Bakersfield travel guide
Bakersfield Tourism | Bakersfield Guide
You're Going to Love Bakersfield
With a population of 347,483, Bakersfield is a must-see destination in California, United States. It is among the most popular tourist destinations in the country. Bakersfield deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.
Where to Eat in Bakersfield
If you’re looking for affordable options, Brimstone (1702 18th St) and Buffalo Wild Wings - Bakersfield II (3316 Coffee Road) are great picks. For delicious green meals, Nuestro Mexico Tacos and Bar (9660 Hageman Rd. Suite A) and Nuestro Mexico Restaurant (716 21st St) are recommended spots to get vegetarian or vegan food in Bakersfield.
When to visit Bakersfield
Looking for warm weather? Then head to Bakersfield in July, when the average temperature is 84.2 °F, and the highest can go up to 96.8 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 39.2 °F, with an average temperature of 48.2 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in January, when precipitation is around 1.2″. In contrast, July is usually the driest month of the year in Bakersfield, with an average rainfall of 0″.
How to Get to Bakersfield
Plane
When flying to Bakersfield, you’ll arrive at Bakersfield Meadows Field (BFL), which is located 5 miles from the city center. Airlines that fly from the United States to Bakersfield include American Airlines, Qatar Airways and Copa Airlines. The shortest domestic flight to Bakersfield departs from Denver and takes around 2h 33m.
Train
Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to Bakersfield. The train journey from Bakersfield to Sacramento takes 5h 31m and costs around $39 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Emeryville, expect to pay about $37 for a 6h 11m trip. The train station in Bakersfield is called Bakersfield, and is located 0.6 miles from the city center.
Car
Another option to get to Bakersfield is to pick up a car rental from Los Angeles, which is about 99 miles from Bakersfield. You’ll find branches of Kyte and Sixt, among others, in Los Angeles.
Bus
Amtrak operates bus routes to Bakersfield. From Pasadena, the bus ride to Bakersfield takes 155 miles and will cost you around $36. From Ontario, the ticket costs about $46 for a journey of 230 miles. The most popular bus station is Bakersfield Chamberlain, located 3 miles from downtown Bakersfield. Bakersfield Park & Ride/mckee Rd. is also a commonly used station, and is 7 miles from the city center.
Airlines serving Bakersfield
Where to stay in Bakersfield
If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Bakersfield North/Airport and Ramada by Wyndham Bakersfield North.
Where to stay in popular areas of Bakersfield
Most booked hotels in Bakersfield
Renting a car in Bakersfield
Renting a car in Bakersfield costs $67 per day, on average, or $133 if you want to rent if for 2 days. Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Hertz and Avis are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to rent a car in Bakersfield is the Budget branch at 3701 Wings Way, which is 5 miles from the city center.
It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 5% cheaper than airport locations in Bakersfield.
Expect to pay $3.90 per gallon in Bakersfield (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $46.79 and $62.38. The most frequently booked car type in Bakersfield is Mini (Chrysler Pacifica or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Intermediate rental cars (Chevrolet Cruze or similar) are, on average, 68% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.