How far is Bakersfield, CA from Forest Meadows, CA?

The driving distance from Bakersfield, CA to Forest Meadows, CA is about 245.3 miles (394.7 km), with a travel time of about 05h 04m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 207.8 miles (334.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 09m 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
245.24 mi
05h 04m
Flight
207.84 mi
334.48 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
207.84 mi
Kilometers
334.48 km
Flight Time
00h 25m

Driving Distance

Road route
245.24 mi
Kilometers
394.67 km
Drive Time
05h 04m

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 05h 04m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Forest Meadows
Thu, Apr 23, 5:42 AM PDT
Return by in Bakersfield
Thu, Apr 23, 10:47 AM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Bakersfield
2026-04-23T00:38
Arrive Forest Meadows
Thu, Apr 23, 5:42 AM PDT
Route Timing
05h 04m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:05 AM to 1:05 PM PDT

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

Leave by
6:50 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
Barstow
CA

City in San Bernardino County, California, United States

From Bakersfield
122.7 mi
02h 32m
To Forest Meadows
122.5 mi
02h 32m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
74°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph NW
Destination
61°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
3 to 7 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bakersfield and Forest Meadows.

  1. 1

    Start on Truxtun Avenue

    670 ft · 24 sec · Truxtun Avenue

  2. 2

    Continue on Truxtun Avenue

    747 ft · 27 sec · Truxtun Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Chester Avenue

    1.5 km · 2 min · Chester Avenue

  4. 4

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 4 toward Golden State Road

    591 ft · 12 sec · Golden State Road

  5. 5

    Exit the roundabout onto Golden State Road

    130 m · 9 sec · Golden State Road

  6. 6

    Take the ramp straight

    120 m · 11 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto Golden State Avenue

    1.9 mi · 2 min · Golden State Avenue

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Golden State Freeway

    5.2 mi · 6 min · Golden State Freeway

  9. 9

    Continue on Golden State Highway

    111.4 mi · 2 hr · Golden State Highway

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward Avenue 7

    2522 ft · 31 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left

    21.4 mi · 24 min

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on Northbound California State Route 99

    22 mi · 25 min · Northbound California State Route 99

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward CA 140 West, CA 59 North

    3271 ft · 1 min

  14. 14

    Turn right onto V Street

    998 ft · 24 sec · V Street

  15. 15

    Turn left onto West 16th Street

    1917 ft · 33 sec · West 16th Street

  16. 16

    Turn right onto Snelling Highway

    17.7 mi · 26 min · Snelling Highway

  17. 17

    Continue on La Grange Road

    118 m · 7 sec · La Grange Road

  18. 18

    Continue on Merced Falls Road

    2230 ft · 40 sec · Merced Falls Road

  19. 19

    Turn left onto La Grange Road

    26.1 mi · 39 min · La Grange Road

  20. 20

    At the end of the road, turn right

    7.3 mi · 10 min

  21. 21

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route

    36 m · 2 sec

  22. 22

    Exit the roundabout

    2.6 mi · 4 min

  23. 23

    Turn left onto Rawhide Road

    4 mi · 7 min · Rawhide Road

  24. 24

    Turn slight left

    30 m · 5 sec

  25. 25

    Continue straight

    9.8 mi · 16 min

  26. 26

    Turn sharp right onto Vallecito Road

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Vallecito Road

  27. 27

    At the end of the road, turn right

    11 mi · 16 min

  28. 28

    Turn right onto Cedar Vista Drive

    945 ft · 42 sec · Cedar Vista Drive

  29. 29

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Cedar Vista Drive

Car Route Details

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

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
29 steps
15 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
10
3 merges, 7 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Golden State Highway
111 mi · 45%
La Grange Road
28.8 mi · 12%
Northbound California State Route 99
22 mi · 9%
Avenue 7
21.9 mi · 9%
Snelling Highway
17.7 mi · 7%
Rawhide Road
13.8 mi · 6%
Longest Stretch

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.

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
05h 04m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 10m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+37.5 mi
207.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Barstow
02h 32m from Bakersfield
Leave By
6:50 AM PDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Bakersfield and Sunny near Forest Meadows.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Bakersfield to Forest Meadows?

The road trip is about 245.3 miles (394.7 km) and usually takes 05h 04m 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?

Barstow is a useful midpoint, sitting about 122.7 miles from Bakersfield and 122.5 miles from Forest Meadows.

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

The direct path is about 207.8 miles (334.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 37.5 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 6:50 AM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $49.90 one way or $99.80 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 76.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Bakersfield and Sunny near Forest Meadows.

Stop Ideas Near Barstow

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Barstow, 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 Barstow.

RAIL

Madera

18 mi away
Avenue 15 1/2 at 29th Road
RAIL

Fresno station

19 mi away
2650 Tulare St.
BUS

Lemoore (Naval Air Station), California

49 mi away
25th Ave and Highway 198
RAIL

Hanford station

61 mi away
200 Santa Fe Avenue #A

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Bakersfield and Forest Meadows. Straight-line distance: 207.84 mi (334.48 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
Forest Meadows

#2 Forest Meadows

Census-designated place in Calaveras County, California

Population1,249
Coordinates38.1685100, -120.4065900
Altitude1028
CountryUnited States
Start: Bakersfield (-119.01871, 35.37329)
End: Forest Meadows (-120.40659, 38.16851)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 395 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 10m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 07m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 54m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 05m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 30m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 03m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.65 gal
32.76 L · about $49.90
Round trip
$99.80
17.3 gal · 65.52 L
Estimated CO2
76.9 kg one way
Round trip: 153.7 kg / 339 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $49.90 $99.80
Mid-grade $6.07 $52.47 $104.94
Premium $6.24 $54.00 $108.00
Diesel $7.57 $65.45 $130.91

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

There is no time difference between Bakersfield and Forest Meadows. The current time is 00:38:11.

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.