View more places in California
Bakersfield, California sits in the southern San Joaquin Valley, approximately 110 miles north of Los Angeles in Kern County. As the ninth-largest city in California and the county’s economic engine, Bakersfield is a city shaped by oil, agriculture, and music. The city was originally called “Baker’s Field” after a nearby oil explorer’s camp, and it grew rapidly during the 20th century as one of the most productive oil regions in the United States. Today, Bakersfield continues to be defined by these twin pillars, alongside a surprising cultural richness that draws visitors from across the country.
Despite its relatively modest size, Bakersfield punches above its weight culturally, producing a distinctive sound that became one of country’s most influential genres. The city is also celebrated for its extraordinary agricultural output — Kern County ranks among the top agricultural counties in America, growing everything from almonds to carrots to citrus. Bakersfield sits at the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley, surrounded by mountains on three sides, with the Sierra Nevada to the east, the Temblor Range to the south, and the Kern River running through its heart.
The Temo were the region’s original inhabitants for thousands of years, followed by Spanish missionaries and then American settlers in the mid-1800s. Bakersfield’s transformation began in 1899 when the Kern River Oil Field was discovered just east of downtown, launching one of the most prolific oil-producing regions in the country. By the 1930s, Bakersfield had become a boomtown, and the Bakersfield Sound emerged as a distinct musical style that would reshape American country music. The city was incorporated in 1958 and has since grown into the economic hub of the southern San Joaquin Valley.
Bakersfield’s cultural identity is deeply rooted in its agricultural and oil industry heritage. The city is famous for the Bakersfield Sound, a gritty, twangy style of country music pioneered by legends like Buck Owens and Merle Haggard in the clubs and honky-tonks of downtown Bakersfield. The Buck Owens Crystal Palace remains the beating heart of this musical legacy, hosting live performances several nights a week and preserving the instruments and memorabilia of the artists who put Bakersfield on the musical map. The annual Country Music Festival draws thousands of fans to downtown Bakersfield each spring to celebrate this enduring heritage.
Bakersfield offers a mix of history, music, and outdoor recreation that reflects its unique position in California. The Kern County Museum is the city’s premier cultural institution, featuring the Bakersfield Sound Wall — a striking landmark honoring the musicians who shaped American country music — alongside exhibits covering Native American history, local archaeology, and the oil and agricultural industries that built the region. The museum complex includes restored historic buildings and artifacts that trace Bakersfield’s evolution from a small settlement to a major American city.
Music lovers will find a pilgrimage site at the Buck Owens Crystal Palace, a fully operational music hall decorated with memorabilia spanning decades of country music history. Stage costumes, instruments, and photographs tell the story of the Bakersfield Sound and its profound influence on the evolution of American popular music. Live performances run several nights per week, giving visitors a chance to experience the authentic honky-tonk atmosphere that made this city famous. For a deeper dive into local history, the Kern County Museum also houses exhibits on the region’s indigenous peoples, early settlers, and the remarkable engineering feats behind Kern County’s oil fields.
Food lovers will discover a pleasant surprise in Bakersfield’s dining scene, shaped by the region’s extraordinary agricultural abundance. The city hosts a vibrant collection of family farms and roadside stands selling fresh produce year-round, with seasonal highlights including stone fruits in summer, citrus in winter, and almonds available nearly year-round. The downtown area and the Mill Creek neighborhood feature a growing number of restaurants showcasing locally sourced ingredients and the multicultural flavors that reflect Bakersfield’s diverse population.
Bakersfield’s location between the Sierra Nevada foothills, the Tehachapi Mountains, and the Mojave Desert creates diverse outdoor recreation opportunities within a short drive. The Kern River runs right through the city, offering kayaking, tubing, and fishing in the summer months. The North of the River area provides scenic trails and natural areas popular with locals for walking and jogging. Lake Buena Vista and the surrounding areas offer additional water-based recreation, while the nearby Tehachapi Loop — a famous railroad engineering marvel — is well worth the short drive south for train enthusiasts, who can watch freight trains glide over themselves as they navigate the remarkable spiral.
The city maintains an extensive park system that includes Central Park at the civic center, which hosts year-round community events and festivals. Yokuts Park provides recreational facilities in a setting that honors the region’s indigenous heritage. For a more rugged outdoor experience, the Sierra Nevada foothills east of the city offer hiking trails, campgrounds, and the chance to explore the transition zone between the valley floor and the mountain wilderness.
Bakersfield experiences a desert climate with very hot summers and mild winters. The most comfortable time to visit is during the spring months of March through May, when daytime temperatures range from the 70s to low 90s and wildflowers bloom throughout the valley. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 100°F from June through September, making outdoor activities challenging during midday, though early morning or evening visits to local attractions remain feasible. Winter brings milder weather in the 50s to 60s, with occasional rain showers that create green landscapes in the surrounding hills.
Fall offers pleasant temperatures and the harvest season brings abundant local produce to farms and markets throughout the area. The Kern County Fair in September showcases the region’s agricultural heritage with exhibits, entertainment, and carnival attractions. Spring and fall are ideal for exploring the Kern River recreation areas and hiking the foothills, while summer evenings are perfect for live music at the Crystal Palace.
Here are some of our favorite things to do near Bakersfield. Select what you would enjoy!
Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace stands as the living heart of the Bakersfield Sound , a legendary country music venue and museum that has anchored the genre’s most influential scene since it first opened its doors. Located on Buck Owens Boulevard in down…
The Kern County Museum stands as the premier cultural institution in Bakersfield, offering visitors an immersive journey through the rich and varied history of Kern County. Located on a sprawling 14-acre campus just east of downtown, the museum comp…