This 125.3-mile drive from Ridgecrest, CA to Hights Corner, CA will take approximately 2 hours and 34 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. You'll primarily navigate along the Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway and Aerospace Highway, with a smaller portion on Redrock Randsburg Road. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $29. This route offers a turn-heavy local drive experience, so be prepared for frequent changes in direction. Given its manageable length, you can easily complete this trip within a single day.
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
62.7 miles from Ridgecrest, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 20m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway
52.4 mi
1h
Aerospace Highway
16.9 mi
19m
Redrock Randsburg Road
12.1 mi
16m
Blue Star Memorial Highway
9.9 mi
11m
Garlock Road
8.4 mi
12m
7th Standard Road
7 mi
8m
South China Lake Boulevard
6 mi
9m
Golden State Avenue
3.4 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway
— 52.4 mi, about 1h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ridgecrest, CA and Hights Corner, CA.
1
Start on West Ridgecrest Boulevard
268 ft·13 sec·West Ridgecrest Boulevard
2
Turn right onto US 395 BUS
6.0 mi·9 min·South China Lake Boulevard
3
Turn left onto US 395
9.9 mi·11 min·Blue Star Memorial Highway
4
Turn right onto Garlock Road
8.4 mi·12 min·Garlock Road
Use the right lane.
5
Continue on 797
12 mi·16 min·Redrock Randsburg Road
6
Continue on CA 14; US 6 Hist
0.3 mi·23 sec·Midland Trail
7
Continue on CA 14; US 6 Hist
17 mi·19 min·Aerospace Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi·59 sec
Toward CA-58 West: Bakersfield
9
Merge onto CA 58
2.3 mi·2 min·Barstow–Bakersfield Highway
10
Continue on CA 58
0.7 mi·50 sec·Bakersfield–Tehachapi Highway
11
Continue on CA 58
52 mi·1 hr·Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Exit 112Toward CA 204: Union AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn left onto East Brundage Lane
445 ft·21 sec·East Brundage Lane
Use the left lane.
14
Turn right onto CA 204; CA 99 BUS
1.5 mi·1 min·Union Avenue
15
Continue on CA 204; CA 99 BUS
3.4 mi·3 min·Golden State Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Merge onto CA 99
2.9 mi·3 min·Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·38 sec
Exit 31Toward 7th Standard Road, Merle Haggard DriveUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Turn left onto 7th Standard Road
7.0 mi·8 min·7th Standard Road
Use the left lane.
19
Turn right onto Galpin Street
0.3 mi·29 sec·Galpin Street
20
At end of road, turn right onto Santa Fe Way
0.1 mi·15 sec·Santa Fe Way
21
Turn right onto Loraine Lane
204 ft·8 sec·Loraine Lane
22
Arrive at destination
Loraine Lane
Trip Plan
With a duration of under three hours, this 125.3-mile trip offers plenty of flexibility. You can depart Ridgecrest, CA at your leisure, but consider leaving in the morning to maximize daylight, especially since this route has a high percentage of local roads. Plan for one stop, potentially for fuel or a quick break, as the longest stretch without a turn is over 50 miles. The estimated fuel cost of $29 is a good budget to keep in mind. Keep an eye on your navigation as you transition between the Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway and Aerospace Highway to ensure you stay on track.
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 62.7 miles from Ridgecrest, CA, or about 1h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 52.4 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 28 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 62.7 miles or 1h 20m 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 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hights Corner, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ridgecrest, 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 Ridgecrest, CA
This is one driving day of about 125.3 miles and 2h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Ridgecrest, 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 Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway for about 52.4 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 15.9 and 125.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
15.9 mi into trip|~20m in|Garlock Road
Turn right onto Garlock Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
53.7 mi into trip|~1h 9m in
Take the exit toward CA-58 West: Bakersfield
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward CA-58 West: Bakersfield
7
109.6 mi into trip|~2h 14m in
Take the exit toward CA 204: Union Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 112
Toward CA 204: Union Avenue
8
117.7 mi into trip|~2h 24m in
Take the exit toward 7th Standard Road, Merle Haggard Drive
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 31
Toward 7th Standard Road, Merle Haggard Drive
6
125.2 mi into trip|~2h 34m in|Santa Fe Way
At end of road, turn right onto Santa Fe Way
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.21 one way
$52.43 round trip
$5.31/gal25.4 MPG avg44 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.52
$27.23
$54.45
premium
$5.67
$27.95
$55.89
diesel
$4.80
$23.66
$47.32
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: 43.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
37.6
0
$13.16
$6.01
Efficient EV
31.3
0
$10.96
$5.01
EV Truck/SUV
50.1
0
$17.54
$8.02
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (66% 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 Jul 19, 2026
Origin
Ridgecrest, CA
Evening
in Ridgecrest on Monday
Local time
7:49 PM
PDT
Current temp
76°F
Mostly Clear
SW 5 to 10 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 7:02PM PDT until July 21 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Destination
Hights Corner, CA
Evening
in Hights Corner on Monday
Local time
7:49 PM
PDT
Current temp
66°F
Mostly Clear
NW 0 to 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 7:02PM PDT until July 21 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
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
10 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
2h 34m 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.
César E. Chávez National Monument
National Monument
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, which includes stretches on the Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway, Aerospace Highway, and Redrock Randsburg Road. Approximately 80% of this drive is on non-highway roads, meaning you'll encounter more local traffic and potentially slower speeds. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll experience is 52.4 miles on the Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway. As you progress, the road character will shift, offering a varied driving experience rather than a monotonous interstate cruise.
Only 2% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 52.4 mi on Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 15.9 miles in near Garlock Road.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 125.3 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 15.9 miles (Garlock Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 53.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 109.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
3,983 ft339 ft
Total Climb
2,909 ft
Total Descent
4,860 ft
Highest Point
3,983 ft
~71.6 mi in
Elevation Range
3,644 ft
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 34m. Total distance: 125.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 52.4 miles on Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 3 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 Hights Corner, 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. There are 3 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 15.9 miles (Garlock Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 53.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 109.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — 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 Hights Corner, CA before heading back.
