Bakersfield: An Ideal Stop on the Way from Los Angeles to Sequoia or Death Valley

Bakersfield may not be one of the most famous cities in California, let alone the most interesting. If you look at the section of our website on California, you will realize that there are other cities that are essential to head to if you are traveling in these parts. But then, why dedicate an article to this city?

First of all, I think that even the least attractive places can hold beautiful surprises and that when you are traveling, you should never dismiss any place a priori. The second crucial factor is that Bakersfield’s geographical position makes it an excellent stop on many road trips, especially those that include Los Angeles, Sequoia National Park, and Death Valley.

So, even if Bakersfield is not one of the top places to visit in California, you may pass through it, so it might come in handy to know its main attractions and some tips on where to eat and spend the night.

Why Stop in Bakersfield?

The task of organizing a road trip in the United States should not be underestimated. There are many things to see and often they are distant from each other, so it is important to plan out the schedule well and plan for overnight stops at strategic points.

One of these strategic points is Bakersfield, which proves to be a perfect place to stop for the night on several routes along Californian roads. If you look at the map, you can see that it is a halfway point between Los Angeles, Sequoia National Park, and Death Valley. But Bakersfield is an optimal overnight stop to spend the night for travelers going many different routes, and below I will try to point out the main ones.

• From Los Angeles (and San Diego) to Sequoia National Park. If you’ve already read the article about Sequoia National Park, you may have realized that it takes several hours to visit it, driving on long winding roads and walking among the thousand-year-old trees. So the 300+ miles that separate it from Los Angeles (or the 500+ from San Diego) can be a lot to drive in the morning before visiting. Bakersfield is exactly on the road and it’s only 93 miles away from Sequoia National Park. If you leave early in the morning, you can easily cover this distance the same day you visit the park (there are also stops closer to the park. We talked about it in the article on where to stay in Sequoia National Park). For more on this itinerary, read our article about traveling from Los Angeles to Sequoia National Park.
• From Sequoia National Park to Death Valley. Again, we are talking about a great distance. Between 310-370 miles (depending on the chosen road) and about 6 hours of driving. After visiting Sequoia, you can then head to Bakersfield for the night. The next morning you can drive the remaining miles to Death Valley, or perhaps plan stops at some of the places suggested in our Sequoia to Death Valley itinerary.
• From San Francisco to Death Valley. If you are leaving from San Francisco, you could cross the Sierra Nevada to reach Death Valley, and take the opportunity to go to some of its parks and enjoy its natural beauty. However, this is only possible in the summer. During the off-season, weather conditions force you to bypass the mountain range and you’ll have to pass through Bakersfield, which is exactly halfway. Considering that the total trip is about 9 hours of driving, breaking it up into two parts is not a bad idea at all.
• From Morro Bay to Death Valley or Las Vegas. The stretch of Highway 1 between Monterey and Morro Bay is one of the most scenic roads on the entire U.S. Pacific Coast and is worth visiting if you ever go on a trip to California. Once on it, however, the only alternative is to drive it all the way because there are no intermediate exits. It takes about three hours, not counting the stops (and making a few, especially in the Big Sur area, are a must!), so you won’t be able to reach Death Valley or Las Vegas on the same day. Bakersfield is less than 2 and a half hours from Morro Bay, so it can be a bit of a trek, but it’s still doable if your goal is to get as close as possible to your next destination.

What to Do in Bakersfield

Since Bakersfield is an intermediary point for numerous routes, you may stay here overnight, and while you are here, you might have time or want to take a tour and see something. Here are the main places of interest.

