How far is Bakersfield, CA from Colfax, CA?
The driving distance from Bakersfield, CA to Colfax, CA is about 323.4 miles (520.4 km), with a travel time of about 06h 06m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 278.6 miles (448.4 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 12m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM PDT.
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 06h 06m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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.
The most populous city in Merced County, California.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Chance Light Rain then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Bakersfield and Colfax.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bakersfield and Colfax.
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1
Start on Truxtun Avenue
670 ft · 24 sec · Truxtun Avenue
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2
Continue on Truxtun Avenue
747 ft · 27 sec · Truxtun Avenue
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3
Turn right onto Chester Avenue
1.5 km · 2 min · Chester Avenue
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4
Enter the roundabout and take exit 4 toward Golden State Road
591 ft · 12 sec · Golden State Road
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5
Exit the roundabout onto Golden State Road
130 m · 9 sec · Golden State Road
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6
Take the ramp straight
120 m · 11 sec
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7
Merge slight left onto Golden State Avenue
1.9 mi · 2 min · Golden State Avenue
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8
Merge slight left onto Golden State Freeway
5.2 mi · 6 min · Golden State Freeway
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9
Continue on Golden State Highway
111.4 mi · 2 hr · Golden State Highway
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10
Take the exit slight right toward Avenue 7
2522 ft · 31 sec
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11
Merge slight left
21.4 mi · 24 min
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12
Keep slight right to continue on Northbound California State Route 99
84.6 mi · 1 hr 38 min · Northbound California State Route 99
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13
Continue on Golden State Highway
1.8 mi · 2 min · Golden State Highway
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14
Continue on Old U.S. Route 99E
1.3 mi · 1 min · Old U.S. Route 99E
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15
Keep slight left
44.7 mi · 52 min
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16
Continue on Capital City Freeway
8.9 mi · 10 min · Capital City Freeway
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17
Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
7 mi · 8 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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18
Continue on Alan S. Hart Freeway
32.6 mi · 38 min · Alan S. Hart Freeway
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19
Take the exit slight right toward CA 174 West: Colfax, Grass Valley
122 m · 10 sec
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20
Turn right onto Canyon Way
129 m · 10 sec · Canyon Way
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21
Turn right onto Colfax Overcrossing
599 ft · 15 sec · Colfax Overcrossing
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22
Turn right onto Colfax Highway
93 m · 8 sec · Colfax Highway
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23
Continue on South Auburn Avenue
1225 ft · 34 sec · South Auburn Avenue
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24
Turn left onto Grassvalley Street
152 m · 18 sec · Grassvalley Street
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25
Turn right onto South Main Street
40 m · 6 sec · South Main Street
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26
Turn right
10 m · 3 sec
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27
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Bakersfield and Colfax.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Golden State Highway
Continue on Golden State Highway
111 mi · 02h 00m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
Better with a longer stop
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
Mostly Sunny leaving Bakersfield and Chance Light Rain then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Colfax.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Bakersfield to Colfax?
The road trip is about 323.4 miles (520.4 km) and usually takes 06h 06m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Merced is a useful midpoint, sitting about 161.7 miles from Bakersfield and 161.6 miles from Colfax.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 278.6 miles (448.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 44.8 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 7:30 AM PDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $65.82 one way or $131.65 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 101.4 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Bakersfield and Chance Light Rain then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Colfax.
Stop Ideas Near Merced
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Merced.
Merced station
Denair station
Mariposa, CA
Mariposa, California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Bakersfield and Colfax. Straight-line distance: 278.64 mi (448.43 km).
#1 Bakersfield
The fifth most populous city in California and the center of the Bakersfield metropolitan area.
| Population | 385,725 |
| Coordinates | 35.3732900, -119.0187100 |
| Altitude | 123 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Colfax
City in California, USA
| Population | 2,009 |
| Coordinates | 39.1007300, -120.9532800 |
| Altitude | 739 |
| Country | United States |
End: Colfax (-120.95328, 39.10073)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 520 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 10h 46m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 08h 05m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 27m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 23m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 37m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 02m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $65.82 | $131.65 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $69.21 | $138.43 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $71.23 | $142.47 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $86.34 | $172.68 |
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 23, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.