From Barstow (2 hours, 15 minutes):  Take Highway 58 west to the junction with Highway 395 (Kramer Junction); then north on 395 to 178 (Inyokern); west on 178 to 14; south on 14 three miles to 178 again; west on 178 to the Kern Valley. Total miles: 125.

From Bishop (3 hours, 15 minutes): Take Highway 395 south to where Highway 14 south splits off. Take Highway 14 south 10 miles to Highway 178 west. Take Highway 178 west over Walker Pass to the Kern Valley. Total miles: 150.

From Fresno (2 hours, 30 minutes): Take 99 south to Bakersfield. Then take 178 east to the Kern Valley. Total miles: 150.

From Laughlin-Bullhead City (5 hours): Take 95 south to I-40. Take 1-40 west to Barstow. Take Highway 58 west to the junction with Highway 395 (Kramer Junction); then north on 395 to 178 (Inyokern); west on 178 to 14; south on 14 three miles to 178 again; west on 178 to the Kern Valley.

From Lancaster (2 hours): Take Highway 14 north through Mojave to the 178 turnoff (40 miles northeast of Mojave). Turn left and go west over Walker Pass to the Kern Valley. Total miles: 100.

From Las Vegas (5 hours): Take 1-15 south to Highway 58 (in Barstow). Take Highway 58 west to the junction with Highway 395 (Kramer Junction); then north on 395 to 178 (at Inyokern); west on 178 to 14; south on 14 three miles to 178 again; west on 178 to the Kern Valley. Total miles: 280.

From Long Beach (3 hours 30 minutes for the I-5 route; 3 hours 45 minutes for the Highway 14 route): See above for "To the Kern Valley from the west side of L.A." Total miles: 180.

From Los Angeles (2 hours 30 minutes for the 1-5 route; 2 hours 45 minutes for the Highway 14 route): From the west side of L.A. - You can take 1-5 north over the Grapevine, then take either route 99 north into Bakersfield to meet Highway 178 east, or take Highway 184 north through Lamont to meet Highway 178 east. Or you can take Highway 14 through Mojave to Highway 178 west over Walker Pass. From the eastside ofL.A. Take Highway 395 north to Highway 178 (at Inyokern). Take 178 west to Highway 14 south for three miles, then turn right on Highway 178 west again over Walker Pass. Total miles: 150 following the I-5 route; 160 along Highway 14.

From Orange County Take either the route from the west side of L.A. or the east side of L.A. north to the Kern Valley. See those listings above.

From Palmdale (2 hours, 10 minutes): Take Highway 14 north through Mojave to the 178 turnoff (40 miles northeast of Mojave). Turn left and go west over Walker Pass to the Kern Valley. Total miles: 110.

From Palm Springs (3 hours, 45 minutes): Take I-10 west to I-15 north. After Cajon Pass, take 395 north to 178 (at Inyokern). Take 178 west to Highway 14, turn left and go south on Highway 14 three miles, and then turn right on Highway 178 again, west over Walker Pass into the Kern Valley. Total miles: 220.

From Paso Robles-Atascadero-Morro Bay (3 hours, 30 minutes): Take Highway 46 east to Highway 99. Take Highway 99 south to Highway 178 (in Bakersfield). Take Highway 178 east to the Kern Valley. Total miles: 200 from Paso Robles.

From Phoenix (8 hours): Take I-10 west to I-15 north (in the L.A. area.) After Cajon Pass, take 395 north to 178 (at Inyokern). Take 178 west to Highway 14, turn left and go south on Highway 14 three miles, and then turn right on Highway 178 again, west over Walker Pass into the Kern Valley. Total miles: 480.

From Reno (6 hours, 30 minutes): Take Highway 395 south to Highway 14 south. Take Highway 14 south 10 miles to Highway 178 west. Take Highway 178 west over Walker Pass to the Kern Valley. Total miles: 375.

From Ridgecrest (1 hour): Take Highway 178 west to Highway 14, south on 14 three miles to 178 again; west on 178 to the Kern Valley. Total miles: 50.

From Sacramento (5 hours, 45 minutes): Take 99 south to Highway 178 east (in Bakersfield). Or take I-5 south and then 46 (just north of Bakersfield) east to 99 south; then to 178 east (in Bakersfield). Take 178 east to the Kern Valley. Total miles: 325.

From San Diego-Escondido-Oceanside (4 hours, 45 minutes): Take either I-5 north (see "To the Kern Valley from the west side of L.A." above) or I-15 north to Highway 395 (see "To the Kern Valley from the east side of L.A." above.) Total miles: 275.

From San Francisco (5 hours, 30 minutes): Take I-580 east to 1-5. Take 1-5 south to Highway 46. Take Highway 46 east to Highway 99. Take Highway 99 south to Highway 178 (in Bakersfield). Take Highway 178 east to the Kern Valley. Total miles: 340.

From San Jose (5 hours): Take 152  east over Pacheco  Pass to 1-5. Take I-5 south to Highway 46. Take Highway 46 east to Highway 99. Take Highway 99 south to Highway 178 (in Bakersfield). Take Highway 178 east to the Kern Valley. Total miles: 270.

From San Luis Obispo - Arroyo Grande - Santa Maria (3 hours, 30 minutes): Take Highway 166 east from Santa Maria to Highway 99. Take Highway 99 north to Highway 178 (in Bakersfield). Take Highway 178 east to the Kern Valley. Total miles: 200.

From Ventura - Oxnard (3 hours): Take Highway 126 east to I-5. Take 1-5 north to where Highway 99 splits off. Take 99 north to 178 east (in Bakersfield). Take 178 east to the Kern Valley. Total miles: 165.

From Victorville - Apple Valley (2 hours, 45 minutes):  Take   395   north   to   178  (at Inyokern). Take 178 west to Highway 14, turn left and go south on Highway 14 three miles, and then turn right on Highway 178 again, west over Walker Pass into the Kern Valley. Total miles: 140.