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Things to Do in Bakersfield (2026)
Begin your Bakersfield visit at Central Park at 1600 Truxtun Avenue, a 30-acre green space with a lake, playgrounds, and plenty of shade. The park is open daily from 6 AMβ¦ π³ Start at Central Park
Begin your Bakersfield visit at Central Park at 1600 Truxtun Avenue, a 30-acre green space with a lake, playgrounds, and plenty of shade. The park is open daily from 6 AM to 10 PM, and parking is free. On Saturday mornings from April to October, the nearby Kaiser Permanente Farmers Market at 1300 Baker Street offers fresh produce and local crafts from 8 AM to 12 PM. It's a relaxed way to get oriented before exploring the city.
π¨ Explore the Art Scene
The Bakersfield Museum of Art at 1930 R Street showcases regional artists and traveling exhibitions; admission is $10 for adults, $5 for students and seniors, and free for members and children under 12. It's open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 AM to 4 PM, and Sunday from 12 PM to 4 PM. For public art, walk the downtown Arts District along 19th Street, where you'll find murals and sculptures, especially around the Fox Theater at 2001 H Street. The First Friday art walk from 5 to 9 PM features gallery openings and live music.
π΅ Dive into Music History
Bakersfield is famous for its country music heritage, and the Kern County Museum at 3801 Chester Avenue pays tribute with the Bakersfield Sound exhibit. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 AM to 4 PM, and admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children ages 5 to 12. Don't miss the historic Pioneer Village with over 50 restored buildings. For live music, check the schedule at Buck Owens' Crystal Palace at 2800 Buck Owens Boulevard, where shows often start at 7 PM and tickets range from $20 to $50.
π½οΈ Taste Local Flavors
No trip to Bakersfield is complete without trying a Basque meal. Head to Wool Growers at 620 E 19th Street, a family-style restaurant open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Sunday; expect to pay around $25 to $35 per person. For a classic burger, try The Padre Hotel at 1702 18th Street, which serves food until midnight on weekends. And for a sweet treat, Dewar's Candy Shop at 1120 Eye Street has been making chews and ice cream since 1909; a single scoop is about $4.
π Get Around Town
Bakersfield is car-centric, so renting a car is your best bet for exploring beyond downtown. The city's bus system, Golden Empire Transit (GET), covers major routes with a one-way fare of $1.50 and a day pass for $4.00; buses run from about 5:30 AM to 7 PM on weekdays. Ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft are readily available, with typical fares from downtown to the auto mall around $15. Parking downtown is mostly free for two hours, but check signs for restrictions.
π Enjoy Outdoor Adventures
Just 20 minutes east of downtown, the Panorama Bluffs offer sweeping views of the Kern River Valley and are perfect for a sunrise or sunset stroll. For hiking, head to the Kern River Parkway Trail, a 30-mile paved path that follows the river; access points include Beach Park at 3400 21st Street. If you're visiting between March and May, the wildflowers at the Carrizo Plain National Monument, about 1.5 hours west, are spectacular. Always bring water and sun protection, as summer temperatures often exceed 100Β°F.
ποΈ Shop Local Markets
The Bakersfield Marketplace at 10500 Stockdale Highway is an indoor swap meet open Friday through Sunday from 9 AM to 5 PM, with everything from vintage clothing to handmade jewelry. For a more upscale experience, visit the shops along Truxtun Avenue near the Marketplace, including locally owned boutiques like The Hen's Nest at 9000 Ming Avenue. On the first Thursday of each month, downtown's Shop Local First event features extended hours and special discounts at participating stores from 5 to 8 PM.
π¨ Plan Your Stay
Most visitors stay downtown near the convention center, where the Bakersfield Marriott at 801 Truxtun Avenue offers rooms from around $150 per night and is within walking distance to restaurants and the Fox Theater. For a boutique option, The Padre Hotel at 1702 18th Street has rooms starting at $180 and a popular rooftop bar. Budget travelers can find motels along Union Avenue for $60 to $80 per night, but be sure to read recent reviews. Book early if you're visiting during the Bakersfield Jazz Festival in May or the Kern County Fair in September.
This is thorough, and the Basque section is right to lead with food. One correction though: Wool Growers is lunch only on most days, not lunch and dinner. I've shown up at 6 PM before and found the lights off. Noriega's does dinner on Fridays and Saturdays but you'll want a reservation.
The detail I'd add is the Thursday farmers market on Chester Avenue near the museum, 4 to 8 PM in summer. It's smaller than the Saturday one on Baker Street but the food trucks are better and there's usually live music.
Also on the Crystal Palace, the museum upstairs is free and open before shows. Worth 20 minutes if you care about the Bakersfield Sound at all.
Good rundown, though I'd push back a little on Central Park as the starting point. It's fine, but for a first orientation I'd send people to the bluffs at sunrise instead, the light over the valley is worth the early alarm and you skip the midday heat.
One thing the guide missed: the Basque lunch scene is really a lunch thing, not dinner. Wool Growers is solid but I'd also put Noriega's at 525 Sumner Street on your radar, it's been running since 1893 and the family-style setup is the real deal. Get there hungry and don't fill up on the first course, there are usually five or six coming.
