Bakersfield, CA Road Trips

Bakersfield is one of the fastest growing larger cities in the United States. Bakersfield has a population of approximately 323,000 and a metropolitan area of approximately a half million. Bakersfield is also the birthplace of Korn, one of the best selling and most popular heavy metal bands of the last 25 years. Bakersfield has also produced its share of American football players such as Joey Porter, Frank Gifford, and David Carr. Bakersfield is a very conservative, religious city compared to most of the state. Bakersfield has a hot desert climate. Summer temperatures average around 99 °F (37 °C) during the day and 72 °F (22 °C) at night. Some particularly hot and sweltering summer days can see highs exceeding 105 °F (41 °C) and overnight lows above 81 °F (27 °C).

1 Bakersfield Sign (Bakersfield Neon Arch), Sillect Ave at the intersection of Buck Owens Blvd (GET bus 45 from the downtown transit center). 24hrs. A landmark sign that's sometimes seen in movies and TV shows set in the area. free. (updated Sep 2021) 2 California Living Museum (CALM), 10500 Alfred Harrell Hwy. 9AM-4PM daily. This zoo is in a park like setting in northeastern Bakersfield. It features rare or endangered animals that have been hurt in some way and will never be able to go back to the wild. Adults $9, Seniors $7, Children (3-12) $5, Children (under 3) free. (updated Jun 2015) 3 Kern County Museum, 3801 Chester Ave, ☏ +1 661-437-3330, [email protected]. W-Su 9AM-4PM. A great place to visit, with 56 historic exhibits in a lush shady 16-acre setting. The historical exhibit buildings include everything from an 1800s log cabin to a 1936 gas station, with jails, one-room school, Victorian era homes and everything in between. The Lori Brock Children's Discovery Center is great fun for the kids. Outstanding special events are offered all year. Just a short hop from Highways 204, 99 or 58 this is great stop just north of downtown Bakersfield. Check out the website for more information on current exhibits and special event offerings. Admission is charged, but $8 for adults is a bargain. Picnicking is welcome on regular admission days, and some events offer free admission. Car shows, an annual antique show, and Clock Tower Holidays are all worth the visit.

This city will never be a premier tourist destination, but there are things to do. Ethnic food and culture festivals - including Scottish, Indian, Basque, and Greek - occur in the spring and summer. 1 Murray Family Farms, 6700 General Beale Rd, ☏ +1 661-330-0100. Kern County's major agricultural attraction offers fresh and you-pick produce, educational and group tours, a hay wagon and picnic grounds. (updated Jun 2015) 2 Mechanics Bank Arena, Theater and Convention Center, 1001 Truxtun Ave. Hosts sporting events, concerts, circuses, and other shows throughout the year. (updated Jun 2022) 3 Fox Theater, 2001 H St, [email protected]. The downtown Fox Theater schedules standup comedy and musical guests. Built in 1930 in Spanish Colonial and Art Deco styles, and restored in the 1990s. (updated Sep 2020) CSUB Jazz Events. CSUB Jazz club workshops, coffee shop appearances, etc. 4 Bakersfield Speedway, 5001 N Chester Ave Ext, ☏ +1 661 393-3373, fax: +1 661 393-7085. Bakersfield Speedway is the oldest motor racetrack in California. It is a 1/3-mile (0.5-km) clay oval racetrack featuring a full ticket of races. (updated Jun 2015)

There are numerous chain restaurants throughout the city and in its shopping centers, but there are also plenty of delicious local places to sample. Good Basque food is easy to find. Bakersfield has what is most likely the largest single cluster of Basque restaurants in California. --try Benji's, The Pyrenees or Woolgrowers. Italian food fans might enjoy Rosa's, Luigi's, or Uricchio's. There are several Thai restaurants that have opened in the last couple of years, while Japanese and Indian cuisines are popular as well. 1 Woolworth Diner, 1400 19th St, ☏ +1 661 321-0061. M-Sa 10:30AM-4PM, Su Noon-4PM. One of the last original, functioning lunch counters of the defunct Woolworth department store. Serves burgers, hot dogs, milkshakes, floats, ice cream and fries. (updated Sep 2021) 2 Mama Roomba, 1814 Eye St (Downtown), ☏ +1 661-322-6262, [email protected]. M–F 11AM–10PM, Sa 5-10PM. Caribbean. (updated Jun 2015) 3 Flames & Skewers, 1201 24th St (Downtown). Middle Eastern. (updated Jun 2015) 4 24th Street Cafe, 1415 24th St. A favorite breakfast spot serving hearty American food. (updated Jun 2015) 5 Dewar's Candy Shop, 1120 Eye St, ☏ +1 661 322-0933. 10AM-9PM. A local ice cream parlor and candy shop that has been featured on the Travel Channel on several occasions. Make sure that you try one of their famous black and whites and don't forget to buy a box of Dewar's chews on your way out! (updated Jun 2022)

