This straightforward 101.6-mile drive from Burbank to Bakersfield, California, is designed for a single day, taking an estimated 1 hour and 56 minutes. Primarily utilizing the Golden State Freeway and I-5 Truck, this route is almost entirely highway, making it a quick and efficient journey. With a fuel cost estimated at $23, it’s an economical option for connecting two points within the Pacific Coast region. You won't need to break this trip into multiple days; it's a convenient connection for a day trip. The focus is on covering ground efficiently, with minimal detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
50.8 miles from Burbank, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 58m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Golden State Freeway
61.8 mi
1h 9m
I 5 Truck
37.7 mi
43m
California Avenue
1.2 mi
2m
Chester Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
East Olive Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
North First Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
East Orange Grove Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Truxtun Avenue
<0.1 mi
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Golden State Freeway
— 61.8 mi, about 1h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Burbank, CA and Bakersfield, CA.
1
Start on East Olive Avenue
517 ft·13 sec·East Olive Avenue
2
Turn right onto North First Street
408 ft·14 sec·North First Street
Use the right lane.
3
Turn left onto East Orange Grove Avenue
301 ft·6 sec·East Orange Grove Avenue
Use the left lane.
4
Take the ramp
519 ft·10 sec
Toward I 5 North: Golden State Freeway, Bakersfield
5
Merge onto I 5
12 mi·13 min·Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
2.2 mi·2 min·Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
1.5 mi·1 min·I 5 Truck
Exit 161AToward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 TruckUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck
36 mi·41 min·I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
22 mi·25 min·Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99
25 mi·27 min·Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·36 sec
Exit 25Toward California AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn right onto California Avenue
1.2 mi·2 min·California Avenue
13
Turn left onto Chester Avenue
0.3 mi·39 sec·Chester Avenue
14
Turn right onto Truxtun Avenue
19 ft·0 sec·Truxtun Avenue
15
Arrive at destination
Truxtun Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the short 1 hour and 56-minute duration, this route offers plenty of flexibility for your departure time. You'll want to keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 61.8-mile stretch on the Golden State Freeway, as services might be spaced out. Since it's a quick drive and a highway-focused route, plan for one brief stop for stretching or a quick snack rather than a lengthy break. The estimated $23 fuel cost is a good budget point for this 101.6-mile trip.
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 50.8 miles from Burbank, CA, or about 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 61.8 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 22 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 50.8 miles or 58m 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 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bakersfield, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Burbank, CA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Burbank, CA
This is one driving day of about 101.6 miles and 1h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Burbank, 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 61.8 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 0.1 and 99.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|North First Street
Turn right onto North First Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|East Orange Grove Avenue
Turn left onto East Orange Grove Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
12.3 mi into trip|~14m 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.
9
14.6 mi into trip|~17m in|I 5 Truck
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 161A
Toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
7
99.8 mi into trip|~1h 53m in
Take the exit toward California Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 25
Toward California Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.35 one way
$46.70 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg36 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$24.06
$48.13
premium
$6.18
$24.71
$49.42
diesel
$5.61
$22.43
$44.86
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
30.5
0
$10.67
$4.88
Efficient EV
25.4
0
$8.89
$4.06
EV Truck/SUV
40.6
0
$14.22
$6.50
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 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 18, 2026
Origin
Burbank, CA
Morning
in Burbank on Sunday
Local time
7:16 AM
PDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bakersfield, CA
Morning
in Bakersfield on Sunday
Local time
7:16 AM
PDT
Current temp
49°F
Mostly Clear
E 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive 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
25 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
1h 56m 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...
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 84.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience for 98% of this 101.6-mile route, predominantly on the Golden State Freeway and I-5 Truck. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 61.8 miles on the Golden State Freeway, offering a consistent pace for a significant portion of the drive. While the roads are primarily high-speed and direct, the transition between freeways is generally seamless. This drive is about steady progress rather than winding scenic byways.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 61.8 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 5 Truck. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near North First Street.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 101.6 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 0.1 miles (North First Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.2 miles (East Orange Grove Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 12.3 miles (I 5 / Golden State Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The self-declared "Media Capital of the World", Burbank is a small city in the San Fernando Valley of Southern California, in the Los Angeles area. It is the home of the headquarters and primary studios of Warner Bros. and Disney, and of the animation studios of Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon.
Top landmarks
•Walt Disney Studios — film studio in Burbank, California, United States
•Warner Bros. Water Tower — Historic water tower on the Warner Bros. Studios lot in Burbank, California; als...
•Burbank City Hall — City hall in California, United States
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 1h 56m. Total distance: 101.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 61.8 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 Bakersfield, CA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 0.1 miles (North First Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.2 miles (East Orange Grove Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 12.3 miles (I 5 / Golden State Freeway): 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 Bakersfield, CA before heading back.
