Bakersfield, California, is most known as the “country music capital of the West”. The city gained this title as a result of welcoming many Dust Bowl refugees and being the home of many country singers including Merle Haggard and Buck Owens.
Located in the southern region of California’s Central Valley, Bakersfield has a rich history involving oil and agriculture. Nowadays, the city is a hub for energy production involving industries such as natural gas, petroleum refining and distribution, mining, and other energy extraction. That central San Joaquin Valley position also makes the city a handy base for a wider California road trip.
Fun Facts About Bakersfield, California
Bakersfield takes its name from Thomas Baker, who settled beside the Kern River in the 1860s; the spot became known as “Baker’s Field” before the city was formally incorporated.
It is California’s ninth-most populous city, the beating heart of Kern County in the southern San Joaquin Valley.
Bakersfield is the birthplace of the “Bakersfield Sound”, a raw, twangy strain of country music pioneered by Buck Owens and Merle Haggard that earned the city its “country music capital of the West” nickname.
The city is home to the largest concentration of Basque restaurants in the United States, a legacy of the sheepherders who settled the Old Town Kern district.
Surrounded by Kern County’s oilfields, Bakersfield sits at the center of one of California’s most productive oil-producing regions, a heritage still visible on the hills around town.
The Big Red Barn at Murray Family Farms is a family farm and country store sitting about 25km east of Bakersfield on Highway 58. You can pick your own strawberries and berries, wander among fruit trees, meet farm animals including goats, and watch the exotic birds while the kids take a turn.
Hayrides and an air trampoline keep younger visitors busy, while the deli tempts with shepherd pies, "Okie Pies", fresh fruit, jellies, honey, cookies, and fudge, alongside local crafts to take home. A handy gas station rounds out the stop, making it an easy fill-up before heading into the desert drive ahead.
Hart Park stretches along the Kern River, giving Bakersfield one of its few natural water bodies for cooling off on a hot summer day. Set against mountain scenery, this Kern County park invites swimming and fishing, while a small lake draws ducks, geese, and even peacocks that wander the grounds.
Families gather at the picnic facilities, and the shallow water stays kid-friendly for younger swimmers. Beyond the riverbank, hiking and equestrian trails wind through the surrounding landscape, so you can walk or ride the day away. It’s an easygoing spot to trade the valley heat for shade, water, and open air.
Known as CALM, the California Living Museum is a combined zoo and botanical garden devoted to the native flora and fauna of California, with a special focus on Kern County species. Spread across a 14-acre park, it gathers more than 400 species of animals and plants, including a reptile house and landscaped botanical gardens to explore.
Every animal here is non-releasable, either injured or otherwise unable to survive in the wild, so a visit doubles as a lesson in wildlife rehabilitation and native ecology. Opened to the public in the early 1980s, the park draws crowds each year for its beloved Christmas Lights event, when the grounds glow after dark.
Spread across seven acres of indoor and outdoor fun on Oak Street, MB2 Entertainment packs an afternoon’s worth of activity into a single family-friendly stop. Race go-karts around the track, splash through the bumper boats, take swings in the batting cages, or work your way across two 18-hole mini-golf courses.
When you’re ready to head indoors, the arcade, laser tag, and axe throwing keep the group entertained, while the on-site restaurant and bar handle food and drinks between rounds. It’s an easy pick for families and groups looking to fill a few hours with plenty of variety and a little friendly competition.
Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace is a palace-restaurant-honky-tonk the country legend built to celebrate the twangy Bakersfield Sound he pioneered. His music memorabilia lines the walls, statues of country-star legends stand watch, and the bar is built from a custom car once linked to Elvis. It is part shrine, part supper club.
Live country music fills the room nightly, with a house band and plenty of space for line-dancing. The crowd comes to eat, drink, and dance beneath a ceiling of country history. It stays popular enough to sell out even midweek, so arriving early gives the best shot at a table near the action.