Downtown Bakersfield

• Kern County Museum. This museum is a research institute that collects historical artifacts, to educate the public about the traditions and culture of this territory. In addition to a collection, which varies from Native American artifacts and archeological finds to vehicles and firearms, there are temporary exhibitions and events on different topics. One exhibit that is particularly interesting is the Pioneer Village, which has more than 50 historical houses. All details can be found on the official website.
• Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace. Are you a music fan and do you especially love country and rock music? Then you’ll be pleased to know that the Bakersfield Sound (a subgenre of country music) was born and developed here in the 1930s. Even today, this place is the site of frequent musical events, which will certainly be entertaining, even if you were not a fan of the genre. Also because the Old West decor will make you feel like you’re inside a movie set from a Western.
• Bakersfield Museum of Art. The Bakersfield Museum of Art has a permanent collection of paintings, sculptures, photography, and drawing, but it’s worth visiting mostly because of its gallery, which features temporary art exhibits throughout the year. Therefore, consult the official website to check which exhibition is on and be inspired.
• Big Shoe Repair. Since 1947 on Chester Avenue there has been a shoemaker’s workshop in the shape of a giant shoe. Even if your shoes don’t need to be repaired, if you’re in town, you might want to check out this quirky building and see if the store’s roof is always securely fastened with a very long black rope.
• Fox Theater. Few movie theaters in America can boast the history of the Fox Theater in Bakersfield. It opened on Christmas Day in 1930, and it has seen the major Hollywood films of the twentieth-century pass across its screen and has welcomed thousands of people to its 1,500 seats. The cinema withstood the earthquake of 1952 and its interior was replaced with Art Deco motifs the following year. In 1977, nearly half a century after opening, the cinema closed its doors until a nonprofit organization launched a fundraiser in 1994 to save it from demolition. If you don’t have time to enjoy a movie, take a photo of its beautiful facade.

Things to Do near Bakersfield

Just outside the city, along the banks of the Kern River near Lake Ming, there is a park with some special points of interest, all of which can be reached by following the Alfred Harrell Hwy:

• California Living Museum. This is a small zoo that mainly features local wildlife. Don’t expect to find dozens of different species (go to the San Diego Zoo for that!), but if you have children, they will certainly love the bears, reptiles, and birds of prey, as well as the train that travels among the dinosaurs. All the details can be found on the official website. Moreover, to get there, you will pass by Hart Park, an ideal place on the river for a pleasant picnic stop.
• The Ernst Quarries. On the opposite side of the river, there are the quarries with the largest existing deposit of marine fossils of the Miocene. A part of this vast area is dedicated to scientific research, while other parts are open to the public, so if you are interested in fossils, you can go in search of your shark tooth! All the details are on the official website.
• Indian Warrior. Next to the Old Corral Cafe, along the Old Alfred Harrell Hwy (on the way to the two previous attractions) there is a large statue of a Native American that greets those who pass by. It’s a Muffler Man, a type of attraction that is popular especially on Route 66. Why not stop and take a picture?

Bakersfield to Death Valley

As I already mentioned, Bakersfield is a great stop if you’re moving towards Death Valley or Las Vegas, either starting from the California coast or from Sequoia National Park. But there are two ways to get from Bakersfield to Death Valley. Let’s take a look at where you can stop along these two routes.

From the Northeast

Sequoia National Forest

The first alternative is to drive on CA-178. Along this route, you will also pass through Sequoia National Forest, but be careful not to get confused. I am not talking about Sequoia National Park. In our article about national parks, there is a section that explains how many Sequoia parks there are because it may be confusing. In any case, although it may not be a famous area, and it is not well-equipped to receive tourists, and the same goes for other parks in the area, if you have time available and especially if you love nature, you might be pleasantly surprised by taking a detour around here. If you want to keep exploring the area, when you reach Lake Isabella, take a detour to Kernville and Alta Sierra.

Silver City Ghost Town

Near Lake Isabella, by taking a very short detour, you can visit one of the many ghost towns that dot the American West called Bodfish (3829 Lake Isabella Blvd). Here you will come across 21 old buildings, perfectly restored to show how it must have been like in the Far West. The cost of admission ($5.50 for adults, $4.50 for kids ages 6-12), goes to keep this place maintained and accessible. The site remains open daily from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. (On Saturdays, it closes at 5:00 pm).

