"Cruising Through Kern County: Driving from Bakersfield to Ridgecrest"

If you're planning a road trip from Bakersfield to Ridgecrest, you might be wondering how long it will take you to get there. The good news is that it's only about an hour-long journey, but the route you take could affect the time it takes you to arrive. Here are the fastest and slowest options for driving the 72 miles between these two Kern County towns.

Fastest route

For the quickest route from Bakersfield to Ridgecrest, you'll want to take California State Route 58 E and US-395 N. This route is 72 miles long, and you should be able to complete it in about an hour, depending on traffic patterns. According to Google Maps, the average time of travel is around 1 hr 9 mins.

Slowest route

If you're not worried about speed, you could take a more scenic route along California State Route 178 E. This route takes you through scenic deserts and canyons, but it's longer and slower than the more direct route. According to Google Maps, this route is approximately 73 miles and takes 2 hrs and 13 mins for completion.

Traffic patterns

The time it takes to get from Bakersfield to Ridgecrest can vary depending on traffic, especially during rush hour. If you're driving during peak traffic times, it may take you up to 2 hours to get there. It's always best to check traffic conditions on the day of your trip and plan accordingly if you want to reach your destination as quickly as possible.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel are either early in the morning or late at night when there is less traffic congestion. This will enable you to complete the trip to Ridgecrest within an hour or so. If you're driving during the day, the drive can take closer to two hours.

Ultimately, the choice is yours: do you want to take the fastest or most scenic route? No matter which one you choose, you can enjoy a relatively short drive from Bakersfield to Ridgecrest. Safe travels!