How Much Does it Cost to Drive From Bakersfield, California, to Indianapolis, Indiana?

If you’re planning a road trip from Bakersfield, California to Indianapolis, Indiana, you’re in for an adventure! However, before you hit the open road, you'll need to consider the cost of your journey. In this blog post, we’ll break down the different driving routes, distances, times, and costs so you can plan your trip accordingly.

Route 1: The Northern Route

If you choose to take the northern route from Bakersfield, California to Indianapolis, Indiana, you’ll be driving approximately 2,583 miles. This route is the longest but probably the cheapest.

The estimated driving time for this route is 39 hours and 54 minutes. You'll spend more than two days on the road.

Using California gas prices, estimated at $3.80 per gallon, and Indiana gas prices, estimated at $2.60 per gallon, you can expect to spend around $345.78 on gas alone.

Toll prices will add a little extra cost, but they usually aren't that expensive.

Overall, you should budget at least $400 for gas and tolls for this route.

Route 2: The Southern Route

The southern route offers a shorter distance of approximately 2,178 miles and an estimated driving time of 33 hours and 56 minutes.

Using the same gas prices as Route 1, you can expect to spend about $304.92 on gas alone.

The toll prices may be the same or a bit more than when you take the Northern route. It's recommended to check out the estimated toll fees before your journey.

Overall budget for the gas and toll expenses is around $350.

Route 3: The Middle Route

The middle route gives a driving distance of around 2,290 miles and an estimated driving time of 35 hours and 2 minutes.

The estimated fuel expenses for this route are about $323.15 using the same gas prices as the previous two routes.

You may come across a few tolls, but they will not serve as a huge expense.

Expect to budget around $370 for gas and tolls for this route.

Conclusion

When you plan to drive from Bakersfield, California to Indianapolis, Indiana, consider your budget and the amount of time you can spend on the road.

While taking the northern route may be the longest, it is also the cheapest of the three. On the other hand, the southern route is shorter with a little extra expense in gas and tolls.

The middle route offers a convenient distance and travel time but comes with slightly expensive fuel expenses.

No matter which route you choose to take, ensure you have a comfortable and exciting trip! Remember to be aware of the gas prices and tolls as they may be subject to change.