The Fox Theater is a restored, ornate movie palace in downtown Bakersfield that first opened in 1930, during the era of the Hollywood Studio System. Careful restoration has returned it close to its original glory, and stepping inside reveals a sweeping staircase and an ornamental ceiling that recall the grandeur of that early cinematic age.
Behind its vintage character sits thoroughly modern equipment, including a digital projector and a contemporary sound system that keep the venue firmly in the present. The programming stays lively and varied, with films, comedians, musicians, dancers, and other live shows, so a visit might mean a classic screening one evening and a full stage performance the next.
Northeast of Bakersfield, Sequoia National Forest unfurls across a vast mountain wilderness that conserves groves of towering giant sequoia trees. Within its boundaries lies the Giant Sequoia National Monument, protecting some of these ancient stands. Miles of trails thread the high country, giving hikers a way to walk among the big trees and rugged terrain.
One rewarding route is the Hart Tree Trail, reached by way of a roughly two-mile dirt road that leads deeper into the forest. Beyond the hiking, the Kern River draws visitors who want to camp along its banks, settling in beneath the pines for a quiet night surrounded by the surrounding wilderness.
The Park at River Walk spreads across 32 acres, centered on an amphitheater ringed by water where live music performances draw crowds. Mature trees shade broad stretches of grass ideal for picnicking, while playgrounds keep younger visitors busy. Gazebos, resident ducks, and quiet spots for fishing round out an easygoing afternoon in the open air.
Its location makes it especially convenient, sitting beside a major shopping center and the Kern River. A paved riverside trail runs for miles alongside the water, inviting walkers and cyclists to stretch their legs well beyond the park itself. Together the amphitheater, greenery, and trail give the space a relaxed, all-ages appeal for any visit.
The Gaslight Melodrama Theatre serves up old-timey entertainment, staging family-friendly melodramas and musicals with a hearty helping of audience participation. Cheers on the heroes, boo the villains, and settle in with American food, beer, and wine. A committed local cast keeps the energy high, while live piano accompaniment underscores every scene throughout the show.
This is homegrown theatre with a warm, interactive spirit, where the crowd becomes part of the fun rather than sitting quietly by. The venue stays air-conditioned, making it a comfortable retreat on Bakersfield’s hot days. Come for a night of lighthearted storytelling, sing-alongs, and good-natured heckling, paired with a casual meal and drinks in a relaxed, welcoming setting.
Perched on a hillside above the city, Panorama Park, known locally as the Bluffs, opens onto sweeping views across the surrounding valleys and oilfields. Locals come here to walk their dogs, get a run in, or simply take in the scenery as the landscape stretches out below the ridge.
The park suits an easy stroll along the bluff or a more demanding effort for those wanting a workout. A challenging uphill hike leads to the top, where the reward is a wide panoramic view over the valleys beyond. It is a favorite local spot for anyone who enjoys elevation and open horizons.
The Kern County Museum tells the story of the region through its Pioneer Village, a 16-acre outdoor collection of more than 60 restored and relocated Kern County buildings. Wandering the grounds, you trace the area’s Native American roots, frontier settlement, and oil history, with structures recreating everyday 1800s life across the landscape.
Explore at your own pace on a self-guided route, or join a docent-guided tour led by the volunteers who help maintain the restorations through their donated time and effort. Along the way, a preserved collection of vintage neon business signs adds a bright, nostalgic layer to the region’s commercial past.
Set well outside town, Kern County Raceway Park pairs a racecar track with stadium seating for about 5,000 fans, backed by 21 VIP suites, a dedicated concession building, and plenty of parking. The scale suits a full day at the races, whether you settle into the grandstands or watch the action from an elevated suite.
What stands out is how smoothly the venue moves a crowd, keeping ticketing, food lines, and restrooms flowing without the usual bottlenecks. The pit-road food gets particular attention here, so grabbing a bite between heats feels like part of the experience rather than an interruption to the racing on the track.