Bakersfield's bar and club scene is primarily centered in the downtown area around the intersection of 19th St & Eye St, but most microbreweries are bit further out. There is a Brewery Trail with prizes after checking in at a few breweries. 1 Lengthwise Brewing Company, 7700 District Blvd, ☏ +1 661-836-2537. Microbrewery that serves up reasonably priced beer and pub style food. 2 Temblor Brewing Co, 3200 Buck Owens Blvd Ste. 200, ☏ +1 661 489-4855. Su-Th 11AM-9PM, F-Sa 11AM-11PM. Happy hour is Tu-Th 2-6PM & all day Sunday & Monday. (updated Sep 2021)6

1 Best Western Hill House, 700 Truxtun Ave, ☏ +1 661 327-4064, toll-free: +1-800-300-4230, fax: +1 661 327-1247. (updated Jun 2015) 2 Courtyard Bakersfield, 3601 Marriott Dr, ☏ +1 661 324-6660, fax: +1 661 324-1185. $119-149. (updated Jun 2015) 3 Homewood Suites by Hilton, 1505 Mill Rock Way, ☏ +1 661 664-0400. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. (updated Jun 2015) 4 Marriott at the Convention Center, 801 Truxtun Ave, ☏ +1 661 323-1900. (updated Jun 2015) 5 Motel 6, 1350 Easton Dr, ☏ +1 661 327-1686, fax: +1 661 327-2337. (updated Jun 2015) 6 The Padre Hotel, 1702 18th St. Check-in: 1PM, check-out: 11AM. This upscale boutique hotel offers five unique food and beverage venues. Has great transit access, with the Greyhound station one block away. (updated Dec 2019) 7 Residence Inn Bakersfield, 4241 Chester Ln, ☏ +1 661 321-9800, fax: +1 661 321-0721. (updated Jun 2015) 8 SpringHill Suites Bakersfield, 3801 Marriott Dr. (updated Jun 2015) 9 Vagabond Inn Bakersfield North, 6100 Knudsen Drive (CA-99 and Olive Dr), ☏ +1 661 392-1800. (updated May 2016) 10 Vagabond Inn Bakersfield South, 6501 Colony Street (Off of CA-99 and Panama Ln), ☏ +1 661 831-9200. (updated May 2016)

1 Meadows Field (BFL IATA) (11 mi (18 km) north of downtown Bakersfield along Hwy 204 & 99, at Exit #30 (Merle Haggard Dr) of Hwy 99). A major airport for commercial flights serving Bakersfield and the communities in the lower part of the San Joaquin Valley. The passenger terminal is on the opposite side of the runways from Hwy 99 via Merle Haggard Dr. It is served by: (updated Apr 2020) Skywest dba American Eagle: (Phoenix and Dallas-Ft Worth. Some flights to DFW are operated by American Airlines while others are operated by Skywest as American Eagle) Skywest dba United Express: (Denver and San Francisco) Meadows Field is also an international airport, although there are no international carriers. However, the airport is capable of handling international private planes, both arriving and departing. Rental car facilities are available at the airport. Taxis, Uber and Lyft are available outside the terminal. There is no bus service to the airport. The primary alternative for arrival by plane from more destinations, with multiple airlines is 2 Los Angeles International Airport (LAX IATA) 120 mi (190 km) south in Los Angeles. Airport Valet Express, and Chennai Express provides direct bus service between LAX and Bakersfield. Other nearby airports are Bob Hope Airport (BUR IATA) 78 mi (126 km) south, in Burbank); and Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT IATA) 110 mi (180 km) north, in Fresno), both of which are accessible by Greyhound and Flixbus.

Bakersfield is a car-based city with poor mass transit options, so driving your own car or renting one is probably wise. However, if you are intrepid and determined to save money, the city bus can be used. Golden Empire Transit (GET), ☏ +1 661 869-2438. Public transit here has reasonable coverage of tourist sites, but can fairly limited in certain areas such as Rosedale. There are no transfers, so day passes are recommended. They operate mostly in town $1.65 per ride,. (updated Sep 2021) Kern Transit, ☏ +1 661 862-5032, toll-free: +1 800 323-3296. They connect Bakersfield to Santa Clarita (130), Delano (110), Lake Isabella (150), Lamont (140, 145); Lancaster (100), and Taft (120) in other parts of Kern County. They have additional bus services from the above cities to Boron, California City, and Kernville (220). See schedules and maps on their website. (updated Sep 2024) Biking is not a typical mode of transit, but it can be done. However, most bike lanes are on arterial roads with multiple car lanes and high speed limits. Silver Taxi, 422 Quincy St, ☏ +1 661-932-6039, [email protected]. 24 hours. (updated Jun 2025) The downtown core of Bakersfield is very small and walkable, with shopping centers and parks.

Bakersfield is a relatively safe city with a murder rate that has been mostly on the decline since 2005. Most of the homicides happen within area code 93307. Property theft and drug activity have seen a sharp increase within the city and there are certain parts of the city that are dangerous even during the daytime. Dr. Martin Luther King Drive (formerly named Lakeview Ave, and turns into Cottonwood Rd), Union Ave, parts of East Bakersfield and areas surrounding the Kern County fairgrounds and South High School are plagued by gang violence and can be very dangerous. The Bakersfield suburb of Oildale (which shares its borders with Bakersfield at the Kern River) has a bad reputation for racism and poverty. However, attitudes towards minorities have improved significantly over the years in Oildale. Drug use and related crimes are still an issue.