Origin
South Lake Tahoe, CA
Morning in South Lake Tahoe on Sunday
Local time
6:33 AM
PDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from South Lake Tahoe, CA to Bakersfield, CA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
7h 14m
Distance
366.9 mi
591 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$84
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
7h 4m
★
6 AM
7h 15m
8 AM
7h 36m
10 AM
7h 22m
12 PM
7h 20m
3 PM
7h 23m
5 PM
7h 35m
8 PM
7h 8m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
South Lake Tahoe, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Bakersfield, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from South Lake Tahoe, CA to Bakersfield, CA covers 366.9 miles and takes about 7h 14m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on CA 99, US 50, Golden State Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 150.3 miles on CA 99. At current regular gas prices, budget about $84.33 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
183.5 miles from South Lake Tahoe, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 50m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| CA 99 | 150.3 mi | 2h 49m |
| US 50 | 85.7 mi | 1h 49m |
| Golden State Highway | 58.6 mi | 1h 2m |
| South Sacramento Freeway | 42.4 mi | 48m |
| Bradshaw Road | 11.6 mi | 16m |
| Golden State Freeway | 5.2 mi | 5m |
| Emerald Bay Road | 4 mi | 5m |
| Lake Tahoe Boulevard | 2.4 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
CA 99
— 150.3 mi, about 2h 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Lake Tahoe, CA and Bakersfield, CA.
1
Start on El Dorado Avenue
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
El Dorado Avenue
2
At end of road, turn left onto Oakland Avenue
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
Oakland Avenue
3
Turn right onto Los Angeles Avenue
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
Los Angeles Avenue
4
At end of road, turn right onto US 50
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Lake Tahoe Boulevard
5
Turn left onto US 50; CA 89
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Emerald Bay Road
6
Enter roundabout onto US 50; CA 89
63 ft
·
1 sec
·
US 50; CA 89
7
Continue on US 50; CA 89
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
US 50; CA 89
8
Take the exit
455 ft
·
8 sec
Toward US 50
9
Merge onto US 50
85 mi
·
1 hr 47 min
·
US 50
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 13
Toward Bradshaw Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn left onto Bradshaw Road
9.0 mi
·
12 min
·
Bradshaw Road
Use the left lane.
12
Enter roundabout onto Bradshaw Road
81 ft
·
1 sec
·
Bradshaw Road
13
Continue on Bradshaw Road
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Bradshaw Road
Use the left / uturn lanes.
14
Turn right onto E2
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Grant Line Road
Use the right lane.
15
Continue on E2
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
·
Kammerer Road
16
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
17
Merge onto CA 99
42 mi
·
48 min
·
South Sacramento Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99
109 mi
·
2 hr 5 min
·
CA 99
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99
41 mi
·
44 min
·
CA 99
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99
59 mi
·
1 hr 2 min
·
Golden State Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Continue on CA 99
5.2 mi
·
5 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
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.
23
Take the exit
475 ft
·
13 sec
24
Continue on Golden State Road
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
Golden State Road
25
Enter roundabout onto Chester Avenue
193 ft
·
3 sec
·
Chester Avenue
26
Continue on Chester Avenue
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Chester Avenue
27
Turn left onto Truxtun Avenue
122 ft
·
7 sec
·
Truxtun Avenue
28
Arrive at destination
Truxtun Avenue
Trip Plan
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 183.5 miles from South Lake Tahoe, CA, or about 3h 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 150.3 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 81 miles or 1h 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 183.5 miles or 3h 50m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 8m
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 South Lake Tahoe, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from South Lake Tahoe, CA
This is one driving day of about 366.9 miles and 7h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 81 miles from South Lake Tahoe, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
183 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 81 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 183.5 miles from South Lake Tahoe, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before CA 99 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 150.3 miles.
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 205 decision points cluster between mile 92.9 and 363.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
92.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 1m in
Take the exit toward Bradshaw Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 13
Toward Bradshaw Road
6
93.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 2m in
|
Bradshaw Road
Turn left onto Bradshaw Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
149.9 mi into trip
|
~3h 12m in
|
CA 99
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
259.1 mi into trip
|
~5h 17m in
|
CA 99
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
363.8 mi into trip
|
~7h 9m 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
$84.33 one way
$168.66 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
128 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $86.90 | $173.80 |
| premium | $6.18 | $89.23 | $178.45 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $81.01 | $162.01 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$84
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$109–$134
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 128.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $39 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 110.1 | 1 | $38.52 | $17.61 |
| Efficient EV | 91.7 | 1 | $32.10 | $14.68 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 146.8 | 1 | $51.37 | $23.48 |
Gas CO2
128 kg
EV CO2
43 kg (66% 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.
Destination
Bakersfield, CA
Morning in Bakersfield on Sunday
Local time
6:33 AM
PDT
Current temp
77°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
31 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
7h 14m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
366.9 mi in 7h 14m, mostly highway — 150.3 mi of that is on CA 99.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 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 US 50. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 92.9 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 20 significant decision points across 366.9 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 92.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 93.2 miles (Bradshaw Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 149.9 miles (CA 99): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in South Lake Tahoe, CA
Full guide →South Lake Tahoe is a city in the Lake Tahoe region of California in El Dorado County. South Lake Tahoe, the largest town around the lake, sits on the south shore, and offers beautiful views of mountains covered with fir and pine trees, deep blue water year-round, and a wealth of outdoor activities. A popular location for skiers and snowboarders during the snowy winter season, Lake Tahoe is also home to miles of beaches for sun-tanning, boating, water skiing, and swimming in the summer.
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 7h 14m. Total distance: 366.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 14m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 92.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 93.2 miles (Bradshaw Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 149.9 miles (CA 99): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.2 hours each way, a round trip means 14.5 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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