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Bakersfield
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Bakersfield, California blends Basque food, country music, oil-country history and Central Valley landscapes with museums, parks and lively local culture.

A Central Valley City

Bakersfield lies at the southern end of California’s fertile San Joaquin Valley, where broad agricultural plains meet the foothills of the southern Sierra Nevada. Its identity has been shaped by farming, petroleum, railways and migration, producing a city that feels practical, spacious and distinctly Californian rather than coastal. Orchards, vineyards and fields surround a growing urban area, while the Kern River traces a green corridor through parts of the city.
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Music, Food and Local Character

Bakersfield’s strongest cultural signatures are found in its music and food. The Bakersfield Sound, a hard-edged form of country music associated with Buck Owens, Merle Haggard and electric guitar-driven bands, developed in local honky-tonks during the mid-twentieth century. The tradition remains visible at the Buck Owens Crystal Palace and in the city’s live-music venues. Bakersfield is also known for its Basque community, whose restaurants preserve a culinary heritage brought by immigrants who worked in the region’s sheep industry. Downtown dining, Mexican food, American comfort cooking and Central Valley produce add further depth to the local table.

Museums and Open Spaces

Visitors can explore the reconstructed historic buildings of the Kern County Museum, examine regional and contemporary art at the Bakersfield Museum of Art, or learn about native Californian wildlife at the California Area Living Museum, commonly called CALM. Downtown’s Fox Theater provides an ornate setting for performances, while Mill Creek Park offers shaded paths, water features and open lawns. Beyond the urban area, the Kern River and nearby mountain roads provide a change of pace, with access to landscapes that reveal the agricultural and geological setting behind Bakersfield’s development.

When is the best time to visit Bakersfield?

Best: April–May, October · 24–28°C
Average daytime high and rainfall by month
MonthHigh (°C)Rainfall (mm)
January1530
February1725
March2020
April (best)2415
May (best)2810
June333
July361
August361
September335
October (best)2810
November2015
December1525

Getting to and around Bakersfield

How to get there

Bakersfield is served by Meadows Field Airport, north of the city, with air connections that can vary by season and airline. Travellers may also use larger airports in the Los Angeles region or Fresno, although these involve a separate road journey. Amtrak’s San Joaquin service connects Bakersfield with cities in the Central Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area via a coordinated bus link across the Bay; Bakersfield is the southern terminus for the rail service. Long-distance buses and major roads, including State Route 99 and State Route 58, provide additional access. Checking current rail, bus and flight schedules before departure is important.

Transportation

Bakersfield is spread out, and a car is often the most convenient way to connect downtown, commercial districts, museums and attractions near the city’s edges. Golden Empire Transit District operates local bus services, while taxis and app-based ride services may be useful for shorter journeys. Some downtown areas and park corridors are pleasant to explore on foot, but distances between districts can be considerable. Cycling is possible on selected streets and paths, although heat, traffic and the city’s broad layout may affect comfort. Congestion can increase during commuting periods and major events, so allow extra time when crossing the urban area.

Best attractions in Bakersfield

Bakersfield’s attractions combine regional history, art, music and open space. The Kern County Museum presents the area’s past through historic buildings and interpretive displays, while the Bakersfield Museum of Art focuses on modern and contemporary work, including artists connected with California. At the California Area Living Museum, native animals and habitats introduce visitors to the southern San Joaquin Valley’s ecology. Downtown’s Fox Theater is both a performance venue and an atmospheric example of early twentieth-century cinema architecture. The Buck Owens Crystal Palace connects sightseeing with the city’s country-music heritage through performances and memorabilia associated with the Bakersfield Sound. Mill Creek Park provides landscaped paths, bridges and water features in the urban centre, and the Kern River Parkway opens into a longer corridor of trails, greenery and bird habitat. Together, these places reveal a city shaped by agriculture, entertainment, migration and the river landscape.

