Origin
Tehachapi, CA
Morning in Tehachapi on Sunday
Local time
9:10 AM
PDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tehachapi, 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
49m
Distance
40.5 mi
65 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 45m
★
6 AM
0h 49m
8 AM
0h 58m
10 AM
0h 52m
12 PM
0h 52m
3 PM
0h 53m
5 PM
0h 57m
8 PM
0h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tehachapi, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Bakersfield, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling between Tehachapi and Bakersfield, CA, covers a manageable 40.5-mile distance that typically takes about 49 minutes to complete. Because this journey is relatively short, it is perfectly suited for a quick day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via the Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway, eventually transitioning through South Chester Avenue and North Mill Street as you reach your destination. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $9, this trip is an economical option for locals or travelers moving between these Pacific Coast locations. It is a straightforward drive that serves as a practical connection point rather than a multi-day expedition.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway | 37.6 mi | 43m |
| South Chester Avenue | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| North Mill Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| West H Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Richland Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| West Tehachapi Boulevard | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| North Green Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| South Curry Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway
— 37.6 mi, about 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tehachapi, CA and Bakersfield, CA.
1
Start on CR 174
46 ft
·
5 sec
·
South Curry Street
2
Turn right onto CA 58 Business
481 ft
·
19 sec
·
West Tehachapi Boulevard
3
Turn left onto North Green Street
311 ft
·
11 sec
·
North Green Street
4
Turn left onto West H Street
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
West H Street
5
Continue on North Mill Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Mill Street
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
7
Merge onto CA 58
38 mi
·
43 min
·
Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 111
Toward Chester Avenue, H Street
Use the slight right lane.
9
Continue on Richland Street
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Richland Street
10
Turn right onto South Chester Avenue
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
South Chester Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Turn right onto Truxtun Avenue
19 ft
·
0 sec
·
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
20 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 40.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.3 miles from Tehachapi, 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 85 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 39.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CA 58 Business / West Tehachapi Boulevard
Turn right onto CA 58 Business / West Tehachapi Boulevard
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North Green Street
Turn left onto North Green Street
Navigation decision point
5
1.3 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
CA 58 / Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway
Merge onto CA 58 / Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
38.8 mi into trip
|
~46m in
Take the exit toward Chester Avenue, H Street
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 111
Toward Chester Avenue, H Street
6
39.1 mi into trip
|
~46m in
|
South Chester Avenue
Turn right onto South Chester Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.31 one way
$18.62 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $9.59 | $19.18 |
| premium | $6.18 | $9.85 | $19.70 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.94 | $17.88 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.2 | 0 | $4.25 | $1.94 |
| Efficient EV | 10.1 | 0 | $3.54 | $1.62 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.2 | 0 | $5.67 | $2.59 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
Morning in Bakersfield on Sunday
Local time
9:10 AM
PDT
Current temp
77°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
16 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
49m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate cruise, this route features zero highway miles, offering a more technical experience as you navigate the transition from the mountains to the valley. You will spend the bulk of your time on the Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway, which accounts for a 37.6-mile stretch of the journey. The character of the road shifts as you leave the higher elevation of Tehachapi and descend toward Bakersfield. Be prepared for consistent steering adjustments and a driving pace dictated by local road conditions rather than high-speed highway travel.
Only 0% 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: 37.6 mi on Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CA 58 Business / West Tehachapi Boulevard.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 49m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (CA 58 Business / West Tehachapi Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (North Green Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles (CA 58 / Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
3,971 ft
391 ft
Total Climb
24 ft
Total Descent
3,592 ft
Highest Point
3,971 ft
Elevation Range
3,580 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Tehachapi, CA
Full guide →Founded 1876
Tehachapi is a city in Kern County, California in a valley within the Tehachapi Mountains which separate the San Joaquin Valley from the Mojave Desert.
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 49m. Total distance: 40.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 37.6 miles on Bakersfield Tehachapi 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: near the start (CA 58 Business / West Tehachapi Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (North Green Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles (CA 58 / Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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