How far is Kernville, CA from Los Angeles, CA?
The driving distance from Kernville, CA to Los Angeles, CA is about 161.1 miles (259.3 km), with a travel time of about 03h 07m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 118.1 miles (190 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 14m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 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 03h 07m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
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, United States of America
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Kernville and Los Angeles.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kernville and Los Angeles.
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1
Start on Big Blue Road
12 m · 3 sec · Big Blue Road
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2
Turn right onto Kernville Road
93 m · 6 sec · Kernville Road
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3
Continue on Burlando Road
3.2 mi · 6 min · Burlando Road
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4
Continue on Wofford Boulevard
1 mi · 2 min · Wofford Boulevard
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5
Continue on Wofford Heights Boulevard
6.5 mi · 10 min · Wofford Heights Boulevard
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6
Take the ramp right
1102 ft · 27 sec
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7
Merge slight left onto Isabella Walker Pass Road
1.4 mi · 2 min · Isabella Walker Pass Road
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8
Continue on Route 178
31.9 mi · 46 min · Route 178
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9
Continue on CHP Officer David W. Manning Memorial Freeway
7.3 mi · 9 min · CHP Officer David W. Manning Memorial Freeway
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10
Continue on 24th Street
1.4 mi · 2 min · 24th Street
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11
Continue on Rosedale Highway
1552 ft · 30 sec · Rosedale Highway
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12
Take the ramp slight right toward CA 99 South, CA 58 East
1895 ft · 48 sec
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13
Merge slight left onto Golden State Freeway
25.7 mi · 28 min · Golden State Freeway
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14
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
58.2 mi · 1 hr 7 min · Golden State Freeway
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15
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
4.1 mi · 5 min · Golden State Freeway
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16
Keep slight right to continue on I 405 South
1354 ft · 18 sec
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17
Keep slight left
5.3 mi · 6 min
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18
Take the exit slight right toward CA 170 South: Hollywood
2508 ft · 33 sec
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19
Continue on Hollywood Freeway
16.2 mi · 21 min · Hollywood Freeway
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20
Take the exit slight right toward Broadway
636 ft · 17 sec
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21
Continue on West Aliso Street
125 m · 18 sec · West Aliso Street
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22
Turn right onto North Spring Street
1455 ft · 36 sec · North Spring Street
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23
Turn left onto West 1st Street
108 m · 12 sec · West 1st Street
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24
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · West 1st Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Kernville and Los Angeles.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
Golden State Freeway
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
58.2 mi · 01h 07m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Sunny leaving Kernville and Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny near Los Angeles.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Kernville to Los Angeles?
The road trip is about 161.1 miles (259.3 km) and usually takes 03h 07m 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?
Lebec is a useful midpoint, sitting about 82.3 miles from Kernville and 78.9 miles from Los Angeles.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 118.1 miles (190 km), while the road route adds roughly 43 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 10:46 AM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $32.77 one way or $65.54 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 50.5 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Kernville and Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny near Los Angeles.
Stop Ideas Near Lebec
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 Lebec.
Fillmore, California
Tehachapi, California
Santa Paula, California
Santa Clarita-Newhall, California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Kernville and Los Angeles. Straight-line distance: 118.08 mi (190.03 km).
#1 Kernville
Census-designated place in the southern Sierra Nevada, in Kern County, California, United States
| Population | 1,395 |
| Coordinates | 35.7546700, -118.4253600 |
| Altitude | 813 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Los Angeles
The second most populous city in the United States and the center of the Los Angeles metropolitan area.
| Population | 3,970,219 |
| Coordinates | 34.0522300, -118.2436800 |
| Altitude | 89 |
| Country | United States |
End: West 1st Street (-118.24357, 34.05234)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 259 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 05h 22m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 04h 01m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 03h 13m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 02h 41m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 02h 18m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 02h 00m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $32.77 | $65.54 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $34.45 | $68.91 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $35.46 | $70.92 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $42.98 | $85.96 |
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 · May 31, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.