Getting Around Bakersfield
Bakersfield is a car-based city with poor mass transit options, so driving your own car or renting one is probably wise. However, if you are intrepid and determined to save money, the city bus can be used. The city sits at the junction of California State Routes 99 and 58, and its proximity to mountain passes — primarily the Tejon Pass on Interstate 5 between the Greater Los Angeles Area and the San Joaquin Valley — has made it a regional transportation hub.
Rail: Amtrak and the San Joaquins
Amtrak serves Bakersfield from a main terminal downtown, the Bakersfield railway station at 601 Truxtun Avenue. Bakersfield is the southern terminus of the Amtrak San Joaquins route, which travels north through the Central Valley to either Sacramento or the Bay Area. The station is also served by a number of Amtrak Thruway bus routes, which connect San Joaquins passengers to many Southern California cities, as well as Las Vegas, Nevada.
Bakersfield has no metro or tram network. Historically, a streetcar line once connected the Santa Fe station to the Southern Pacific station in Sumner (now East Bakersfield), but no such service operates today; the present-day Bakersfield Station was built in 2000 near Truxtun Avenue and S Street.
Buses and Public Transport
Local public transit is provided by Golden Empire Transit (GET). Coverage of tourist sites is reasonable, but service can be fairly limited in certain areas such as Rosedale. There are no transfers, so day passes are recommended. Fares are paid per ride, and buses operate mostly in town.
For travel beyond the city, Kern Transit connects Bakersfield to other parts of Kern County, including Santa Clarita, Delano, Lake Isabella, Lamont, Lancaster, and Taft, with additional services onward to Boron, California City, and Kernville. Schedules and maps are available on the Kern Transit website.
Several intercity bus lines also pass through Bakersfield, with stations or stops in different parts of town:
- Greyhound and Flixbus — stop behind the visitors center at the Bakersfield Train Station, 601 Truxtun Avenue (Truxtun & T Street, east of Union/CA-204). Greyhound runs on CA-99/I-5 between Los Angeles and Oakland or Sacramento through Bakersfield, Stockton, Modesto, Fresno, and Delano, with some routes branching from Tracy toward Oakland via San Jose and Gilroy while others continue north to Sacramento via Modesto. Travelers going to Las Vegas would transfer buses in Los Angeles. There is also an additional stop at McKee Park & Ride on H Street between Hosking Avenue and Taft Highway on the south side of town.
- International Bus Lines (formerly Intercalifornias) — bus station at 1821 18th Street, between F and G Streets in Downtown Bakersfield, with buses from Tijuana to San Jose via Watsonville, Salinas, Los Banos, Madera, the San Joaquin Valley, Bakersfield, Los Angeles, and San Ysidro.
- Tufesa — 1900 California Avenue, a Mexican bus company serving the San Joaquin Valley between Sacramento, Modesto, Fresno, Bakersfield, Los Angeles, San Ysidro, Tijuana, and points in between.
- Airport Valet Express — 201 New Stine Road, Suite #300-350, at the southwest corner of Stockdale Highway and New Stine Road (bus boards at the south gate). It serves primarily as a group charter with limited guided tours to Pismo Beach, Santa Barbara, and Ventura Beach. Ask if they go to LAX; if not, take Greyhound or Flixbus to LA Union Station and transfer to the LAX FlyAway bus to the airport.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis are available in Bakersfield, including Silver Taxi at 422 Quincy Street, which operates 24 hours. At Meadows Field Airport, taxis, Uber, and Lyft are available outside the terminal.
Walking and Biking
The downtown core of Bakersfield is very small and walkable, with shopping centers and parks. Some neighborhoods are walkable, notably Downtown and Oleander-Sunset, where shopping centers and parks are within reach. However, the city overall is car-dependent, and many errands require longer walks or other transport. Sidewalk coverage is inconsistent and crosswalks infrequent, so travelers should choose accommodation in more accessible areas.
Biking is not a typical mode of transit, but it can be done. The city is moderately bike-friendly, with over 170 miles of bike trails, lanes, and paths, including a scenic 30-mile route along the Kern River. That said, most bike lanes are on arterial roads with multiple car lanes and high speed limits, and biking is not a common mode of transport among residents, so safety concerns should be considered. It is practical for specific trips and trail exploration.
Getting from the Airport into the City
Meadows Field (BFL) is the major airport for commercial flights serving Bakersfield and the communities in the lower part of the San Joaquin Valley. It lies north of downtown Bakersfield along Highway 204 and Highway 99, at Exit #30 (Merle Haggard Drive) of Highway 99. The passenger terminal is on the opposite side of the runways from Highway 99 via Merle Haggard Drive.
The airport is served by Skywest operating as American Eagle (Phoenix and Dallas–Fort Worth; some flights to DFW are operated by American Airlines while others are operated by Skywest as American Eagle) and Skywest operating as United Express (Denver and San Francisco). Meadows Field is also an international airport, although there are no international carriers; however, the airport is capable of handling international private planes, both arriving and departing.
For getting into the city from the airport:
- Rental cars are available at the airport.
- Taxis, Uber, and Lyft are available outside the terminal.
- There is no bus service to the airport.
If you need more flight options, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is the primary alternative, with multiple airlines. Airport Valet Express and Chennai Express provide direct bus service between LAX and Bakersfield. Other nearby airports include Bob Hope Airport (BUR) in Burbank and Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT) in Fresno, both of which are accessible by Greyhound and Flixbus.
Private aircraft traveling to Bakersfield can land either at Meadows Field or at Bakersfield Municipal Airport in South Bakersfield. In addition, there are a variety of other general aviation airports in the region, including Delano Municipal Airport, Kern Valley Airport, Lost Hills Airport, Minner Field (Shafter), Taft Airport, Tehachapi Municipal Airport, and Wasco Airport.