 16m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 80 East: Sacramento
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 80 East: Sacramento
8
286.4 mi into trip
|
~5h 19m in
Take the exit toward CA 37: Napa, Novato, Auto Mall, Columbus Parkway
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 33
Toward CA 37: Napa, Novato, Auto Mall, Columbus...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$93.59 one way
$187.19 round trip
$5.79/gal
25.4 MPG avg
144 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.96 | $96.38 | $192.75 |
| premium | $6.14 | $99.30 | $198.61 |
| diesel | $5.97 | $96.51 | $193.01 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$94
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$119–$144
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 143.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-09-07.
Driving Electric?
About $43 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 123.2 | 1 | $43.13 | $19.72 |
| Efficient EV | 102.7 | 1 | $35.95 | $16.43 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 164.3 | 2 | $57.51 | $26.29 |
Gas CO2
144 kg
EV CO2
48 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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.
Origin
Bakersfield, CA
Afternoon in Bakersfield on Friday
Local time
2:32 PM
PDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Willits, CA
Afternoon in Willits on Friday
Local time
2:32 PM
PDT
Current temp
51°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
15 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
7h 52m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is entirely on surface roads, with 0% highway driving. You'll begin on Truxtun Avenue and Westside Parkway before transitioning to CA 58. The drive is characterized by a continuous connection to local environments, with frequent changes in speed limits and traffic patterns typical of surface street navigation. Be prepared for urban and suburban merging as you navigate through populated areas.
60% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
48 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?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 248.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
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 33 significant decision points across 410.8 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 248.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 248.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 268.8 miles (I 680 / Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,389 ft
73 ft
Total Climb
2,403 ft
Total Descent
1,417 ft
Highest Point
1,389 ft
~410.8 mi in
Elevation Range
1,317 ft
Notable High Points
868 ft at ~234.8 miles
+587 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Willits, CA, road signs point toward San Francisco, Sacramento, Concord, Walnut Creek, Novato and Auto Mall.
San Francisco
211.6 mi in
|
~3h 54m
|
via I 580
Sacramento
248.1 mi in
|
~4h 34m
Concord
248.1 mi in
|
~4h 34m
Walnut Creek
248.1 mi in
|
~4h 34m
Novato
286.4 mi in
|
~5h 19m
Auto Mall
286.4 mi in
|
~5h 19m
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 Willits, CA
Full guide →Founded 1888
Willits is a city in Mendocino County on the North Coast of California. It is best known as the Heart of Mendocino County. It offers an amazing array of shopping and amusements for a city with a population of 5,000 in 2020.
Top landmarks
- • Willits station — railway station in Willits, California
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 7h 52m. Total distance: 410.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 52m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
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 24 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 Willits, 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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 24 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 248.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 248.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 268.8 miles (I 680 / Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.9 hours each way, a round trip means 15.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Willits, CA before the return drive.
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 FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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