How far is Emerald Lake Hills, CA from Bakersfield, CA?

The driving distance from Emerald Lake Hills, CA to Bakersfield, CA is about 266 miles (428.1 km), with a travel time of about 04h 29m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 231.3 miles (372.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 58m 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
265.98 mi
04h 29m
Flight
231.31 mi
372.26 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Emerald Lake Hills.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
231.31 mi
Kilometers
372.26 km
Flight Time
00h 27m

Driving Distance

Road route
265.98 mi
Kilometers
428.06 km
Drive Time
04h 29m

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 29m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Bakersfield
Sun, Apr 19, 1:39 AM PDT
Return by in Emerald Lake Hills
Sun, Apr 19, 6:08 AM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Emerald Lake Hills
2026-04-18T21:10
Arrive Bakersfield
Sun, Apr 19, 1:39 AM PDT
Route Timing
04h 29m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:29 AM to 12:29 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
8:02 AM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Emerald Lake Hills
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 Emerald Lake Hills
132.8 mi
02h 14m
To Bakersfield
133.2 mi
02h 14m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
70°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
2 to 7 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 Emerald Lake Hills and Bakersfield.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Emerald Lake Hills and Bakersfield.

  1. 1

    Start on Midland Way

    51 m · 10 sec · Midland Way

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Vernal Way

    653 ft · 23 sec · Vernal Way

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Lakeview Way

    1586 ft · 54 sec · Lakeview Way

  4. 4

    Continue on Lakeview Way

    55 m · 6 sec · Lakeview Way

  5. 5

    Turn slight left onto Jefferson Avenue

    1191 ft · 34 sec · Jefferson Avenue

  6. 6

    Turn right onto Emerald Hill Road

    2381 ft · 1 min · Emerald Hill Road

  7. 7

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Farm Hill Boulevard

    1.2 mi · 3 min · Farm Hill Boulevard

  8. 8

    Take the ramp left toward I 280 South: San Jose

    1862 ft · 45 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Junipero Serra Freeway

    14 mi · 16 min · Junipero Serra Freeway

  10. 10

    Take the exit right toward CA 85 South: Gilroy

    2422 ft · 59 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto West Valley Freeway

    18.1 mi · 21 min · West Valley Freeway

  12. 12

    Continue on US 101 South

    1922 ft · 27 sec

  13. 13

    Continue straight

    20.3 mi · 23 min

  14. 14

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

    1539 ft · 40 sec

  15. 15

    Turn left onto East 10th Street

    108 m · 13 sec · East 10th Street

  16. 16

    Continue on Pacheco Pass Highway

    40.6 mi · 50 min · Pacheco Pass Highway

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward I 5: Los Angeles

    3148 ft · 1 min

  18. 18

    Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway

    149.3 mi · 2 hr 40 min · Westside Freeway

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward Stockdale Highway

    1185 ft · 34 sec

  20. 20

    Turn left onto Stockdale Highway

    4.8 mi · 7 min · Stockdale Highway

  21. 21

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Stockdale Highway

    39 m · 2 sec · Stockdale Highway

  22. 22

    Exit the roundabout onto Stockdale Highway

    4.3 mi · 6 min · Stockdale Highway

  23. 23

    Continue on Westside Parkway

    6.7 mi · 8 min · Westside Parkway

  24. 24

    Take the exit slight right

    2846 ft · 1 min

  25. 25

    Turn straight onto Truxtun Avenue

    2.2 mi · 4 min · Truxtun Avenue

  26. 26

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Truxtun Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Emerald Lake Hills 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
26 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
11
3 merges, 8 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Westside Freeway
149 mi · 56%
Pacheco Pass Highway
40.6 mi · 15%
US 101 South
20.6 mi · 8%
West Valley Freeway
18.1 mi · 7%
Junipero Serra Freeway
14 mi · 5%
Stockdale Highway
9.43 mi · 4%
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 29m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 58m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+34.7 mi
231.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Mendota
02h 14m from Emerald Lake Hills
Leave By
8:02 AM PDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Emerald Lake Hills 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 Emerald Lake Hills to Bakersfield?

The road trip is about 266 miles (428.1 km) and usually takes 04h 29m 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 132.8 miles from Emerald Lake Hills and 133.2 miles from Bakersfield.

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

The direct path is about 231.3 miles (372.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 34.7 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 8:02 AM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $54.17 one way or $108.34 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 83.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Emerald Lake Hills 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 Emerald Lake Hills and Bakersfield. Straight-line distance: 231.31 mi (372.26 km).

Emerald Lake Hills

#1 Emerald Lake Hills

Census-designated place and neighborhood in unincorporated San Mateo County, in the state of California

Population4,278
Coordinates37.4646600, -122.2680200
Altitude159
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: Midland Way (-122.26777, 37.464424)
End: Truxtun Avenue (-119.01871, 35.373244)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 428 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 51m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 38m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 19m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 25m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 47m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 19m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.39 gal
35.53 L · about $54.17
Round trip
$108.34
18.78 gal · 71.06 L
Estimated CO2
83.4 kg one way
Round trip: 166.9 kg / 368 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $54.17 $108.34
Mid-grade $6.07 $56.96 $113.92
Premium $6.24 $58.62 $117.24
Diesel $7.57 $71.05 $142.11

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 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Emerald Lake Hills and Bakersfield. The current time is 21:10:15.

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.