Bakersfield's Three State Routes Clog Daily Commutes, Draining Driver Wallets

Bakersfield drivers lose an average of 19 hours per year in traffic congestion, at a cost of $531 annually in lost time and wasted fuel. This pattern held steady through the week ending July 15, 2026, on the routes that serve the city.

Bakersfield relies on State Route 99, State Route 58, and State Route 178 for its primary freeway access. Interstate 5 passes several miles west of the city limits, leaving Bakersfield among the largest U.S. cities without a direct interstate connection. The absence of that direct link funnels regional traffic onto the three state routes that cross the metro area.

Road Conditions and Funding Shortfalls

Fifty-three percent of major roads and highways in the Bakersfield area sit in poor or mediocre condition. Inadequate state and local funding has left pavement and infrastructure maintenance lagging. The resulting ride quality adds to the time drivers already spend in congestion on SR 99, SR 58, and SR 178.

Golden Empire Transit operates the only public bus service in the city. GET runs 18 routes that connect local destinations, including service to Meadows Field Airport. The system maintains two main hubs: the Downtown Transit Center and the Valley Plaza Transit Center. Riders can reach the airport eight miles north of downtown on these routes.

Alternative Travel Options

Meadows Field Airport handles commercial flights while Amtrak’s San Joaquin Route, also known as the Gold Runner, ends its line in Bakersfield. These options provide some relief from freeway driving for longer trips, though most daily travel still occurs on the three state routes.

Residents can monitor conditions on the major corridors through local traffic resources and plan trips around the two GET transit centers when schedules align. Checking route status before peak hours remains the most direct step available under current infrastructure.