How far is South Lake Tahoe, CA from Bakersfield, CA?
The driving distance from South Lake Tahoe, CA to Bakersfield, CA is about 370.4 miles (596.1 km), with a travel time of about 06h 37m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 251.7 miles (405 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 13h 15m 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 06h 37m.
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.
The most populous city in Stanislaus County, California.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between South Lake Tahoe and Bakersfield.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Lake Tahoe and Bakersfield.
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1
Start on El Dorado Avenue
688 ft · 24 sec · El Dorado Avenue
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2
At the end of the road, turn left onto Oakland Avenue
1994 ft · 57 sec · Oakland Avenue
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3
Turn right onto Los Angeles Avenue
1185 ft · 35 sec · Los Angeles Avenue
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4
At the end of the road, turn right onto Lake Tahoe Boulevard
2.4 mi · 5 min · Lake Tahoe Boulevard
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5
Turn left onto Emerald Bay Road
4 mi · 6 min · Emerald Bay Road
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6
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward the route
19 m · 1 sec
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7
Exit the roundabout
1.4 km · 2 min
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8
Take the exit slight right toward US 50
139 m · 9 sec
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9
Merge slight left
84.9 mi · 1 hr 48 min
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10
Take the exit slight right toward Bradshaw Road
1476 ft · 41 sec
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11
Turn left onto Bradshaw Road
9 mi · 13 min · Bradshaw Road
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12
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Bradshaw Road
25 m · 2 sec · Bradshaw Road
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13
Exit the roundabout onto Bradshaw Road
2.6 mi · 4 min · Bradshaw Road
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14
Turn right onto Grant Line Road
2.2 mi · 3 min · Grant Line Road
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15
Continue on Kammerer Road
596 ft · 10 sec · Kammerer Road
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16
Take the ramp slight right
1634 ft · 42 sec
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17
Merge slight left onto South Sacramento Freeway
42.4 mi · 49 min · South Sacramento Freeway
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18
Keep slight left
109.3 mi · 2 hr 5 min
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19
Keep slight left
41 mi · 44 min
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20
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Highway
58.6 mi · 1 hr 3 min · Golden State Highway
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21
Continue on Golden State Freeway
5.2 mi · 6 min · Golden State Freeway
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22
Keep slight right to continue on Golden State Avenue
1.9 mi · 2 min · Golden State Avenue
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23
Take the exit slight right
145 m · 13 sec
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24
Continue on Golden State Road
583 ft · 12 sec · Golden State Road
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25
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Chester Avenue
59 m · 4 sec · Chester Avenue
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26
Exit the roundabout onto Chester Avenue
1.5 km · 2 min · Chester Avenue
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27
Turn left onto Truxtun Avenue
37 m · 8 sec · Truxtun Avenue
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28
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Truxtun Avenue
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between South Lake Tahoe and Bakersfield.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
South Sacramento Freeway
Keep slight left
109 mi · 02h 05m
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 South Lake Tahoe and Sunny near Bakersfield.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from South Lake Tahoe to Bakersfield?
The road trip is about 370.4 miles (596.1 km) and usually takes 06h 37m 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?
Turlock is a useful midpoint, sitting about 183.5 miles from South Lake Tahoe and 186.9 miles from Bakersfield.
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 118.7 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 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 $75.40 one way or $150.80 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 116.2 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around South Lake Tahoe and Sunny near Bakersfield.
Stop Ideas Near Turlock
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 Turlock.
Denair station
Modesto station
Merced station
Manteca, CA
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between South Lake Tahoe and Bakersfield. Straight-line distance: 251.65 mi (404.99 km).
#1 South Lake Tahoe
City in California
| Population | 22,847 |
| Coordinates | 38.9332400, -119.9843500 |
| Altitude | 1901 |
| Country | United States |
#2 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 |
End: Truxtun Avenue (-119.01871, 35.373244)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 596 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 12h 20m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 09h 15m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 07h 24m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 06h 10m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 05h 17m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 37m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $75.40 | $150.80 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $79.28 | $158.57 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $81.60 | $163.19 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $98.90 | $197.80 |
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.