Bakersfield in a day
A one-day plan for Bakersfield: The Park at River Walk, the Beale Memorial Clock Tower and the Kern County Museum first, then the Buena Vista Museum of Natural History and Buck Owens' Crystal Palace. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 1 days
Bakersfield in 1 day
Day 1
The Park at River Walk
Large public park in west Bakersfield with a lake, walking paths and an amphitheatre, built along the Kern River.
Buck Owens' Crystal Palace
Country music venue, restaurant and museum founded by Buck Owens, with memorabilia and live shows tied to the Bakersfield sound.
Kern County Museum
Open-air history museum with historic buildings moved from across the county, plus indoor galleries on the region.
Buena Vista Museum of Natural History
Natural history museum downtown with fossils, minerals and prehistoric displays from the Kern County area.
Beale Memorial Clock Tower
Historic clock tower on Chester Avenue, a landmark of downtown Bakersfield.
Watch: Bakersfield
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
When to go to Bakersfield
Spring and autumn are the most pleasant seasons, with warm sunny days and mild evenings. Summers are very hot and dry. Winter days are cool, and mornings can bring heavy valley fog. The March Meet drag racing event at Famoso Raceway takes place in March, and the Kern County Fair is held in autumn.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Bakersfield on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Bakersfield on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Bakersfield on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for United States from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Bakersfield
- The Kern County Museum and the Buena Vista Museum are a short drive apart, while the River Walk park and downtown are close to each other.
- Summer afternoons are very hot, often above 100 degrees Fahrenheit; keep outdoor visits to the morning and museums for the afternoon.
- Check opening days before you go, as the Kern County Museum and several smaller museums close one or two days a week.
- Buck Owens' Crystal Palace is busiest on show nights, so check the programme and book a table if you want dinner and a concert.
- Bakersfield is spread out and a car is the easiest way to link the stops; parking is generally easy.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Beale Memorial Clock Tower: Unknown photographer, Public domain
- Buck Owens' Crystal Palace: Skyman9999, CC0
- Buena Vista Museum of Natural History: Skyman9999, CC0
- Kern County Museum: (WT-de) Mistoffeles, CC BY-SA 4.0
- The Park at River Walk: John Phelan, CC BY 3.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
