Trip from Redding, CA to Bakersfield, CA

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

Drive Time

8h 6m

Distance

437.9 mi

705 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$101

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 24 min

4 AM

7h 59m ★

6 AM

8h 7m

8 AM

8h 23m

10 AM

8h 13m

12 PM

8h 11m

3 PM

8h 13m

5 PM

8h 23m

8 PM

8h 2m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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city in Shasta County, California, United States

Redding, CA

Wikimedia Commons

city and county seat of Kern County, California, United States

Bakersfield, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Spanning 437.9 miles, the drive from Redding to Bakersfield is a substantial journey that typically takes 8 hours and 6 minutes of pure road time. Given the length, you should consider splitting this trip into two days to avoid fatigue, though it is technically possible to complete in one long haul. You will primarily utilize CA 99, the Westside Freeway, and the Golden State Highway to navigate through the heart of California. Expect to budget approximately $101 for fuel, which accounts for a significant portion of your travel expenses. Since both cities are located within the Pacific Coast region, you will remain within the same geographic corridor throughout the transit. This route is designed for efficiency, prioritizing speed and direct connections over leisurely detours.

Trip Pace

Best split across 2 days

Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.

Break Rhythm

2 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

219 miles from Redding, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 2m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
CA 99	150.3 mi	2h 49m
Westside Freeway	127.4 mi	2h 17m
Golden State Highway	58.6 mi	1h 2m
South Sacramento Freeway	56.4 mi	1h 5m
Cascade Wonderland Highway	31.8 mi	34m
Golden State Freeway	5.2 mi	5m
Golden State Avenue	1.9 mi	2m
Capital City Freeway	1.5 mi	1m

Longest stretch: CA 99 — 150.3 mi, about 2h 49m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on CA 44; CA 273; US 99 Hist

448 ft · 22 sec · South Market Street

Turn left onto CA 44; US 99 Hist

1.3 mi · 1 min · Tehama Street

Use the left / straight / right lanes.

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 55 sec

Exit 2A Toward I 5 South: Sacramento Use the slight right lane.

Merge onto I 5

32 mi · 34 min · Cascade Wonderland Highway

Continue on I 5

93 mi · 1 hr 39 min · Westside Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

16 mi · 16 min · Westside Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

19 mi · 21 min · Westside Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 27 sec

Exit 518 Toward US 50: South Lake Tahoe, San Francisco Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 32 sec

Exit 518 Toward US 50 East: Fresno

Keep slight left at fork

0.6 mi · 1 min

Exit 518 Toward US 50 East: Fresno

Merge onto US 50; I 80 Business

1.2 mi · 1 min · Capital City Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 Business

0.3 mi · 18 sec · Capital City Freeway

Toward I 80 Business East, CA 99 South: Reno, Fresno Use the slight right lane.

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 34 sec

Toward CA 99 South: Fresno Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto CA 99

56 mi · 1 hr 5 min · South Sacramento Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99

109 mi · 2 hr 5 min · CA 99

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99

41 mi · 44 min · CA 99

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99

59 mi · 1 hr 2 min · Golden State Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on CA 99

5.2 mi · 5 min · Golden State Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto CA 204; CA 99 BUS

1.9 mi · 2 min · Golden State Avenue

Exit 27 Toward CA 204 South: Golden State Avenue Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

475 ft · 13 sec

Continue on Golden State Road

0.1 mi · 11 sec · Golden State Road

Enter roundabout onto Chester Avenue

193 ft · 3 sec · Chester Avenue

Continue on Chester Avenue

0.9 mi · 1 min · Chester Avenue

Turn left onto Truxtun Avenue

122 ft · 7 sec · Truxtun Avenue

Arrive at destination

Truxtun Avenue

Trip Plan

To manage the 8-hour duration effectively, plan for at least two dedicated stops to stretch your legs and refuel. Since you are looking at a $101 fuel expense, check your tank levels before hitting the longest 150.3-mile stretch on CA 99 to avoid being caught in a remote section. Departing early in the morning is your best strategy to avoid mid-day congestion and ensure you reach your destination before fatigue sets in. If you decide to split the trip into two days, look for lodging options near the halfway mark to balance your driving time evenly. Keep a close eye on your odometer during the long stretches to ensure you remain on schedule with your planned rest intervals.

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.

This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.

Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 219 miles from Redding, CA, or about 4h 2m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 150.3 miles.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 96 miles or 1h 44m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 219 miles or 4h 2m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Overnight split

Day 1 wrap after about 219 miles or 4h 2m

Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 7h 1m

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 Redding, 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.

Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Redding, CA

Aim for roughly 219 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Bakersfield, CA

Aim for roughly 219 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 96 miles from Redding, CA.

This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.

Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on CA 99 for about 150.3 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in and county seat of Stanislaus County, California, United States

Mid-route town

Overnight candidate

Modesto, CA

219 mi into the route

Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start

This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.

Find hotels in Modesto, CA

Popular next leg

Modesto, CA to Bakersfield, CA

202.3 mi · 3h 46m

Overnight Options

Night 1

Modesto, CA

219 mi · about 4.1h in

A practical overnight split lands near Modesto, CA after about 219 miles or 4.1 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Woodland, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 96 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Manteca, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 219 miles from Redding, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before CA 99 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 150.3 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 219 miles or 4.1 hours on the road.

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.

