Origin
Pomona, CA
Morning in Pomona on Tuesday
Local time
6:42 AM
PDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Pomona, 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 42m
Distance
138.6 mi
223 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$32
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 32m
★
6 AM
2h 42m
8 AM
3h 4m
10 AM
2h 50m
12 PM
2h 48m
3 PM
2h 51m
5 PM
3h 3m
8 PM
2h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Pomona, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Bakersfield, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Pomona to Bakersfield is 138.6 miles and takes about 2h 42m via Golden State Freeway, Foothill Freeway, and I-5 Truck, with a fuel budget near $32 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within California, moving from the Pacific Coast region to another area within the same region. Expect a mostly highway experience, making it a straightforward trip for those looking to get from point A to point B efficiently. It's a short enough drive that you can easily complete it in one day, offering flexibility in your departure time.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
69.3 miles from Pomona, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 22m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Golden State Freeway | 47.5 mi | 52m |
| Foothill Freeway | 43.9 mi | 50m |
| I 5 Truck | 37.1 mi | 42m |
| CA 57 | 3.4 mi | 3m |
| West Mission Boulevard | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| California Avenue | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Chino Valley Freeway | 1 mi | 1m |
| Chester Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Golden State Freeway
— 47.5 mi, about 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pomona, CA and Bakersfield, CA.
1
Start on South Main Street
90 ft
·
8 sec
·
South Main Street
2
Turn right onto West Mission Boulevard
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
West Mission Boulevard
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward CA 71 North
Use the right lane.
4
Merge onto CA 71
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Chino Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward CA 57 North
6
Continue on CA 57
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
CA 57
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
1.1 mi
·
2 min
Exit 25C
Toward I 210 West: Pasadena
8
Merge onto I 210
18 mi
·
21 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 210
26 mi
·
29 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Exit 26A
Toward I 210 West: Sacramento
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
Use the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto I 5 Truck
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
I 5 Truck
Exit 161A
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck
36 mi
·
41 min
·
I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
22 mi
·
25 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99
25 mi
·
27 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 25
Toward California Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Turn right onto California Avenue
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
California Avenue
17
Turn left onto Chester Avenue
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
Chester Avenue
18
Turn right onto Truxtun Avenue
19 ft
·
0 sec
·
Truxtun Avenue
19
Arrive at destination
Truxtun Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 42m drive time, leaving Pomona in the morning or early afternoon is ideal to avoid the worst of LA traffic. You likely won't need more than one planned stop, but keep an eye on your fuel gauge as the longest stretch without an exit is 47.5 miles. With a fuel cost estimated at $32, it's a budget-friendly trip. Because this is a short, single-day drive, you have the luxury of a flexible schedule, allowing for spontaneous breaks if needed.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 69.3 miles from Pomona, CA, or about 1h 22m 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 30 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 69.3 miles or 1h 22m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 13m
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 Pomona, 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 Pomona, CA
This is one driving day of about 138.6 miles and 2h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Pomona, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
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
69 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 30 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 69.3 miles from Pomona, 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 165 decision points cluster between mile 1.6 and 136.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.6 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp toward CA 71 North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward CA 71 North
6
7 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 210 West: Pasadena
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 25C
Toward I 210 West: Pasadena
8
26.4 mi into trip
|
~33m in
|
I 210 / Foothill Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 210 / Foothill Freeway toward I 210 West: Sacramento
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 26A
Toward I 210 West: Sacramento
6
52 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
7
136.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 38m 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
$31.86 one way
$63.71 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
49 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $32.83 | $65.65 |
| premium | $6.18 | $33.71 | $67.41 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $30.60 | $61.20 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 41.6 | 0 | $14.55 | $6.65 |
| Efficient EV | 34.7 | 0 | $12.13 | $5.54 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 55.4 | 0 | $19.40 | $8.87 |
Gas CO2
48 kg
EV CO2
16 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.
Destination
Bakersfield, CA
Morning in Bakersfield on Tuesday
Local time
6:42 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
23 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 42m 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 route is 96% highway, so you'll spend most of your time on freeways. The longest continuous stretch on a single highway is 47.5 miles on the Golden State Freeway. You'll experience urban merging as you depart the Los Angeles area and transition onto the freeway system. The drive remains predominantly highway until you are very close to Bakersfield.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 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?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Golden State Freeway and Foothill Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.6 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
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 16 significant decision points across 138.6 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 1.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 26.4 miles (I 210 / Foothill Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Pomona, CA
Full guide →Founded 1888
Pomona is in the San Gabriel Valley, near Los Angeles, California. Named after the Roman goddess of fruit, in the 1920s it was indeed known as "the Queen of the Citrus Belt." However, its origins preceded that epoch as an allotment given to two ranchers, Ricardo Véjar and Ygnacio Palomares, in the 1830s, when the territory was still part of Mexico. After the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo and becoming part of the USA, it eventually became absorbed into the megalopolis of southern California, with perhaps its main standout nowadays being the site of the LA County Fair, or the location of Cal Polytechnic U.
Top landmarks
- • Pomona Fox Theater — movie theater in Pomona, Los Angeles County, California
- • Ygnacio Palomares Adobe — historic house in California, United States
- • Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum — automotive museum in 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 42m. Total distance: 138.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). 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. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 26.4 miles (I 210 / Foothill Freeway): 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.
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