Remington Hot Springs

This detour is more challenging than the previous one, although you follow more or less the same route to get there. You must get off CA-178 and take Kern Canyon Road, which runs parallel to the main road, but on the opposite side of the river. Since this is a smaller road, the travel time is slightly longer, but this way you can include the Remington Hot Springs in your itinerary.

Especially if you’re not traveling in the middle of summer, consider going in these beautiful pools of hot water, but do it in the morning before the crowds arrive. As it turns out, many people go to the hot springs, especially on weekends. On the other hand, access is free.

From the Southeast

The other road to take is Redrock Randsburg Road. This route is not monotonous either and you can make at least a couple of interesting stops.

Cesar Chavez National Monument

Keene is one of the small towns you will pass through. Although seemingly anonymous, it is home to the César E. Chávez National Monument, dedicated to the Mexican-born activist who fought for the rights of Latin American workers between 1952 and 1976. The most interesting sections of the Chavez family property, which can be visited for free, are the Memorial Garden, where the activist is buried, and the Desert Garden.

Tehachapi Loop

Shortly after Keene, there is a must-see stop, especially for those who are train and railroad enthusiasts. The Tehachapi Loop is one of the most interesting railroad projects. It is a spiral path created to allow long, heavy freight trains to cross a mountain pass that is too steep for a classic straight railway. Now classified as a National Landmark, it’s truly remarkable, and it’s very likely that you will see a train go by because it’s a heavily traveled freight line. Click here to find out how to see it from an elevated area. It is definitely the best spot to take a unique photo.

Where to Stay in Bakersfield

The selection of hotels  and the price range are quite wide. Here are three good options, 2, 3, and 4 stars respectively, but by clicking on the button below you can see all the accommodations by Bakersfield.

• Country Inn & Suites by Radisson. This two-star hotel is located in a residential area close to a shopping center, near an exit for the Golden State Hwy. The location is therefore ideal especially if you are passing through, because you do not lose time with the traffic of downtown and at the same time you have all the services you may need at your fingertips.
• Residence Inn. Rated as a three-star hotel, this is an excellent solution to spend the night in Bakersfield is the Residence Inn of the Marriott chain. This hotel is also located near an exit for the Golden State Hwy and near a commercial area full of restaurants and fast food. However, the Residence Inn is closer to downtown Bakersfield and is, therefore, a perfect solution for those who want to visit it, but at the same time need to be close to a highway connection, because they arrive here late at night or maybe have to leave early in the morning. In addition, the hotel has a swimming pool.
• Padre Hotel. In a historic building in downtown Bakersfield, there is a phenomenal four-star hotel, suitable for those who prefer high-end hotels and is ideal for visiting the city. Among other things, this hotel has three bars with food and entertainment. At the Brimstone Bar, you can play billiards while having a drink, while at the Prospect Bar, you can enjoy an evening of live music, and at the Prairie Fire, you can relax on a patio on the top floor terrace of the building.

All hotels in Bakersfield

Where to Eat in Bakersfield

In Bakersfield, just like in all big cities, there is a great variety of places to stop and eat that ranges from the cheapest fast food to the most luxurious of restaurants. Below I will offer some suggestions that are not the usual big chain restaurants.

• 24th Street Café (1415 24th Street). In downtown Bakersfield, the quintessential breakfast can be found at this historic cafe, which looks very simple, but will not leave you disappointed. If you want a rich and substantial American breakfast, this is the place for you. There are also several set menus to choose from and you will surely find the ideal breakfast for you.
• Black Bear Diner (4102 California Avenue). In front of the above-mentioned Residence Inn, you will find this classic diner with good food, affordable prices, and set menus for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
• Black Angus Steakhouse (3601 Rosedale Hwy). This is a chain restaurant, but certainly not comparable to the magnates of fast food, since it has only about thirty locations scattered around the world. If you are in the mood for steak, but also for different types of dishes, here you can dine well at affordable prices.