Origin
Inglewood, CA
Morning in Inglewood on Tuesday
Local time
9:55 AM
PDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Inglewood, CA to Bakersfield, CA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 12m
Distance
115.2 mi
185 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 3m
★
6 AM
2h 13m
8 AM
2h 31m
10 AM
2h 19m
12 PM
2h 17m
3 PM
2h 20m
5 PM
2h 30m
8 PM
2h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Inglewood, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Bakersfield, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Inglewood, CA to Bakersfield, CA is 115.2 miles and takes about 2h 12m via Golden State Freeway and I 5 Truck, with a fuel budget near $26 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily stays within the Pacific Coast region, transitioning from the urban sprawl near Los Angeles to the agricultural heartland of the Central Valley. Expect a straightforward freeway cruise for most of the trip, making it an easy and efficient way to get from the coast inland. It's a practical option for anyone needing to cover ground quickly between these two Southern California cities.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
57.6 miles from Inglewood, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 6m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Golden State Freeway | 47.5 mi | 52m |
| I 5 Truck | 39.3 mi | 45m |
| San Diego Freeway | 25.3 mi | 29m |
| California Avenue | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| East Manchester Boulevard | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Chester Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Truxtun Avenue | <0.1 mi | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Golden State Freeway
— 47.5 mi, about 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Inglewood, CA and Bakersfield, CA.
1
Start on East Manchester Boulevard
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
East Manchester Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
28 sec
Toward I 405 North: San Diego Freeway North
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Merge onto I 405
25 mi
·
29 min
·
San Diego Freeway
Use the straight lane.
4
Merge onto I 5 Truck
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 5 Truck
Exit 161A
Toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck
36 mi
·
41 min
·
I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
22 mi
·
25 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99
25 mi
·
27 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 25
Toward California Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Turn right onto California Avenue
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
California Avenue
11
Turn left onto Chester Avenue
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
Chester Avenue
12
Turn right onto Truxtun Avenue
19 ft
·
0 sec
·
Truxtun Avenue
13
Arrive at destination
Truxtun Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 115.2-mile trip, leaving Inglewood in the morning before peak traffic is advisable to maximize your time on the road. Since the drive is under 3 hours and has a fuel cost around $26, you likely won't need many stops, but planning one midway can help break up the 47.5-mile longest stretch on the Golden State Freeway. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you get closer to Bakersfield, as services can sometimes be spaced out on I-5. This short drive offers flexibility, allowing you to depart and arrive at your convenience.
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 57.6 miles from Inglewood, CA, or about 1h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 47.5 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 25 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 57.6 miles or 1h 6m 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 48m
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 Inglewood, 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 Inglewood, CA
This is one driving day of about 115.2 miles and 2h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Inglewood, 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 47.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
58 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 25 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 57.6 miles from Inglewood, 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 125 decision points cluster between mile 0.9 and 113.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.9 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the ramp toward I 405 North: San Diego Freeway North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 405 North: San Diego Freeway North
9
28.2 mi into trip
|
~33m 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
6
29.7 mi into trip
|
~34m in
|
I 5 Truck
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
65.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m 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.
7
113.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 9m 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
$26.48 one way
$52.96 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
40 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $27.29 | $54.57 |
| premium | $6.18 | $28.02 | $56.03 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $25.43 | $50.87 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 34.6 | 0 | $12.10 | $5.53 |
| Efficient EV | 28.8 | 0 | $10.08 | $4.61 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 46.1 | 0 | $16.13 | $7.37 |
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (68% 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.
Destination
Bakersfield, CA
Morning in Bakersfield on Tuesday
Local time
9:55 AM
PDT
Current temp
75°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
8 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
2h 12m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is overwhelmingly on the freeway, with a 97% highway share. You'll spend most of your time on the Golden State Freeway, including a significant stretch of 47.5 miles without exiting. The transition to surface roads will be minimal, so anticipate consistent cruising speeds for the duration. Given the high percentage of highway driving, be prepared for typical freeway conditions like merging traffic and multiple lanes.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 47.5 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 0.9 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
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 115.2 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 0.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 28.2 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29.7 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Inglewood, CA
Full guide →Founded 1888
Inglewood is a city in Los Angeles County in Southern California. Sandwiched between South Los Angeles and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), it is a somewhat impoverished area. Though there isn't much for a tourist to see other than sporting events, there are some excellent eats here and a number of chain motels taking advantage of the city's proximity to LAX. Inglewood is the location of the SoFi Stadium (football, World Cup, Olympics), Intuit Dome (basketball, Olympics) and Kia Forum (concerts).
Top landmarks
- • Kia Forum — multi-purpose indoor arena in Inglewood, California, United States
Arriving 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 2h 12m. Total distance: 115.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 12m 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 47.5 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.
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 0.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 28.2 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29.7 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Bakersfield, 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
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Bakersfield, CA
More trips to Bakersfield, CA
Explore more options from Inglewood, CA or browse trips ending in Bakersfield, CA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CA road trips.