Okay, so I decided to drive from Bakersfield, California to Phoenix, Arizona. It’s a pretty hefty drive, so I wanted to be prepared. First thing I did was check my car. You know, the basics.
Checking the car
- Checked the oil. Made sure it was topped up.
- Checked the tire pressure. They were a little low, so I pumped them up to what the sticker on the door said.
- Checked the coolant. Didn’t want the car overheating in the desert!
- Filled up the gas tank, obviously.
After I had all that, made sure the car was ok. I started planning out the route.
Figuring Out the Route
There are few ways go get from Bakersfield to Phoenix. I wanted the fastest route, so I went online, search for the some direction, and found out the fastest way is:
- Get on CA-58 East from some local roads.
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Follow CA-58 E and I-40 E to Needles.
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Take exit US-95 South in Arizona.
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Continued on US-95 S. Drive to Phoenix.
I printed out the maps and directions, just in case my phone died or something. Old school, I know, but better safe than sorry.
Packing Essentials
This is a desert drive, so I packed a bunch of water. Seriously, like a whole case of bottled water. I also threw in some snacks – granola bars, trail mix, some fruit. Didn’t want to be stopping every hour for food. And of course, sunscreen. Lots of sunscreen.
Hitting the Road
I left Bakersfield early in the morning, like around 6 AM. Wanted to beat the worst of the heat. The drive through the Mojave Desert was…well, it was a desert. Lots of nothing. But I had my music cranked up, and the AC blasting, so it was manageable. I did see some pretty cool rock formations, though.
Stops Along the Way
I made a couple of pit stops. One in Barstow for gas and a bathroom break. Then another one somewhere in Arizona, just to stretch my legs and grab a cold drink. I tried to keep the stops short, because I really just wanted to get to Phoenix.
Arriving in Phoenix
Got into Phoenix in the late afternoon. It was HOT. Like, ridiculously hot. But I made it! The drive was long, but pretty uneventful, which is a good thing. I checked into my hotel, cranked up the AC, and chugged a bottle of water. Success!