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Best landmarks in Bakersfield

The Fox Theater is one of Bakersfield’s most recognisable landmarks, with an ornate historic interior that reflects the grand cinema buildings of the 1930s and now frames concerts and performances. The Padre Hotel, a long-established downtown building, represents the city’s commercial growth and later renewal as an entertainment and accommodation address. The Bakersfield sign and surrounding downtown streets provide a contemporary civic marker, while the nearby historic core retains buildings connected with the city’s trading past. The Kern County Museum’s Pioneer Village preserves relocated and reconstructed structures that illustrate earlier domestic, commercial and institutional life in the region. Beyond individual buildings, oil pumpjacks across the surrounding plain form a distinctive industrial landscape, linking the modern city to the petroleum development that transformed Kern County after the late nineteenth-century discoveries.

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Explore Bakersfield on the map

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Best restaurants in Bakersfield

Bakersfield’s food culture is anchored by its Basque community, whose family-style restaurants reflect the history of immigrants who worked in sheep raising and agriculture. Meals may centre on hearty portions, shared starters, beans, soup, bread and grilled or braised meats, with long-established establishments such as Wool Growers, Noriega Hotel and Pyrenees Café forming part of the city’s culinary story. Mexican food is also central to everyday dining, from taquerias and bakeries to restaurants serving regional Mexican specialities. Downtown and surrounding commercial districts add American diners, steakhouses, cafés and contemporary restaurants, while the Central Valley’s fruit, nuts, vegetables and wine influence seasonal menus. Bakersfield’s dining scene is less about a single fashionable quarter than a spread of enduring local institutions and independent eateries shaped by ranching, farming, migration and oil-country work.

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Best bars in Bakersfield

Evenings in Bakersfield are strongly associated with live country music, relaxed bars and community-oriented entertainment rather than a concentrated nightclub district. The Buck Owens Crystal Palace is the best-known expression of the city’s musical identity, hosting country performances in a setting linked to the Bakersfield Sound. Downtown offers bars, pubs and restaurants where local residents gather, while the Fox Theater provides concerts, comedy, films and other programmed events in a historic setting. Breweries, cocktail bars and casual venues add contemporary options, and seasonal festivals or civic events can bring live music into public spaces. Entertainment is generally spread across several areas, so checking current event listings is useful. As elsewhere in California, alcohol service is restricted to adults aged 21 and over, and designated drivers or ride services are sensible choices after drinking.

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Best nightclubs in Bakersfield

Evenings in Bakersfield are strongly associated with live country music, relaxed bars and community-oriented entertainment rather than a concentrated nightclub district. The Buck Owens Crystal Palace is the best-known expression of the city’s musical identity, hosting country performances in a setting linked to the Bakersfield Sound. Downtown offers bars, pubs and restaurants where local residents gather, while the Fox Theater provides concerts, comedy, films and other programmed events in a historic setting. Breweries, cocktail bars and casual venues add contemporary options, and seasonal festivals or civic events can bring live music into public spaces. Entertainment is generally spread across several areas, so checking current event listings is useful. As elsewhere in California, alcohol service is restricted to adults aged 21 and over, and designated drivers or ride services are sensible choices after drinking.

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Best shops in Bakersfield

Shopping in Bakersfield is spread between established retail centres, commercial corridors and smaller downtown businesses rather than concentrated in one historic shopping quarter. Valley Plaza Mall and The Marketplace provide mainstream shops, dining and everyday retail, while downtown offers independent businesses, antique dealers, galleries and specialist stores whose stock changes over time. Local farmers’ markets and produce stands connect shopping with the surrounding Central Valley, where fruit, nuts, vegetables and other agricultural goods are important to the regional economy. Visitors may also find Basque and Mexican food products, California wines, locally made gifts and music-related souvenirs reflecting the city’s cultural identity. The Kern County Museum shop and museum-related retailers can offer history-oriented items, while second-hand and vintage stores add a more informal dimension to browsing. Opening days and individual stock vary, particularly for markets and smaller independent shops.

