Hwy 14 to Bakersfield via Hwy 58

[tach18k]

Has anyone done this route, I'm heading up north from WW and it looks a bit easier and less traffic.

[skwal]

I've recently been up and down the 395 where it intersects with the 58.  It appears at that point there is a lot of semi-truck traffic that is on the 58, both east and west bound.  However, I will admit that I don't have first hand experience being on the 58 from the 14 west to Bakersfield (at the 99).  So, the truck traffic I see may not be applicable west of the 14 on the 58.  Good luck!

[countrygirl]

We travel that route multiple times a year we like it a lot better then going up 5 its much more relaxing. What exactly do you want to know?

[ForestGal]

My parents used to live in Bakersfield and I would always take 138>14>58 when I would go to visit them.  They moved to Portland in 1992 and I hadn't had much occasion to go to Bakersfield for many years.  Then last year in October I went up for a "milestone" high school class reunion and learned a way to get around the traffic in Palmdale.  Then a couple months ago I went back up for a lunch reunion with some of my former classmates, and coming home that time I avoided the 14 altogether, by driving through the desert on this side of the 14, then desert and through the Tehachapi hills on the west side of the 14.  You still have to take the 58 between Tehachapi and Bakersfield, but the majority of the drive that way is prettier than the freeway and much less traffic. 

[AvocadoFlyer]

I've taken 138 to 14/138 then 138 to the 5 then 99.  I used to take the 14 to 58 but found a lot of trucks in the way.  138 is a peaceful, less crowded drive.

[ChrisLynnet]

My favorite way is 138 to 14/138 and up the 58, but that's mostly because the 58 is so pretty through Tehachapi. If you want to get to Bakersfield you can also do 138 to 14/138 and through to the Grapevine, then N on the 5. I take both ways.

[RennMan]

Depending on how familiar you are with the desert roads, this route avoids all the Palmdale/Lancaster traffic:

I usually take:
- 138 westbound to 165th St East,
- 165th/170th northbound through Lake L.A to Avenue J/Saddleback Buttes.
- West on Avenue J to 90th Street East (Wing and A Prayer roadhouse)
- North on 90th to Avenue E
- West on Avenue E to Sierra Highway
- North on Sierra Highway to Avenue D (Highway 138 again)
- West on Avenue D/Highway 138 to either I-14 (north) if you want to take I-14/SR-58 through Tehachapi, or continue West on Avenue D/138 to I-5.

Hope this helps!
Peace
N4MAN

[tach18k]

Yes that helps , thanks all.

[SkierBob]

138 West of the 14 is very dangerous.  Watch for cross traffic at every intersection. 

I lost a friend out there when someone unfamiliar with the area didn't see a stop sign. 

[3PinkRoses]

I'm with SkierBob, dangerous roads and my recommendation...DO NOT drive this route at night if you're unfamiliar with it. You'll probably get lost and a GPS is no help on those dirt roads. You cannot depend on that to get you out of there.
 The Antelope Valley is laid out with Lettered Streets running East and West beginning with A up North by Rosamond, and the Numbered Streets run North and South with Disvision Street being the separation of east and west, example 20th West vs 20th Street East.  hope that helps

[ChrisLynnet]

SkierBob, I like that route (138-5) and have taken it day and night, but you are right to tell people to take care. I got familiar with it in daylight before I drove it at night. It's the same with a lot of rural areas; people pulling out of the side streets don't necessarily expect anyone to be there!

[RennMan]

The Antelope Valley is laid out with Lettered Streets running East and West beginning with A up North by Rosamond, and the Numbered Streets run North and South with Disvision Street being the separation of east and west, example 20th West vs 20th Street East.  hope that helps

Additionally, every 10th street (10th, 20th, 30th, etc.) and lettered street (A, B, C, etc.) are one mile apart.  So, in  my example above, it is one mile from Ave E to Ave D/SR-138.  This is the grid plan that is used in the Antelope Valley.  Avenue A south of Rosamond is essentially the San Bernardino/Kern county line.

However, it is also true that just because the roads are laid out in a grid, doesn't mean that all roads connect, even dirt roads.  And a GPS receiver is of no help in many cases, since it may show a road that connects to another road, but in reality the road stops somewhere else.  You have to be smarter than the machine, especially on the desert roads.

Peace

[YardBird]

Rennman, this is the only one you missed on..... "Avenue A south of Rosamond is essentially the San Bernardino/Kern county line".  These are my stomping grounds..  Avenue A is actually MY street and is the Los Angeles / Kern County line.

Tach18K,
To avoid virtually all of the traffic between WW and Tehachapi, where you would connect with Hwy 58, this is the better route and the one I use.  No Palmdale, Lancaster, Rosamond or Mojave traffic.

From Phelan:
Sheep Creek to El Mirage Rd.
El Mirage Rd. to 240th West
North on 240th  to Avenue J
Left on Avenue J to 140th West
Right on 140th to Avenue E
Left on Avenue E to Sierra Hwy
Right on Sierra Hwy to Avenue D (138)  (less than a mile)
Avenue D / 138 to 90th Street West aka Willow Springs Road
Right on 90th Street West / WSR to Tehachapi Blvd.
Left on Tehachapi Blvd to Hwy 58 on - ramp.  (about a mile)

Five stop signs, no traffic to speak of and about 30 miles into Bakersfield from here.

If you're traveling in daylight and have a few minutes to spare, take the Arvin turn off and scope out the (relatively) new Bakersfield National Cemetery which is about half a mile south.  They've created a beautiful final resting place for our Fallen Heros and you can drive through it.  Not sure about this time of the year, but in the winter and spring it's gorgeous.

 

[3PinkRoses]

Again, I recommend NOT driving this at night. There's nothing out there and you can easily get lost. We always stop and use the restroom at Saddleback Butte State park and you're actually driving past Lake Los Angeles where that SF judge wants to drop off that bad dude Christopher Hubbard. I believe one gets a whole new perspective on life when driving in that area. Have fun!

[RennMan]

Thanks YardBird!  I did mess up that one pretty badly.  Thanks for correcting me 

I wholeheartedly agree with not driving these roads at night unless you know them well.  Many's the time I've come home late at night from Edwards AFB and gone through that area.  On  a moonless or cloudy night, with no landmarks to guide you, it can be very confusing.

There is actually another way around Lake L.A. by going west on Palmdale road, to 150th East, then winding around the mountain, passing two different TV/movie sets (the Four Aces motel/diner and Club Ed, both of which are used extensively), then ending up on Avenue J again. The roads are all paved, but shoulders are sandy, and drifting off the pavement can result in a tow truck helping you out of a situation.  Don't ask me how I know this...

Peace