How far is Pismo Beach, CA from Bakersfield, CA?

The driving distance from Pismo Beach, CA to Bakersfield, CA is about 134.6 miles (216.6 km), with a travel time of about 02h 31m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 92.9 miles (149.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 02m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
134.56 mi
02h 31m
Flight
92.92 mi
149.54 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Pismo Beach.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
92.92 mi
Kilometers
149.54 km
Flight Time
00h 11m

Driving Distance

Road route
134.56 mi
Kilometers
216.55 km
Drive Time
02h 31m

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 02h 31m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Bakersfield
Wed, Apr 29, 7:36 AM PDT
Return by in Pismo Beach
Wed, Apr 29, 10:07 AM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Pismo Beach
2026-04-29T05:04
Arrive Bakersfield
Wed, Apr 29, 7:36 AM PDT
Route Timing
02h 31m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:31 AM to 12:31 PM PDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
1:28 PM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Pismo Beach
9:30 PM PDT
Morning start is best

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
Taft Heights
CA

Census designated place

From Pismo Beach
67.2 mi
01h 15m
To Bakersfield
67.4 mi
01h 15m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
Pismo Beach Weather
CA
Live fallback forecast
52°F
Overnight
Using Grover Beach as the closest live forecast in the San Luis Obispo County weather hub.

Patchy Fog

Starts
Wed, Apr 29 2:00 AM PDT
Wind
5 mph NNW
Destination
52°F
Overnight

Clear

Starts
Wed, Apr 29 1:00 AM PDT
Wind
0 mph

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Pismo Beach and Bakersfield.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Pismo Beach and Bakersfield.

  1. 1

    Start on Price Street

    1531 ft · 1 min · Price Street

  2. 2

    Take the ramp straight toward US 101

    1456 ft · 35 sec

  3. 3

    Merge slight left onto El Camino Real

    15.1 mi · 17 min · El Camino Real

  4. 4

    Take the exit slight right toward CA 166 East: Maricopa, Bakersfield

    1139 ft · 33 sec

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Cuyama Highway

    75.8 mi · 1 hr 29 min · Cuyama Highway

  6. 6

    Continue on Poso Street

    596 ft · 17 sec · Poso Street

  7. 7

    Turn left onto California Street

    2112 ft · 52 sec · California Street

  8. 8

    Continue on West Side Highway

    5.7 mi · 8 min · West Side Highway

  9. 9

    Continue on Taft Highway

    16.7 mi · 23 min · Taft Highway

  10. 10

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward SR 119/SR43 Taft Hwy Roundabout

    95 m · 5 sec · Enos Lane

  11. 11

    Exit the rotary onto Enos Lane

    6 mi · 9 min · Enos Lane

  12. 12

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Stockdale Highway

    5 m · 1 sec · Stockdale Highway

  13. 13

    Exit the roundabout onto Stockdale Highway

    4.3 mi · 6 min · Stockdale Highway

  14. 14

    Continue on Westside Parkway

    6.7 mi · 8 min · Westside Parkway

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right

    2846 ft · 1 min

  16. 16

    Turn straight onto Truxtun Avenue

    2.2 mi · 4 min · Truxtun Avenue

  17. 17

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Truxtun Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Pismo Beach 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
17 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
1 merges, 7 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
12.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Cuyama Highway
75.8 mi · 56%
Taft Highway
16.7 mi · 12%
El Camino Real
15.1 mi · 11%
Westside Parkway
7.28 mi · 5%
Enos Lane
6 mi · 4%
West Side Highway
5.72 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

Cuyama Highway

Turn left onto Cuyama Highway

75.8 mi · 01h 29m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
02h 31m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 02m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+41.7 mi
92.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Taft Heights
01h 15m from Pismo Beach
Leave By
1:28 PM PDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Patchy Fog leaving Pismo Beach and Clear near Bakersfield.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Pismo Beach to Bakersfield?

The road trip is about 134.6 miles (216.6 km) and usually takes 02h 31m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Taft Heights is a useful midpoint, sitting about 67.2 miles from Pismo Beach and 67.4 miles from Bakersfield.

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

The direct path is about 92.9 miles (149.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 41.7 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 1:28 PM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $27.40 one way or $54.81 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 42.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Patchy Fog around Pismo Beach and Clear near Bakersfield.

Stop Ideas Near Taft Heights

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

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

RAIL

Bakersfield

49 mi away
601 Truxtun Ave
RAIL

Wasco station

53 mi away
700 G Street
RAIL

Carpinteria station

82 mi away
475 Linden at Fifth Street
RAIL

Santa Barbara

83 mi away
209 State Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Pismo Beach and Bakersfield. Straight-line distance: 92.92 mi (149.54 km).

Pismo Beach

#1 Pismo Beach

City of California, United States

Population7,955
Coordinates35.1427500, -120.6412800
Altitude17
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: Price Street (-120.641283, 35.142775)
End: Truxtun Avenue (-119.01871, 35.373244)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 217 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 29m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 21m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 41m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 14m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 55m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 40m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
4.75 gal
17.97 L · about $27.40
Round trip
$54.81
9.5 gal · 35.94 L
Estimated CO2
42.2 kg one way
Round trip: 84.4 kg / 186 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $27.40 $54.81
Mid-grade $6.07 $28.81 $57.63
Premium $6.24 $29.65 $59.31
Diesel $7.57 $35.94 $71.89

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 29, 2026

There is no time difference between Pismo Beach and Bakersfield. The current time is 05:04:48.

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.