Open around the clock, Golden West Casino is a Bakersfield card room where regulars settle in for Texas Hold’em, Blackjack, Poker and Baccarat, alongside other card games and machines. The friendly, welcoming staff set an easy, unhurried tone, making it a comfortable stop whether you play a few hands or simply soak up the room.
Beyond the tables, an on-site bar and restaurant keep the evening going, with generous food portions that reward anyone who lingers. An outside seating area offers a place to step away from the action and catch some air. A longstanding local fixture, it draws players and visitors looking for a relaxed, sociable night out.
14. Buena Vista Museum of Natural History & Science
Built around fossils dug from the nearby Sharktooth Hill bone bed, the Buena Vista Museum of Natural History & Science tells the story of a valley that once lay beneath a prehistoric ocean. Hands-on exhibits walk you through geology, archaeology, and paleontology, anchored by an impressive collection of shark teeth and marine fossils pulled from the surrounding ground.
Set in an older downtown building, the museum spreads across two levels, with a children’s playroom waiting downstairs to keep younger visitors busy. It’s a compact, unhurried stop where you can get close to real finds rather than glass-cased replicas, tracing how the region shifted from ancient seafloor to the landscape you see today.
Dewar’s Candy Shop is a beloved Bakersfield institution that has been sweetening the town for over a century. This nostalgic candy-and-ice-cream landmark makes everything in-house, from its famous hand-pulled Taffy Chews to its hand-dipped chocolates. Step inside and you’ll find an old-fashioned confectionery that generations of locals have grown up loving.
Beyond the candy counter, the shop is known for old-fashioned ice cream specialties served the classic way. With multiple locations around town, it’s an easy stop wherever you find yourself in Bakersfield. Come for the taffy and chocolates, stay for a scoop, and soak up the timeless, small-town charm that keeps people coming back.
The McMurtrey Aquatic Center is the city’s public swimming complex, built around a large pool staffed by lifeguards. Reserved lap-swim slots suit anyone tracking laps, while two water slides tip the place toward water-park territory. Locker rooms stay clean and stocked with showers and plenty of lockers, so gearing up and rinsing off takes no effort.
Come the cooler months, the water is heated, keeping swims comfortable when the air turns crisp and stretching the season well past summer. Between the dedicated lap lanes and the slides, it serves lap swimmers and slide-chasing families alike, making it an easy stop whether you want a focused workout or a splashy afternoon in the pool.
The Bakersfield Museum of Art is a longstanding institution devoted to work by California artists, and it makes an easy, rewarding stop for anyone curious about the region’s creative side. Though modest in scale, it stays well-kept and thoughtfully curated, with rotating exhibits that put local Bakersfield-area talent front and center for visitors to explore.
Beyond the galleries, the museum leans into education, running programs and hands-on classes for children that make it a welcoming choice for families. Outside, scenic grounds and a shaded gazebo invite you to slow down and linger. Together, the art indoors and the quiet setting outdoors give visitors a relaxed, community-minded afternoon well spent.
Step back in time at Sam Lynn Ballpark, a historic venue built in 1941 that keeps its relaxed, old-time atmosphere. The park is small enough that you can get close to the players and follow every play. Its current home team is the Bakersfield Train Robbers of the independent Pecos League, giving the place a friendly, minor-league-style feel.
A quirk sets this ballpark apart: batters face west into the setting sun, so summer games start late to let the glare fade. It also claims one of the shortest center fields in professional baseball. Beyond game day, you can swing away at the batting cages, follow the nearby running trail, or arrange a tour to explore the grounds.
Groups looking for a hands-on challenge head to Brainy Actz Escape Rooms Bakersfield, where teams of up to 10 work against the clock to escape a themed room within 60 minutes. Players read clues, piece together the story, and solve a chain of mysteries together, making it a lively test of teamwork and quick thinking.
Friendly staff set the scene and explain each story clearly, so newcomers settle in fast and know exactly how the experience works. The rooms stay fun and challenging for both kids and adults, delivering a live-action group adventure. It is an engaging break from the usual sightseeing and a memorable way to spend an hour with friends or family.
