Spanning 464.9 miles from Susanville to Bakersfield, this trip takes approximately 9 hours and 12 minutes of pure driving time. Given the length, it is best approached as a two-day journey rather than a single grueling day behind the wheel. Your route relies heavily on the CA 99 corridor, including the South Sacramento Freeway and the Golden State Highway, moving you through the heart of California. Expect to budget around $108 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Pacific Coast region points. While straightforward, the transit requires careful planning to manage the long hours on the road effectively.
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
232.4 miles from Susanville, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
CA 99
160.2 mi
3h
Golden State Highway
66.3 mi
1h 11m
South Sacramento Freeway
56.4 mi
1h 5m
CA 32
52.4 mi
1h 10m
CA 70
49.2 mi
58m
Hillcrest Road
28.8 mi
38m
CA 36
18.1 mi
26m
Westside Freeway
6.2 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
CA 99
— 160.2 mi, about 3h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Susanville, CA and Bakersfield, CA.
1
Start on Foss Street
61 ft·11 sec·Foss Street
2
Turn left onto CA 36
0.6 mi·1 min·Main Street
3
Continue on CA 36
0.1 mi·9 sec·South Pine Street
Use the straight lane.
4
Continue on CA 36
29 mi·38 min·Hillcrest Road
5
Enter roundabout onto CA 36
138 ft·9 sec·CA 36
6
Continue on CA 36
18 mi·26 min·CA 36
7
Turn left onto CA 32
52 mi·1 hr 10 min·CA 32
Use the left lane.
8
Turn left
361 ft·10 sec
Use the left lane.
9
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·12 sec
Use the straight lane.
10
Merge onto CA 99
9.9 mi·11 min·CA 99
Use the straight lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 149
5.5 mi·6 min·CA 149
Toward Oroville, MarysvilleUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto CA 70
19 mi·22 min·CA 70
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on CA 70
11 mi·12 min·CA 70
14
Continue on CA 70
1.5 mi·3 min·CA 70
Use the straight lane.
15
Turn right onto 5th Street
0.2 mi·31 sec·5th Street
16
Turn left onto CA 70
4.2 mi·5 min·E Street
17
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 70
18 mi·20 min·CA 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Merge onto CA 99
4.9 mi·5 min·Bernie Richter Memorial Highway
19
Continue on CA 99
7.7 mi·8 min·Golden State Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Merge onto I 5
6.2 mi·7 min·Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.4 mi·27 sec
Exit 518Toward US 50: South Lake Tahoe, San FranciscoUse the slight right lane.
22
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·32 sec
Exit 518Toward US 50 East: Fresno
23
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 518Toward US 50 East: Fresno
24
Merge onto US 50; I 80 Business
1.2 mi·1 min·Capital City Freeway
25
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, FresnoUse the slight right lane.
26
Take the exit
0.4 mi·34 sec
Toward CA 99 South: FresnoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Merge onto CA 99
56 mi·1 hr 5 min·South Sacramento Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99
109 mi·2 hr 5 min·CA 99
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99
41 mi·44 min·CA 99
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99
59 mi·1 hr 2 min·Golden State Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Continue on CA 99
5.2 mi·5 min·Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 204; CA 99 BUS
1.9 mi·2 min·Golden State Avenue
Exit 27Toward CA 204 South: Golden State AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
33
Take the exit
475 ft·13 sec
34
Continue on Golden State Road
0.1 mi·11 sec·Golden State Road
35
Enter roundabout onto Chester Avenue
193 ft·3 sec·Chester Avenue
36
Continue on Chester Avenue
0.9 mi·1 min·Chester Avenue
37
Turn left onto Truxtun Avenue
122 ft·7 sec·Truxtun Avenue
38
Arrive at destination
Truxtun Avenue
Trip Plan
To keep your energy levels steady, plan for at least two intentional stops along the way to break up the 464.9-mile trek. Splitting the drive over two days is the smartest way to ensure you arrive in Bakersfield feeling refreshed rather than exhausted. Since CA 99 carries a heavy volume of traffic, try to time your departure to avoid peak congestion in the larger metropolitan areas you will pass through. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, especially during that 160.2-mile stretch on the highway, to ensure you aren't caught searching for a station when the tank runs low. Prioritizing these breaks will make the nine-hour duration far more manageable.
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 232.4 miles from Susanville, CA, or about 4h 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 160.2 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 102 miles or 2h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 232.4 miles or 4h 52m 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 232.4 miles or 4h 52m
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 8h 6m
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 Susanville, 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 Susanville, CA
Aim for roughly 232 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Bakersfield, CA
Aim for roughly 232 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 102 miles from Susanville, 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 160.2 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 25
5 decision points cluster between mile 100 and 461.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
100 mi into trip|~2h 16m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
110.2 mi into trip|~2h 28m in|CA 149
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 149 toward Oroville, Marysville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward Oroville, Marysville
8
188.1 mi into trip|~4h 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
8
190.7 mi into trip|~4h 4m 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...
8
461.8 mi into trip|~9h 8m 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
$106.85 one way
$213.71 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg163 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$110.11
$220.22
premium
$6.18
$113.06
$226.12
diesel
$5.61
$102.64
$205.29
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$107
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$237–$347
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 162.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $49 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
139.5
1
$48.81
$22.32
Efficient EV
116.2
1
$40.68
$18.60
EV Truck/SUV
186
2
$65.09
$29.75
Gas CO2
163 kg
EV CO2
54 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 19, 2026
Origin
Susanville, CA
Late night
in Susanville on Tuesday
Local time
2:01 AM
PDT
Current temp
38°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bakersfield, CA
Late night
in Bakersfield on Tuesday
Local time
2:01 AM
PDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
50°F
Lincoln, CA
232 mi in
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
37 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
9h 12m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Lassen Volcanic National Park
National Park
Lassen Volcanic National Park is home to steaming fumaroles, meadows freckled with wildflowers, clear mountain lakes, and numerous volcanoes. Jagged peaks tell the story of its eruptive past while hot...
15 mi from route
~38 min detour
$30
near mile 48.1
Park Closure: Roads to Juniper Lake and Warner Valley Closed for Repairs
Park Closure: Lassen National Park Highway under Seasonal Closure
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...
28 mi from route
~69 min detour
Free
near mile 464.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 76% of this route consists of major thoroughfares designed for efficiency. You will face a significant 160.2-mile stretch on CA 99, which serves as the backbone of your journey. The character of the drive is utilitarian, prioritizing speed and connection over winding backroads or technical terrain. As you transition from the northern reaches toward the southern interior, the road maintains a consistent, high-speed pace. It is a functional, no-nonsense drive that keeps you moving steadily toward your destination without much deviation from the primary highway system.
76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
38 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 160.2 mi on CA 99.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on CA 99 and Golden State Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 100 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
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 25 significant decision points across 464.9 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 100 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 110.2 miles (CA 149): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 188.1 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 Susanville, CA and Bakersfield, CA, road signs point toward Oroville, Marysville, San Francisco and Fresno.
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."
The longest stretch is about 160.2 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 232 miles on day one.
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 100 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 110.2 miles (CA 149): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 188.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Lassen Volcanic National Park and César E. Chávez National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 9.2 hours each way, a round trip means 18.4 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.
