How far is Bakersfield, CA from South Lake Tahoe, CA?
The driving distance from Bakersfield, CA to South Lake Tahoe, CA is about 366.7 miles (590.2 km), with a travel time of about 07h 15m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 251.7 miles (405 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 14h 31m 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 07h 15m.
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.
City in California
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Bakersfield and South Lake Tahoe.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bakersfield and South Lake Tahoe.
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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
30.1 mi · 35 min
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16
Take the exit slight right toward Grant Line Road
1770 ft · 45 sec
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17
Turn right onto Grant Line Road
2.2 mi · 3 min · Grant Line Road
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18
Turn left onto Bradshaw Road
2.6 mi · 4 min · Bradshaw Road
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19
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Bradshaw Road
28 m · 2 sec · Bradshaw Road
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20
Exit the roundabout onto Bradshaw Road
8.7 mi · 12 min · Bradshaw Road
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21
Take the ramp straight toward US 50 East: South Lake Tahoe
1851 ft · 45 sec
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22
Merge slight left onto El Dorado Freeway
51.9 mi · 1 hr 2 min · El Dorado Freeway
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23
Continue straight
32.7 mi · 45 min
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24
Continue straight
1795 ft · 34 sec
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25
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
37 m · 5 sec
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26
Exit the roundabout
1.4 km · 2 min
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27
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
21 m · 1 sec
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28
Exit the roundabout
3.9 mi · 6 min
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29
Take the exit slight right
2.4 mi · 5 min
-
30
Turn left onto Los Angeles Avenue
1185 ft · 38 sec · Los Angeles Avenue
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31
Turn left onto Oakland Avenue
1994 ft · 56 sec · Oakland Avenue
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32
Turn right onto El Dorado Avenue
688 ft · 19 sec · El Dorado Avenue
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33
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · El Dorado Avenue
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Bakersfield and South Lake Tahoe.
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.
Sunny leaving Bakersfield and Sunny near South Lake Tahoe.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Bakersfield to South Lake Tahoe?
The road trip is about 366.7 miles (590.2 km) and usually takes 07h 15m 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?
Livingston is a useful midpoint, sitting about 183.4 miles from Bakersfield and 183.3 miles from South Lake Tahoe.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 251.7 miles (405 km), while the road route adds roughly 115 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 $74.65 one way or $149.30 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 115 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Bakersfield and Sunny near South Lake Tahoe.
Stop Ideas Near Livingston
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 Livingston.
Denair station
Merced station
Modesto station
Manteca, CA
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Bakersfield and South Lake Tahoe. Straight-line distance: 251.65 mi (404.99 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 South Lake Tahoe
City in California
| Population | 22,847 |
| Coordinates | 38.9332400, -119.9843500 |
| Altitude | 1901 |
| Country | United States |
End: South Lake Tahoe (-119.98435, 38.93324)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 590 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 12h 13m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 09h 10m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 07h 20m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 06h 06m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 05h 14m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 34m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $74.65 | $149.30 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $78.49 | $156.99 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $80.78 | $161.57 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $97.92 | $195.83 |
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 · Jun 01, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.