Just outside Bakersfield in Shafter, the Minter Field Air Museum occupies the original 1941 fire station on the grounds of Minter Field, which during World War II served as the largest U.S. Army Air Force flight training base on the West Coast. The setting itself carries the weight of that history.
Inside, exhibits trace military history from World War II through Vietnam alongside airplane models, vintage cars, and space-exploration artifacts. A DVD library preserves more than 900 hours of aviation history for visitors to explore. Each year the museum hosts its Wings and Wheels event, drawing enthusiasts of both aircraft and classic automobiles.
The Bakersfield Sign is an illuminated yellow neon arch, also known as the Bakersfield Neon Arch, held up by two towers. A signature city landmark and a favorite photo op, it glows over the street and marks arrival in town, giving visitors a bright, unmistakable backdrop to frame their trip.
The sign was originally built in 1949 on Union Avenue, where it connected two parts of the Bakersfield Inn. In 1999 it was relocated to its current spot near Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace. Today the arch pairs its retro glow with that music-hall neighbor, making a quick, memorable stop for anyone passing through.
Tucked inside the Kern County Museum, the Lori Brock Discovery Center is Bakersfield’s children’s museum, built around hands-on exhibits that teach science, technology, engineering, art, and math. The imaginative, well laid out space invites young visitors to touch, build, and experiment, and it stays clean enough that families feel comfortable settling in for a while.
Beyond STEAM play, the center threads in Bakersfield’s oil and energy story, anchored by an old wooden drilling rig and artifacts that trace the industry’s evolution. The mix of interactive learning and local heritage proves engaging enough that kids happily explore for hours, making it an easy stop for parents traveling with curious children.
23. Mechanics Bank Arena, Theater and Convention Center
Mechanics Bank Arena serves as Bakersfield’s main arena, theater, and convention center, and it ranks as the city’s most popular events venue. Big yet intimate enough that the seats stay good for concerts, it wins visitors over with clear sightlines, friendly staff, and easy parking that make an evening out feel simple from arrival to encore.
The calendar leans toward country music, with big-name stars filling the room, but the programming spreads wide. Monster Truck events, Disney On Ice, wrestling cards, and hockey all take their turns here, so a family, a couples’ night, or a sports crowd can each find something worth the trip on any given visit.
Valley Plaza Mall is the largest shopping center in Bakersfield and the wider San Joaquin Valley, gathering more than 135 retailers under one well air-conditioned roof. Anchor and popular stores include Target, Macy’s and many more, so browsers move easily from big-name departments to smaller specialty shops without ever stepping back into the valley heat.
Beyond the storefronts, the center works as an easygoing outing for the whole family. A spacious, clean food court handles casual dining, an on-site movie theater fills an afternoon, and an arcade and play area keep kids busy. A small train even circles the concourse, threading past shoppers as they wander from one wing to the next.
Black Angus Steakhouse brings a Western-themed dining room to Bakersfield, part of a chain built around beef, seafood, and surf-and-turf combinations served with traditional sides. The cuts are aged at least 21 days, then seasoned and flame-grilled, and the kitchen turns them out with the kind of consistency that keeps the tables full.
Start with the appetizers, where the nachos are a longtime favorite, and settle in at the well-stocked bar before the mains arrive. Prime rib and lobster rank among the most-ordered dishes, and the pleasant, easygoing atmosphere makes it a comfortable spot for a relaxed steakhouse dinner in town.
Getting to Bakersfield
Bakersfield sits at the southern end of California’s Central Valley, where the main north-south state highway threading the valley meets an east-west route that climbs the Tehachapi Mountains toward the Mojave Desert. A short drive west connects you to the interstate that carries traffic between Los Angeles and the Bay Area, dropping over the mountain pass known as the Grapevine, so the city is an easy stop on almost any California road trip. Most visitors arrive by car, and the highway grid makes it simple to reach whichever corner of town you’re staying in.
