How far is East Palo Alto, CA from Bakersfield, CA?

The driving distance from East Palo Alto, CA to Bakersfield, CA is about 260.2 miles (418.8 km), with a travel time of about 04h 21m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 226.1 miles (363.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 42m 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
260.23 mi
04h 21m
Flight
226.02 mi
363.75 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from East Palo Alto.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
226.02 mi
Kilometers
363.75 km
Flight Time
00h 27m

Driving Distance

Road route
260.23 mi
Kilometers
418.8 km
Drive Time
04h 21m

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 04h 21m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Bakersfield
Sat, Apr 18, 12:39 PM PDT
Return by in East Palo Alto
Sat, Apr 18, 5:00 PM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave East Palo Alto
2026-04-18T08:18
Arrive Bakersfield
Sat, Apr 18, 12:39 PM PDT
Route Timing
04h 21m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:21 AM to 12:21 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
8:18 AM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in East Palo Alto
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
Mendota
CA

City in Illinois, United States

From East Palo Alto
129.2 mi
02h 10m
To Bakersfield
131 mi
02h 10m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
70°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
3 to 8 mph SSW
Destination
83°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph W

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between East Palo Alto and Bakersfield.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between East Palo Alto and Bakersfield.

  1. 1

    Start on University Avenue

    1160 ft · 48 sec · University Avenue

  2. 2

    Continue on University Avenue

    1.5 km · 3 min · University Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn left onto US 101 South: San Jose

    1523 ft · 41 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left onto Bayshore Freeway

    4.7 mi · 5 min · Bayshore Freeway

  5. 5

    Keep slight left to continue on Bayshore Freeway

    42.4 mi · 49 min · Bayshore Freeway

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward CA 152 East: 10th Street, Pacheco Pass Road

    1539 ft · 40 sec

  7. 7

    Turn left onto East 10th Street

    108 m · 13 sec · East 10th Street

  8. 8

    Continue on Pacheco Pass Highway

    40.6 mi · 50 min · Pacheco Pass Highway

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward I 5: Los Angeles

    3148 ft · 1 min

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway

    149.3 mi · 2 hr 40 min · Westside Freeway

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward Stockdale Highway

    1185 ft · 36 sec

  12. 12

    Turn left onto Stockdale Highway

    4.8 mi · 7 min · Stockdale Highway

  13. 13

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Stockdale Highway

    39 m · 2 sec · Stockdale Highway

  14. 14

    Exit the roundabout onto Stockdale Highway

    4.3 mi · 6 min · Stockdale Highway

  15. 15

    Continue on Westside Parkway

    6.7 mi · 8 min · Westside Parkway

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right

    2846 ft · 1 min

  17. 17

    Turn straight onto Truxtun Avenue

    2.2 mi · 4 min · Truxtun Avenue

  18. 18

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Truxtun Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between East Palo Alto and Bakersfield.

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
18 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
2 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
6.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Westside Freeway
149 mi · 57%
Bayshore Freeway
47.1 mi · 18%
Pacheco Pass Highway
40.6 mi · 16%
Stockdale Highway
9.43 mi · 4%
Westside Parkway
7.28 mi · 3%
Truxtun Avenue
2.22 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Westside Freeway

Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway

149 mi · 02h 40m

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
04h 21m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 42m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+34.1 mi
226.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Mendota
02h 10m from East Palo Alto
Leave By
8:18 AM PDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving East Palo Alto and Mostly Sunny near Bakersfield.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from East Palo Alto to Bakersfield?

The road trip is about 260.2 miles (418.8 km) and usually takes 04h 21m 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?

Mendota is a useful midpoint, sitting about 129.2 miles from East Palo Alto and 131 miles from Bakersfield.

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

The direct path is about 226.1 miles (363.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 34.1 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 8:18 AM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $52.96 one way or $105.92 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 81.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around East Palo Alto and Mostly Sunny near Bakersfield.

Stop Ideas Near Mendota

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

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

RAIL

Madera

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

Fresno station

53 mi away
2650 Tulare St.
BUS

Lemoore (Naval Air Station), California

60 mi away
25th Ave and Highway 198
RAIL

Merced station

62 mi away
324 West 24th St

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between East Palo Alto and Bakersfield. Straight-line distance: 226.02 mi (363.75 km).

East Palo Alto

#1 East Palo Alto

City in San Mateo County, California, United States

Population29,059
Coordinates37.4688300, -122.1410800
Altitude6
CountryUnited States
Bakersfield

#2 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
Start: University Avenue (-122.141179, 37.46887)
End: Truxtun Avenue (-119.01871, 35.373244)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 419 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 40m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 30m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 12m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 20m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 43m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 14m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.18 gal
34.76 L · about $52.96
Round trip
$105.92
18.36 gal · 69.52 L
Estimated CO2
81.6 kg one way
Round trip: 163.2 kg / 360 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $52.96 $105.92
Mid-grade $6.07 $55.69 $111.37
Premium $6.24 $57.31 $114.62
Diesel $7.57 $69.47 $138.93

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 East Palo Alto and Bakersfield. The current time is 08:18:31.

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.