Origin
South Taft, CA
Late night in South Taft on Tuesday
Local time
2:11 AM
PDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from South Taft, 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
53m
Distance
37.1 mi
60 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 49m
★
6 AM
0h 54m
8 AM
1h 3m
10 AM
0h 57m
12 PM
0h 56m
3 PM
0h 57m
5 PM
1h 2m
8 PM
0h 51m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
South Taft, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Bakersfield, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
South Taft to Bakersfield is 37.1 miles and takes about 53 minutes via Taft Highway and Westside Parkway, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within California's Pacific Coast region, offering a straightforward connection between two points. It's a relatively short trip, ideal for a quick transit or as part of a larger exploration of the area. Expect a local driving experience rather than a major interstate journey. Consider this route for its directness and minimal time commitment.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Taft Highway | 16.5 mi | 23m |
| Westside Parkway | 6.7 mi | 7m |
| Enos Lane | 5.9 mi | 8m |
| Stockdale Highway | 4.2 mi | 5m |
| Truxtun Avenue | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| Main Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Olive Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 2nd Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Taft Highway
— 16.5 mi, about 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Taft, CA and Bakersfield, CA.
1
Start on Olive Avenue
0.2 mi
·
48 sec
·
Olive Avenue
2
Continue on 2nd Street
462 ft
·
22 sec
·
2nd Street
3
Turn right onto Main Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
4
Turn left onto CA 119
17 mi
·
23 min
·
Taft Highway
5
Enter roundabout onto CA 43
310 ft
·
4 sec
·
Enos Lane
6
Continue on CA 43
5.9 mi
·
8 min
·
Enos Lane
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
Toward CA 58
8
Merge onto CA 58
4.2 mi
·
5 min
·
Stockdale Highway
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on Westside Parkway
6.7 mi
·
7 min
·
Westside Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
11
Turn straight onto Truxtun Avenue
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Truxtun Avenue
12
Arrive at destination
Truxtun Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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 37 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.6 miles from South Taft, 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 55 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 34.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Main Street
Turn right onto Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
17.3 mi into trip
|
~25m in
|
CA 43 / Enos Lane
Enter roundabout onto CA 43 / Enos Lane
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
3
23.2 mi into trip
|
~34m in
Take the ramp toward CA 58
Navigation decision point
Toward CA 58
5
23.4 mi into trip
|
~34m in
|
CA 58 / Stockdale Highway
Merge onto CA 58 / Stockdale Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
3
34.4 mi into trip
|
~48m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.53 one way
$17.05 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $8.79 | $17.57 |
| premium | $6.18 | $9.02 | $18.04 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.19 | $16.38 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 13 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.1 | 0 | $3.90 | $1.78 |
| Efficient EV | 9.3 | 0 | $3.25 | $1.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.8 | 0 | $5.19 | $2.37 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
Late night in Bakersfield on Tuesday
Local time
2:11 AM
PDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
22 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
53m 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 characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' indicating frequent changes in direction rather than a steady cruise. With only 18% of the drive on highways, you'll primarily navigate local roads like Taft Highway, Westside Parkway, and Enos Lane. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 16.5 miles on Taft Highway. This suggests a driving experience that requires consistent attention to navigation and road conditions, typical of connecting smaller communities or traversing less direct routes.
Only 18% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 16.5 mi on Taft Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near Main Street.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from South Taft, CA to Bakersfield, CA is easy. At 53m with 18% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 17.3 miles (CA 43 / Enos Lane): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 23.2 miles: Navigation decision point.
About the Cities
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 53m. Total distance: 37.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (18%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 16.5 miles on Taft Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 17.3 miles (CA 43 / Enos Lane): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 23.2 miles: Navigation decision point.
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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