Skip to main content
US Trip Planner Logo
US Trip Planner

Trip from Bakersfield, CA to Woodlake, CA

Pin this trip

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 33m

Distance

76.4 mi

123 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$18

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 21 min
4 AM
1h 27m ★
6 AM
1h 34m
8 AM
1h 48m
10 AM
1h 39m
12 PM
1h 38m
3 PM
1h 40m
5 PM
1h 48m
8 PM
1h 30m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
city and county seat of Kern County, California, United States

Bakersfield, CA

Wikimedia Commons

city in Tulare County, California, United States

Woodlake, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 76.4-mile drive from Bakersfield, CA to Woodlake, CA is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 33 minutes. Designed as a single-day excursion, you'll navigate primarily via Porterville Highway, North Spruce Avenue, and South Spruce Road. With an estimated fuel cost of $18, this route offers a budget-friendly option for your travels within the Pacific Coast region. Its turn-heavy local drive profile means you'll be actively engaged behind the wheel, making it a dynamic, albeit short, journey.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

38.2 miles from Bakersfield, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 45m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Porterville Highway 55.1 mi 1h 3m
North Spruce Avenue 4.4 mi 6m
South Spruce Road 3.5 mi 4m
Road 212 2.7 mi 3m
Golden State Freeway 2.4 mi 2m
Road 204 2.3 mi 3m
Golden State Avenue 1.9 mi 2m
South Valencia Boulevard 1.1 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Porterville Highway — 55.1 mi, about 1h 3m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bakersfield, CA and Woodlake, CA.

1

Start on Truxtun Avenue

0.1 mi · 23 sec · Truxtun Avenue
2

Continue on Truxtun Avenue

0.1 mi · 26 sec · Truxtun Avenue
3

Turn right onto Chester Avenue

0.9 mi · 1 min · Chester Avenue
4

Enter roundabout onto Golden State Road

0.1 mi · 11 sec · Golden State Road
5

Continue on Golden State Road

427 ft · 8 sec · Golden State Road
6

Take the ramp

395 ft · 10 sec
7

Merge onto CA 204; CA 99 BUS

1.9 mi · 2 min · Golden State Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Merge onto CA 99

2.4 mi · 2 min · Golden State Freeway
9

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Exit 30 Toward CA 65: Porterville, Sequoia National Park Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Continue on CA 65

55 mi · 1 hr 3 min · Porterville Highway
Use the left lane.
11

Turn right onto North Spruce Avenue

4.4 mi · 6 min · North Spruce Avenue
Use the right lane.
12

Continue on South Spruce Road

3.5 mi · 4 min · South Spruce Road
13

Continue on CA 245

2.3 mi · 3 min · Road 204
14

Turn right onto CA 245

1.0 mi · 1 min · Avenue 314
15

Continue on CA 245

2.7 mi · 3 min · Road 212
16

Continue on CA 245

1.1 mi · 1 min · South Valencia Boulevard
17

Enter roundabout onto CA 216

16 ft · 0 sec · East Naranjo Boulevard
18

Continue on CA 216

16 ft · 0 sec · East Naranjo Boulevard
19

Arrive at destination

CA 216

Trip Plan

Given its manageable duration of just over 1.5 hours, this 76.4-mile trip is perfect for a spontaneous day trip, offering flexibility in your departure time. You won't need to worry about splitting the drive, but be mindful of the fuel cost, estimated at $18. The turn-heavy nature of the route means you'll want to stay alert, especially as you navigate Porterville Highway, North Spruce Avenue, and South Spruce Road. Keep an eye out for local traffic patterns, as this drive is less about long, open stretches and more about navigating community roads.