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Bakersfield essentials

Currency and Payment
The currency is the United States dollar (USD). Credit and debit cards are widely used in hotels, shops, restaurants, museums and petrol stations, and contactless payment is increasingly available, though smaller businesses or market stalls may still prefer physical cards or cash. ATMs are common in commercial areas and bank branches, but international travellers should check whether their card issuer applies foreign-transaction or withdrawal fees. Tipping is customary for table service, taxis and some personal services; the amount depends on the quality and type of service. When paying by card, the terminal may ask whether to add a gratuity.
Safety
Normal urban precautions are appropriate in Bakersfield. Keep valuables out of sight in parked vehicles, take care with belongings in crowded places and use well-lit routes after dark, particularly in unfamiliar areas. The city’s broad roads and heavy traffic require attention when walking or cycling, while summer temperatures can create a risk of dehydration during outdoor sightseeing. If exploring the Kern River or nearby open country, follow posted notices, take changing water conditions seriously and avoid isolated areas alone. Travellers should also check local air-quality conditions during periods of wildfire smoke or intense summer heat.
Emergency Situations
Call 911 for police, fire or urgent medical assistance anywhere in the United States. Give the dispatcher the exact location, explain the nature of the emergency and remain on the line unless told otherwise. For non-urgent police matters, use the relevant local law-enforcement contact rather than 911. Visitors needing medical care can attend an emergency department, while pharmacies and urgent-care providers may help with less serious problems; insurance arrangements and payment expectations vary. International travellers should carry identification, travel-insurance details and a record of essential medication, and should know that emergency treatment in the United States can be expensive.
Do's and Don'ts
Do observe ordinary American courtesy, queue patiently, respect private property and follow signs and staff instructions at museums, parks and river areas. Do tip appropriately for table service and other services where gratuities are customary, while remembering that local businesses may display their preferred arrangements. Do not trespass on agricultural, industrial or oil-field land, and do not approach livestock or operating equipment. At live music venues, respect performers and other guests. When visiting cultural institutions or historic properties, photography and food policies may apply. There is no single dress code for the city, but practical clothing and sun protection are useful in hot weather.
Local Tips
Downtown is a useful base for combining the Fox Theater, museums, restaurants and evening entertainment, while the Kern River Parkway offers a greener contrast to the city’s built-up areas. Bakersfield’s attractions are separated by sizeable distances, so grouping visits by district saves time. The city’s Basque restaurants are an important part of its cultural history, and a performance or concert can provide a direct introduction to its country-music tradition. Farmers’ markets and local produce reflect the surrounding agricultural economy, but schedules and locations can change. In the hottest months, plan walks early, carry water and keep flexible plans for midday.
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From Eve

Local phrases worth knowing

You don't need to get them perfect. A few words go a long way, and locals appreciate the effort.

6 phrase groups · English, local and pronunciation

Basics
EnglishLocalSay it
HelloHowdy[haw-dee]
GoodbyeSee ya[see yuh]
YesYep[yep]
NoNope[nohp]
Please/You're welcomePlease/No problem[pleez / no prob-lem]
Thank youThanks[thaynks]
Excuse me/SorryPardon me/My bad[par-dn mee / my bad]
How are you?How ya doin'?[how yuh doin']
Fine. And you?Good. How 'bout you?[good. how 'bout yuh]
Do you speak English?Ya speak English?[yah speak in-glish]
I don't understandI don't get it[i don't get it]
Eating & Drinking
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to see the menu, pleaseLet me see the menu, please[let mee see thee men-yoo, pleez]
I don't eat meatI don't do meat[i don't doh meet]
Cheers!Cheers![cheers]
I would like to pay, pleaseI'll pay now, please[i'll pay now, pleez]
Emergencies
EnglishLocalSay it
Help!Help![help]
Go away!Get outta here![get out-ta here]
Call the Police!Call the cops![call the cops]
Call a doctor!Get a doc![get a doc]
I'm lostI'm lost[i'm lost]
I'm illI'm sick[i'm sik]
Shopping
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to buy...I wanna buy...[i wanna buy]
I'm just lookingJust browsing[just brows-ing]
How much is it?How much does it cost?[how much duz it cost]
That's too expensiveThat's pricey[that's pry-see]
Can you lower the price?Can ya drop the price?[can yuh drop thee price]
Time & Numbers
EnglishLocalSay it
What time is it?What's the time?[whats thee time]
It's one o'clockIt's one[its one]
Half past (10)Ten thirty[ten thur-tee]
MorningMorning[mor-ning]
AfternoonAfternoon[after-noon]
EveningEvening[ee-ven-ing]
YesterdayYesterday[yes-ter-day]
TodayToday[to-day]
TomorrowTomorrow[to-mor-row]
1One[wun]
2Two[too]
3Three[three]
4Four[for]
5Five[five]
6Six[siks]
7Seven[sev-en]
8Eight[ayt]
9Nine[nighn]
10Ten[ten]
Transport & Directions
EnglishLocalSay it
Where's a/the...?Where's the...?[wheres thee]
What's the address?What's the addy?[whats thee ad-dy]
Can you show me (on the map)?Can ya show me (on the map)?[can yuh show mee (on thee map)]
When's the next (bus)?When's the next (bus)?[whens thee next (bus)]
A ticket (to ....)A ticket (to ....)[a ticket (to)]