Also worth knowing, summer here is no joke. If you're doing the Parkway Trail in July, go before 8 AM or you'll regret it. And the Carrizo Plain wildflower bloom is hit or miss depending on rainfall, so check conditions before making that 1.5 hour drive.
solid writeup, covers more ground than most bakersfield lists do
one thing i'd add on the music side, the crystal palace is great but if ur here on a random tuesday check who's playing at the nile theater on 17th street instead, it's an old vaudeville house from 1939 and the sound in there is unreal for a room that size, tickets are usually cheaper too
also for the art walk, first friday is the big one but the smaller thursday night thing at metro galleries on 19th is way less crowded if u actually want to look at the art and not just stand in line for wine
and yeah the get day pass at 4 bucks is a steal if ur just doing downtown & the bluffs, no need to rent a car for that stretch
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3 Days in Bakersfield: Itinerary 2026
A three-day trip to Bakersfield works best if you group activities by neighborhood to minimize driving. Downtown, East Bakersfield, and the Northwest are the main areas you'lβ¦ ποΈ Planning Your Trip
A three-day trip to Bakersfield works best if you group activities by neighborhood to minimize driving. Downtown, East Bakersfield, and the Northwest are the main areas you'll explore. Plan for 15 to 25 minutes of transit between these zones by car, or longer if you use public transit. The city is spread out, so renting a car is highly recommended.
ποΈ Day 1: Downtown Discoveries
Start your morning at the Bakersfield Museum of Art (1930 R Street) which opens at 10:00 AM; admission is $10 for adults. Then walk two blocks to the historic Fox Theater (2001 H Street) for a photo of its iconic marquee. For lunch, grab a Basque sandwich at Wool Growers (620 E 19th Street), a local institution since 1954. Spend the afternoon exploring the shops along 19th Street, then head to the Padre Hotel (1702 18th Street) for rooftop drinks at sunset.
π³ Day 2: Eastside Culture
Begin at the California Living Museum (10500 Alfred Harrell Highway), which opens at 9:00 AM; tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children. Afterward, drive 15 minutes to the Kern County Museum (3801 Chester Avenue) to see the historic Pioneer Village. Have a late lunch at Noriega's (525 Sumner Street), a Basque restaurant known for its family-style meals, around 1:30 PM. In the evening, catch a show at the Bakersfield Music Hall of Fame (1725 23rd Street) or relax at the nearby River Walk Park.
π Day 3: Northwest Wineries
Head northwest on Highway 99 to the Bakersfield wine region, starting at Toca Madera Winery (36140 Avenue 9) which opens at 11:00 AM for tastings ($10 for five pours). Then visit nearby Rancho Ventavo Cellars (37041 Avenue 9) for a more intimate tasting experience. For lunch, stop at the Kern River Brewing Company (13415 Sierra Way) in Kernville, about a 45-minute drive, for craft beer and burgers. On your way back, catch the sunset at the Panorama Vista Preserve (on Panorama Drive) before returning to town.
π Getting Around
Bakersfield is car-dependent; most attractions are 10 to 20 minutes apart by car. The Golden Empire Transit (GET) bus system covers downtown and major corridors, with a single ride costing $1.50 and a day pass $4.00. Ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft are available but can have longer wait times in outer neighborhoods. If you're staying downtown, many spots are walkable, but for Days 2 and 3, you'll need a vehicle.
π½οΈ Where to Eat
Bakersfield is famous for Basque food; don't miss Wool Growers (620 E 19th Street) for lunch or Noriega's (525 Sumner Street) for dinner. For a modern twist, try The Mark (1623 19th Street) for farm-to-table dishes, or Moo Creamery (4885 Truxtun Avenue) for creative burgers and ice cream. Breakfast options include 24th Street Cafe (1901 24th Street) and the popular Happy Jack's Pie 'N Burger (1900 19th Street). Most restaurants are open from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM, but some close on Sundays.
π¨ Where to Stay
Downtown options like the Padre Hotel (1702 18th Street) offer historic charm and walkable access to nightlife, with rates from $150 per night. For budget travelers, the Best Western Plus Hill House (700 Truxtun Avenue) is centrally located and often under $100. If you prefer modern amenities, the Marriott at the Convention Center (801 Truxtun Avenue) is a solid choice. Book ahead for spring and fall, when local events fill rooms.
π‘ Local Tips
Summers in Bakersfield are extremely hot, often exceeding 100Β°F, so plan indoor activities for midday and carry water. Many museums and attractions offer discounted admission on the first Sunday of the month. Tipping is standard at 15 to 20 percent in restaurants. If you're visiting in March, check out the Bakersfield Jazz Festival; in October, the Kern County Fair draws big crowds.
The Day 2 lineup is good but I'd swap the order. Do Kern County Museum first since it opens at 9 and the Pioneer Village buildings get brutal by early afternoon, then hit CALM after. Also, the museum's J's Place is a solid lunch stop right there on Chester, so you're not driving back across town to Noriega's at 1:30 and waiting for a table. If you do want Basque family style, Noriega's takes reservations and Sunday lunch is the classic slot, not dinner.
Good rundown overall. One thing I'd add for Day 1: the Bakersfield Museum of Art is free on the first Sunday, and honestly the Fox Theater marquee is best shot after dark when it's lit up, so maybe flip that photo stop to evening before the Padre. Also, 19th Street between Chester and Q has decent thrift and antique spots if that's your thing, but a lot of them close by 5, so don't leave shopping for late afternoon. If you're set on Basque lunch, Wool Growers only does lunch on weekdays, weekends it's dinner only, which trips people up.
this is a really thorough writeup, saved me a bunch of planning. one thing nobody mentioned yet, if u end up at CALM on day 2 the animals are way more active in the morning before it heats up, so going right at 9 is worth it. also dewar's is a must if u want the old school candy and ice cream counter, it's been on eye st forever and my grandparents used to take me there as a kid. not sure it's in your eat section but it fits a downtown afternoon