The city has its own commercial airport just north of downtown with a handful of regional connections, which is convenient if the schedule suits you. Many travellers instead fly into the much larger international hub to the south and drive up, a trip of roughly two hours by car. Bakersfield is also a rail and long-distance bus gateway: it anchors the southern end of the valley’s intercity train line, with connecting motorcoaches running over the mountains to Southern California because passenger trains can’t cross the historic rail loop, and national bus lines call here too.
Getting Around Bakersfield
Bakersfield is a spread-out, car-oriented city, so a vehicle is the easiest way to get around and to reach the outlying attractions. The compact downtown core and the arts-and-theatre district around it are pleasant to explore on foot once you’ve parked, but distances between neighbourhoods are long enough that walking between them isn’t practical. Rideshare and taxis cover the gaps for a night out, and a local bus network links the main districts if you’d rather not drive everywhere.
Parking is rarely a headache: lots and street parking downtown are generally easy and inexpensive, and the shopping centres, riverfront parks, and museums out along the highways all come with their own large lots. The flat valley terrain and a growing network of bike paths, including trails along the river, make cycling a comfortable option for shorter hops, especially outside the hottest part of the day.
Where to Stay in Bakersfield
For a first visit, basing yourself in or near the downtown core puts you within walking distance of the theatre district, restaurants, and the riverfront green space, and keeps you central for driving out to the museums. If you’re passing through on a road trip or want quick highway access, the clusters of lodging strung along the main freeway interchanges and near the airport are built for exactly that, with easy in-and-out and plenty of parking.
Travellers who prefer somewhere quieter tend to look to the residential districts on the north and southwest sides, which trade walkability for calm and sit closer to the parks and open space at the edge of town. The area around the university on the west side is another steady, low-key base, handy if you’re visiting for campus reasons or simply want to be away from the busier commercial strips.
Where to Eat in Bakersfield
Bakersfield’s food scene reflects its farm-valley and ranching roots, and its signature dish is Basque cuisine, served family-style in the historic Old Town Kern district east of downtown, where long communal tables come loaded with soup, beans, salad, and platters of meat. The city is also known for its Santa Maria-style tri-tip barbecue and its deep-rooted Mexican and Tex-Mex cooking, from taquerias to sit-down spots, thanks to a large and long-established community; look for regional touches like local hot links and slow-cooked barbacoa.
For casual grazing, the downtown core and the arts district hold most of the independent cafes, breweries, and newer restaurants, while the commercial corridors and shopping districts along the highways are where you’ll find the widest spread of international options, from Southeast Asian to Middle Eastern. Being surrounded by some of the country’s most productive farmland means fresh produce and roadside fruit stands are a genuine local pleasure in the warmer months.
One Day in Bakersfield
Bakersfield rewards a day that starts in the green northeast foothills, drifts into the museum district for the afternoon, and lands on Chester Avenue for country music and a steak after dark — here’s how to string it together without doubling back.
Morning: Begin where the city meets the Kern River canyon at Hart Park, whose shaded lawns, lagoon, and cottonwood-lined trails are at their best in the cool early hours — walk it before the valley heat settles in. A few minutes uphill sits the California Living Museum, a combined zoo, botanical garden, and natural-history stop devoted entirely to California’s own species, from black bears to condors, which makes for an easy, open-air follow-on while the morning is still fresh. If you have young kids in tow, swing west to Panorama Park for its long bluff-top overlook of the oil fields and the Sierra beyond before heading into town.
Afternoon: Point the car toward central Bakersfield and the cluster of collections around Chester Avenue. Start at the Kern County Museum, whose sprawling Pioneer Village reassembles more than fifty historic structures into a walkable open-air town — give it the bulk of your afternoon. When you need a break, the beloved Dewar’s Candy Shop is close by for house-pulled taffy and old-fashioned sundaes, and the Bakersfield Museum of Art a short hop away rounds out the day with rotating regional and contemporary exhibitions.