Best meal stop · home stretch

A&W Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Tulare, California

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch · 1h 10m to go 1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour Inexpensiv

Hours: 10 am–9:30 pm

+15596888990

Visit website

A&W Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour Inexpensiv

Tulare, California

Hours: 10 am–9:30 pm

+15596888990

Visit website

Old Sacramento Waterfront

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~11 min detour

Early stretch 4.3 mi from route ~11 min detour

Sacramento, California

Hours: Open 24 hours

+19169705226

Visit website

Butcher & Barrel

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, ~11 min detour

Early stretch 4.6 mi from route ~11 min detour $100 or ab

Sacramento, California

Hours: 11:30 am–9 pm

+19164763408

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

First break 0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

Red Bluff, California

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour

Redding, California

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Tesla Destination Charger

3.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~4 min detour

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour

Redding, California

Hours: Closed

+15302413454

Visit website

Enterprise Park

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~10 min detour

3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour

Redding, California

Hours: 6 am–7 pm

+15302254095

Visit website

Sacramento History Museum

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~10 min detour

Early stretch 4.1 mi from route ~10 min detour

Sacramento, California

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+19168087059

Visit website

Crocker Art Museum

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~12 min detour

Early stretch 4.6 mi from route ~12 min detour Moderately

Sacramento, California

Hours: 10 am–9 pm

+19168087000

Visit website

Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~12 min detour

Early stretch 4.7 mi from route ~12 min detour

Sacramento, California

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+19164443071

Visit website

California State Capitol Museum

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~12 min detour

Early stretch 4.9 mi from route ~12 min detour

Sacramento, California

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+19163240333

Visit website

California Museum

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, ~12 min detour

Early stretch 5 mi from route ~12 min detour

Sacramento, California

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+19166537524

Visit website

Scavenger Hunt Walking Tours - Old Sacramento

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~11 min detour

Early stretch 4.3 mi from route ~11 min detour

Sacramento, California

Hours: 8 am–8 pm

+19165872923

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 18

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 434.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | CA 44; US 99 Hist / Tehama Street

Turn left onto CA 44; US 99 Hist / Tehama Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / straight / right lanes.

1.4 mi into trip | ~2m in

Take the exit toward I 5 South: Sacramento

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 2A Toward I 5 South: Sacramento

161.1 mi into trip | ~2h 55m in

Take the exit toward US 50: South Lake Tahoe, San Francisco

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 518 Toward US 50: South Lake Tahoe, San Francisco

163.7 mi into trip | ~2h 58m in | I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway toward I 80 Business East, CA 99 South: Reno, Fresno

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 80 Business East, CA 99 South: Reno, F...

434.8 mi into trip | ~8h 2m in | CA 204; CA 99 BUS / Golden State Avenue

Keep slight right at fork onto CA 204; CA 99 BUS / Golden State Avenue toward CA 204 South: Golden State Avenue

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 27 Toward CA 204 South: Golden State Avenue

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$100.65 one way

$201.30 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 153 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$6.02	$103.72	$207.43
premium	$6.18	$106.49	$212.98
diesel	$5.61	$96.68	$193.37

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$101

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$231–$341

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 153.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $46 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	131.4	1	$45.98	$21.02
Efficient EV	109.5	1	$38.32	$17.52
EV Truck/SUV	175.2	2	$61.31	$28.03

Gas CO2

153 kg

EV CO2

51 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.

Forecast as of Apr 21, 2026

Origin

Redding, CA

Late night in Redding on Tuesday

Local time

3:48 AM

PDT

Current temp

71°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Bakersfield, CA

Late night in Bakersfield on Tuesday

Local time

3:48 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.

For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.

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

4 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

8h 6m on the road

This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

This trip is a highway-focused drive, with 78% of your journey spent on high-speed thoroughfares. You will face a significant, long-haul stretch of 150.3 miles on CA 99, which requires steady focus and endurance behind the wheel. The road maintains a consistent pace, functioning primarily as a utilitarian artery through the state rather than a winding scenic byway. As you progress, the transition between the Westside Freeway and the Golden State Highway keeps the experience feeling like a professional transit rather than a relaxed cruise. Expect a straightforward, predictable road surface that favors drivers looking to cover ground quickly.

78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 150.3 mi on CA 99.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on CA 99 and Westside Freeway. 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 CA 44; US 99 Hist / Tehama Street.

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 18 significant decision points across 437.9 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 0.1 miles (CA 44; US 99 Hist / Tehama Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 161.1 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.

Between Redding, CA and Bakersfield, CA, road signs point toward San Francisco and Fresno.

San Francisco

161.1 mi in | ~2h 55m

Fresno

163.7 mi in | ~2h 58m | via I 80 Business

About the Cities

Starting in Redding, CA

Full guide →

Founded 1887

The City of Redding, in Shasta County, California, and its surrounding area has numerous outdoor and indoor activities, including two lakes and two active volcanos within close driving distance. The area offers many parks, hiking trails, and adequate shopping. Redding is a medium-sized city, and the second largest north of Sacramento after Chico. It is also the county seat and lies along the Sacramento River, an important waterway that provides 35 percent of the state's water. It is the last major city between the start of the Cascade mountain range slightly north and the Oregon border.

Top landmarks

• Cascade Theatre — theater located in Redding, California

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).

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 150.3 miles on CA 99. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 219 miles on day one.

Yes — we found about 42 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 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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 42 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Not recommended in a single day. At 8.1 hours each way, a round trip means 16.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Bakersfield, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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