How far is Bakersfield, CA from Mesa Verde, CA?
The driving distance from Bakersfield, CA to Mesa Verde, CA is about 325.8 miles (524.3 km), with a travel time of about 06h 06m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 273 miles (439.3 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.
A city in San Bernardino County, California.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Patchy Blowing Dust
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Bakersfield and Mesa Verde.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bakersfield and Mesa Verde.
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1
Start on Truxtun Avenue
670 ft · 20 sec · Truxtun Avenue
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2
Turn right onto L Street
1710 ft · 51 sec · L Street
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3
Turn right onto California Avenue
1.5 mi · 2 min · California Avenue
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4
Take the ramp slight right toward CA 99 South
1049 ft · 26 sec
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5
Merge slight left onto Golden State Freeway
24.7 mi · 27 min · Golden State Freeway
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6
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
58.2 mi · 1 hr 7 min · Golden State Freeway
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7
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
2 mi · 2 min · Golden State Freeway
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8
Take the exit slight right toward I 210 East: Pasadena
1347 ft · 18 sec
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9
Continue on Foothill Freeway
24.4 mi · 28 min · Foothill Freeway
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10
Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway
19.1 mi · 22 min · Foothill Freeway
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11
Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway
2476 ft · 33 sec · Foothill Freeway
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12
Take the exit slight right toward CA 57 South: Santa Ana
1.4 km · 2 min
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13
Continue on Orange Freeway
3.4 mi · 4 min · Orange Freeway
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14
Take the exit slight right toward I 10 East, I 10 West: San Bernardino, Los Angeles
928 ft · 23 sec
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15
Keep slight left to continue on I 10 East: San Bernardino Freeway, San Bernardino
1.1 km · 1 min
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16
Merge slight left onto San Bernardino Freeway
1.9 mi · 2 min · San Bernardino Freeway
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17
Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway
4 mi · 5 min · San Bernardino Freeway
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18
Keep slight left to continue on I-10 Metro ExpressLanes
9 mi · 10 min · I-10 Metro ExpressLanes
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19
Merge slight right onto San Bernardino Freeway
14.3 mi · 16 min · San Bernardino Freeway
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20
Continue on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
40.3 mi · 44 min · Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
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21
Keep slight left to continue on Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway
32.5 mi · 35 min · Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway
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22
Keep slight left to continue on Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway
1.1 mi · 1 min · Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway
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23
Continue on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
85.6 mi · 1 hr 32 min · Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
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24
Take the exit slight right toward Mesa Drive
1224 ft · 30 sec
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25
Turn right onto Mesa Drive
1724 ft · 50 sec · Mesa Drive
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26
Turn right onto Palowalla Road
1396 ft · 1 min · Palowalla Road
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27
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Palowalla Road
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Bakersfield and Mesa Verde.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Continue on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
85.6 mi · 01h 32m
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.
Sunny leaving Bakersfield and Patchy Blowing Dust near Mesa Verde.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Bakersfield to Mesa Verde?
The road trip is about 325.8 miles (524.3 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?
Colton is a useful midpoint, sitting about 162.7 miles from Bakersfield and 163.1 miles from Mesa Verde.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 273 miles (439.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 52.8 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 $72.00 one way or $144.00 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 102.2 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Bakersfield and Patchy Blowing Dust near Mesa Verde.
Stop Ideas Near Colton
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
City Hall
San Bernardino County Land Use
Cucamonga Sign Shop LLC
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Colton.
San Bernardino Santa Fe Depot
Riverside–Downtown
Moreno Valley, California
Ontario
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Bakersfield and Mesa Verde. Straight-line distance: 272.97 mi (439.31 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 Mesa Verde
Situated at an elevation of 390 feet in southeastern California's Riverside County, this census-designated place lies within the Palo Verde Valley near the Colorado River.
| Population | 0 |
| Coordinates | 33.6058600, -114.7310700 |
| Altitude | 119 |
| Country | United States |
End: Mesa Verde (-114.73107, 33.60586)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 524 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 10h 51m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 08h 08m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 30m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 25m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 39m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 03m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $6.26 | $72.00 | $144.00 |
| Mid-grade | $6.50 | $74.74 | $149.48 |
| Premium | $6.69 | $76.92 | $153.85 |
| Diesel | $8.41 | $96.75 | $193.50 |
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 · Oct 15, 2026