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 38.2 miles from Bakersfield, CA, or about 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.1 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 17 miles or 21m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 38.2 miles or 45m 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 17m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Woodlake, 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.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Bakersfield, CA

This is one driving day of about 76.4 miles and 1h 33m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Bakersfield, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Porterville Highway for about 55.1 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Richgrove, CA, CA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Richgrove, CA

38 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

McFarland, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Richgrove, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 38.2 miles from Bakersfield, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 11

5 decision points cluster between mile 1.2 and 76.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
1.2 mi into trip | ~2m in | Golden State Road

Enter roundabout onto Golden State Road

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

5
1.4 mi into trip | ~3m in | CA 204; CA 99 BUS / Golden State Avenue

Merge onto CA 204; CA 99 BUS / Golden State Avenue

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
5.7 mi into trip | ~7m in

Take the exit toward CA 65: Porterville, Sequoia National Park

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 30 Toward CA 65: Porterville, Sequoia National Par...
5
61.4 mi into trip | ~1h 12m in | North Spruce Avenue

Turn right onto North Spruce Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
5
76.4 mi into trip | ~1h 33m in | CA 216 / East Naranjo Boulevard

Enter roundabout onto CA 216 / East Naranjo Boulevard

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$17.56 one way

$35.12 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 27 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $18.10 $36.19
premium $6.18 $18.58 $37.16
diesel $5.61 $16.87 $33.74

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$18

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$43–$68

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 26.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 22.9 0 $8.02 $3.67
Efficient EV 19.1 0 $6.69 $3.06
EV Truck/SUV 30.6 0 $10.70 $4.89

Gas CO2

27 kg

EV CO2

9 kg (67% 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 17, 2026

Origin

Bakersfield, CA

Late night in Bakersfield on Tuesday

Local time

3:36 AM

PDT

Current temp

46°F

Mostly Clear

WNW 5 to 10 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Wind Advisory

Wind Advisory issued April 16 at 9:49PM PDT until April 17 at 2:00AM PDT by NWS San Diego CA

Wind Advisory

Wind Advisory issued April 16 at 9:49PM PDT until April 17 at 5:00PM PDT by NWS San Diego CA

Destination

Woodlake, CA

Late night in Woodlake on Tuesday

Local time

3:36 AM

PDT

Current temp

72°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

26 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 33m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a turn-heavy local drive for this 76.4-mile journey, with only about 33% of the route utilizing major highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 55.1 miles along Porterville Highway, offering a period of more consistent travel before transitioning to local roads. This route is characterized by frequent turns and changes in road type, keeping you engaged as you make your way from Bakersfield to Woodlake. The driving experience is more about navigating local thoroughfares than cruising on a high-speed interstate.

Only 3% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 55.1 mi on Porterville 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 1.2 miles in near Golden State Road.

Driving Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 1h 33m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles (Golden State Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 1.4 miles (CA 204; CA 99 BUS / Golden State Avenue): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

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 Woodlake, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Sequoia National Park along the way.

Sequoia National Park

5.7 mi in | ~7m

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."

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 1h 33m. Total distance: 76.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (3%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 55.1 miles on Porterville Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles (Golden State Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 1.4 miles (CA 204; CA 99 BUS / Golden State Avenue): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Woodlake, CA before heading back.

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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Continue From Woodlake, CA

Riverside, CA 406.2 mi · 7h 43m Anaheim, CA 381 mi · 7h 9m Long Beach, CA 379 mi · 7h 6m

More from Bakersfield, CA

Willow Creek, CA 537.4 mi · 10h 7m Rio Dell, CA 519.2 mi · 10h 4m Susanville, CA 464.9 mi · 9h 13m Forest Ranch, CA 379.4 mi · 7h 16m Windsor, CA 338.9 mi · 6h 23m Big River, CA 336.5 mi · 6h 24m

More trips to Woodlake, CA

Los Angeles, CA 355.2 mi San Diego, CA 305.9 mi San Francisco, CA 236.4 mi Oakland, CA 80.5 mi
Escape planner: Bakersfield, CA Scenic drives in CA

Explore more options from Bakersfield, CA or browse trips ending in Woodlake, CA.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CA road trips.