How far is Bakersfield, CA from Buellton, CA?

The driving distance from Bakersfield, CA to Buellton, CA is about 153.4 miles (246.8 km), with a travel time of about 03h 12m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 84.7 miles (136.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 24m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
153.34 mi
03h 12m
Flight
84.68 mi
136.28 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Bakersfield.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
84.68 mi
Kilometers
136.28 km
Flight Time
00h 10m

Driving Distance

Road route
153.34 mi
Kilometers
246.78 km
Drive Time
03h 12m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 03h 12m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Buellton
Fri, Apr 17, 9:46 PM PDT
Return by in Bakersfield
Sat, Apr 18, 12:59 AM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Bakersfield
2026-04-17T18:34
Arrive Buellton
Fri, Apr 17, 9:46 PM PDT
Route Timing
03h 12m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:12 AM to 11:12 AM PDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
10:36 AM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Bakersfield
9:00 PM PDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Taft Heights
CA

Census designated place

From Bakersfield
76.6 mi
01h 36m
To Buellton
76.7 mi
01h 36m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
76°F
Friday

Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph SW
Destination
69°F
Friday

Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph NNW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Bakersfield and Buellton.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bakersfield and Buellton.

  1. 1

    Start on Truxtun Avenue

    670 ft · 24 sec · Truxtun Avenue

  2. 2

    Continue on Truxtun Avenue

    2.2 mi · 4 min · Truxtun Avenue

  3. 3

    Take the ramp straight toward CA 58: Westside Parkway West

    2888 ft · 1 min

  4. 4

    Continue on Westside Parkway

    6.6 mi · 8 min · Westside Parkway

  5. 5

    Continue on Stockdale Highway

    4.3 mi · 6 min · Stockdale Highway

  6. 6

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Enos Lane

    99 m · 4 sec · Enos Lane

  7. 7

    Exit the roundabout onto Enos Lane

    5.9 mi · 9 min · Enos Lane

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on Enos Lane

    88 m · 6 sec · Enos Lane

  9. 9

    Turn straight onto Taft Highway

    16.7 mi · 23 min · Taft Highway

  10. 10

    Continue on West Side Highway

    5.7 mi · 8 min · West Side Highway

  11. 11

    Continue on California Street

    2112 ft · 56 sec · California Street

  12. 12

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Poso Street

    596 ft · 11 sec · Poso Street

  13. 13

    Continue on West Side Highway

    75.8 mi · 1 hr 29 min · West Side Highway

  14. 14

    Take the exit left

    1177 ft · 29 sec

  15. 15

    Merge slight left onto El Camino Real

    34.2 mi · 39 min · El Camino Real

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward CA 246

    854 ft · 25 sec

  17. 17

    Turn right

    616 ft · 13 sec

  18. 18

    Turn right

    88 m · 29 sec

  19. 19

    Turn sharp left

    50 m · 12 sec

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Bakersfield and Buellton.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
20 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
1 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
13 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
West Side Highway
81.7 mi · 53%
El Camino Real
34.2 mi · 22%
Taft Highway
16.7 mi · 11%
Westside Parkway
6.6 mi · 4%
Enos Lane
6.03 mi · 4%
Stockdale Highway
4.32 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

West Side Highway

Continue on West Side Highway

75.8 mi · 01h 29m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 12m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 24m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+68.7 mi
84.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Taft Heights
01h 36m from Bakersfield
Leave By
10:36 AM PDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Bakersfield and Sunny near Buellton.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Bakersfield to Buellton?

The road trip is about 153.4 miles (246.8 km) and usually takes 03h 12m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Taft Heights is a useful midpoint, sitting about 76.6 miles from Bakersfield and 76.7 miles from Buellton.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 84.7 miles (136.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 68.7 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:36 AM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $31.21 one way or $62.42 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 48.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Bakersfield and Sunny near Buellton.

Stop Ideas Near Taft Heights

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Taft Heights, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Taft Heights.

RAIL

Bakersfield

49 mi away
601 Truxtun Ave
RAIL

Wasco station

53 mi away
700 G Street
RAIL

Carpinteria station

82 mi away
475 Linden at Fifth Street
RAIL

Santa Barbara

83 mi away
209 State Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Bakersfield and Buellton. Straight-line distance: 84.68 mi (136.28 km).

Bakersfield

#1 Bakersfield

The fifth most populous city in California and the center of the Bakersfield metropolitan area.

Population385,725
Coordinates35.3732900, -119.0187100
Altitude123
CountryUnited States
Buellton

#2 Buellton

City in Santa Barbara County, California

Population5,449
Coordinates34.6136000, -120.1926500
Altitude109
CountryUnited States
Start: Bakersfield (-119.01871, 35.37329)
End: Buellton (-120.19265, 34.6136)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 247 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 06m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 50m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 04m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 33m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 11m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 54m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.41 gal
20.48 L · about $31.21
Round trip
$62.42
10.82 gal · 40.96 L
Estimated CO2
48.1 kg one way
Round trip: 96.2 kg / 212 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $31.21 $62.42
Mid-grade $6.07 $32.82 $65.63
Premium $6.24 $33.77 $67.55
Diesel $7.57 $40.94 $81.87

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in California · Apr 18, 2026

There is no time difference between Bakersfield and Buellton. The current time is 18:34:17.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.