History of Bakersfield

Yokuts Lands and the Kern River

Long before Bakersfield was established, the southern San Joaquin Valley was home to Yokuts peoples, including communities whose lives were closely connected to the Kern River, wetlands and seasonal food resources. Spanish and Mexican exploration altered the region’s political setting, but large-scale American settlement came later, especially after California joined the United States in 1850. The river and its surrounding plains remained central to movement, agriculture and settlement. Understanding this earlier history places Bakersfield within the wider story of Indigenous California, where landscapes later described as farmland and oil country had already supported complex communities, trade and cultural traditions.

Thomas Baker Founds a Settlement

The modern city grew from a settlement associated with Colonel Thomas Baker, an Ohio-born politician and landowner who established a crossing and resting place near the Kern River in the 1860s. The settlement became known as Baker’s Field, a name that evolved into Bakersfield. Kern County was created in 1866, and Bakersfield became the county seat in 1873 after an earlier settlement at Havilah declined. Its position beside the river and on routes linking the southern San Joaquin Valley with mountain passes helped the community develop as a centre for government, trade and agricultural exchange.

Railways and Agricultural Expansion

The arrival of the Southern Pacific Railroad in the 1870s connected Bakersfield with wider Californian and national markets, encouraging population growth and commercial development. Rail transport made it easier to move grain, livestock and other agricultural products from the southern San Joaquin Valley, while irrigation transformed portions of the dry plain into productive farmland. Streets, businesses and civic institutions expanded around the town’s railway and commercial core. The region’s agricultural economy also drew migrants from many backgrounds, including Basque immigrants who found work in sheep raising and helped establish a lasting cultural presence in Bakersfield.

Oil Transforms Kern County

Petroleum became a defining force in Bakersfield’s economy after oil was discovered at the Kern River field in 1899. Additional fields, including Midway-Sunset and Buena Vista, helped make Kern County one of California’s most important oil-producing regions. Drilling, refining, transport and associated services brought investment and employment, while the familiar oil pumpjack became part of the surrounding landscape. Agriculture remained essential, but oil altered the city’s fortunes and built a durable regional identity as a centre of energy production. Many later debates about land, water, employment and environmental change have been shaped by this dual dependence on farming and extraction.

Earthquake, Migration and the Bakersfield Sound

Bakersfield was heavily affected by the 1952 Kern County earthquake, which damaged buildings across the city and influenced subsequent construction and seismic standards. The post-war decades also brought major population growth, including migration from Oklahoma and other parts of the American South and Midwest during the Dust Bowl era and later agricultural expansion. These communities influenced local speech, church life, labour and music. In the 1940s and 1950s, musicians developed the Bakersfield Sound as a more stripped-back, amplified alternative to the polished Nashville style. The careers of Buck Owens and Merle Haggard made the city’s musical identity nationally recognisable.

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Evendo: Your Ultimate Travel Guide to Bakersfield, California

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  • History of Bakersfield and travel essentials
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Planning a trip to Bakersfield, California? Look no further than Evendo, your comprehensive travel guide app designed to help you make the most of your visit. From iconic landmarks like the Buck Owens' Crystal Palace to the serene beauty of the Kern River, Evendo has got you covered.

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