Evening: Finish on the strip that made the city famous. Snap the obligatory photo under The Bakersfield Sign, then step next door into Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace, the honky-tonk shrine to the Bakersfield Sound where live country still fills the room most nights. Prefer a proper sit-down meal? Black Angus Steakhouse – Bakersfield is minutes away and does the job, or catch whatever’s on the marquee at the restored Fox Theater downtown. With a second day to spare, trade the city entirely for a drive up into Sequoia National Forest, where the giant sequoias and high-country trails sit roughly an hour and a half northeast — a full outing that deserves a dawn start of its own.
Free Things to Do in Bakersfield
You do not need to spend a cent to get a feel for Bakersfield. Snap a photo beneath the glowing yellow neon of the Bakersfield Sign, then wander the historic downtown on foot, taking in the restored Fox Theater facade and the surrounding streets that give the city its old-Hollywood character. It is an easy, walkable stretch that packs plenty of the city’s personality into a short stroll.
For fresh air, follow the paved Kern River Parkway trail that runs for miles alongside the water, ideal for a walk, run, or bike ride, and link it up with the greenery of The Park at River Walk. Climb the bluff-top paths at Panorama Park for sweeping views over the valleys and oilfields below, or simply picnic in the shade at Hart Park by the river. Each of these costs nothing but a little time.
Day Trips from Bakersfield
Bakersfield makes a natural launch pad for the southern Sierra Nevada: head northeast and in roughly two and a half hours you reach the giant sequoia groves and high country of Sequoia and Kings Canyon, while a much shorter drive due east follows the Kern River up into its dramatic canyon, a favourite for whitewater rafting and riverside picnicking. To the south, the mountain pass over the Grapevine is the gateway toward the Los Angeles basin.
For a complete change of scenery, drive northwest for roughly two and a half hours to Solvang, the Danish-styled village in the Santa Ynez Valley wine country, with its windmills, bakeries, and tasting rooms. The same direction eventually reaches the Central Coast, so a Bakersfield base lets you swing between mountain forests one day and coastal valleys the next.
FAQ: Visiting Bakersfield
What is Bakersfield known for?
Bakersfield is best known as the home of the “Bakersfield Sound” and a country-music capital of the West, thanks to legends like Buck Owens and Merle Haggard. It is also known for its deep roots in oil and agriculture, and for having the largest concentration of Basque restaurants in the country.
Is Bakersfield worth visiting?
Yes. Between its country-music heritage at Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace, hands-on museums like the Kern County Museum and CALM, and easy access to the mountains and giant sequoias, Bakersfield rewards a stop, especially for fans of music, history, and the outdoors.
How many days do you need in Bakersfield?
Two to three days is plenty to cover the highlights. That gives you time for the downtown sights, a museum or two, an evening of live country music, and a day trip toward Sequoia National Forest or the Kern River.
When is the best time to visit Bakersfield?
Spring and fall are the most comfortable, with milder temperatures for exploring on foot and enjoying the parks. Summers in the San Joaquin Valley are notably hot, so indoor attractions and the water at Hart Park or the aquatic center become especially welcome.
Is Bakersfield family-friendly?
Very. Families can meet native wildlife at the California Living Museum, spend an afternoon of go-karts and mini-golf at MB2 Entertainment, pick fruit at Murray Family Farms, and let kids loose on the hands-on exhibits at the Lori Brock Discovery Center.
Is downtown Bakersfield walkable?
The downtown core is compact and easy to explore on foot, linking the Fox Theater, the Bakersfield Museum of Art, and Mechanics Bank Arena within a short stroll. To reach outlying spots like Sequoia National Forest or Minter Field, though, you will want a car.
How far is Bakersfield from the giant sequoias?
Sequoia National Forest and its groves of giant sequoia trees lie in the mountains northeast of the city, making Bakersfield a convenient launching point for a day trip into the high country and the Giant Sequoia National Monument.
