Bakersfield, CA: Hotel & Motel Planning Guide

When to Visit Bakersfield, California

Bakersfield is technically a Southern Californian town, as it lies halfway between Los Angeles and Fresno. However, residents of Bakersfield affiliate more with the slower pace of central Californian life. The city's ideal location lies only a day's drive from the lights of Hollywood, a day at the beach, or an afternoon in Sequoia National Park. This southern Californian spot gets some of the best weather in the United States due to its desert climate. Clear skies, little rainfall, and a whole lot of sunshine make Bakersfield a great place to be, any time of the year.

There are a few seasonal events to keep in mind when booking your Bakersfield hotel room. Though it is a booming town, the city's population is only about 350,000, so hotel options are more limited than in larger cities. You'll want to book well in advance to make sure you have your pick of accommodations during the Scottish Rites Festival in April, as well as during the Basque Festival in May. The California Hot Rod Reunion also draws a crowd in October, so travel during other times – that is, unless you want to join in the retro fun and take in some live drag racing!

Best Bakersfield, California Hotel Discounts

While many Bakersfield, California hotels don't advertise special discounts for AARP, AAA, or military members, you'll definitely find great internet-only discounts or off-season rates in the area. Bakersfield hotels are often even more affordable during the hot summer months, so if you need to travel to the area, you'll find that rates are more affordable during the months of May – August.

As an industrial and business hub, Bakersfield hotels are equipped to handle a variety of meetings and conferences. You'll find some great discounts for business and personal group bookings, averaging between 10-25% off for your stay if the block of rooms is secured well in advance.

Best Value Options in Bakersfield, California

Those looking for a hotel with a lot of character should check into the Padre Hotel in Downtown Bakersfield near the arts district. This three-and-a-half star hotel is hard to miss. The neon Art Deco sign atop the building announces that this is no ordinary hotel. Built in 1928, The Padre Hotel offers all of the charms of a historic hotel with the comforts of a complete remodel, completed in 2010. Beyond its stylish good looks, the Padre's comfy beds will give you a great night's sleep. Be sure to avail yourself of the concierge's expertise to plan your stay in Bakersfield. Or, make an evening of it at the Padre, starting with a game of billiards and a cocktail from the bar, and cap off the evening with delicious fare served in your room from the Padre's in-room dining menu. There is a Jacuzzi as well, making the Padre a great choice for a romantic weekend getaway. The Padre offers all the best in style and comfort for a great value.

You will find value and excellent service at the Holiday Inn Express and Suites Bakersfield Central, plus proximity to some of the city's main attractions like the Crystal Palace, a “must-see” Bakersfield dining and entertainment experience. All of the in-room conveniences can be found at the Holiday Inn Express and Suites, including air-conditioning, fridges, flat-screen television and cable programs, along with bonus amenities like video-game consoles and free wireless internet. There's also an outdoor pool and spa tub, along with a fitness center. Concierge services, limo and town car service, and even wedding services ensure that your every need will be met during your stay at the Holiday Inn Express Bakersfield Central. The hotel's impressive event hosting facilities includes a meeting room for all kinds of occasions, whether business or pleasure.

Great Adventures in Bakersfield, California

The desert climate of Bakersfield is anything but unwelcoming. The spirit of the Wild West carries on today in Bakersfield through the area's thrill-seeking entertainments and motorsports. Today, Bakersfield is home to a large and growing group of off-road vehicle enthusiasts. The arid landscapes and trails around the outskirts of the city, such as Rancheria Road, make for ideal roving grounds and have hosted many adventurous and memorable off-road outings in recent years. You can also spend a day or evening at the races with a visit to the Kern County Raceway Park. Surrounded by the roar of the engines, it's an exhilarating experience for the whole family. If you're feeling particularly adventurous, you can try signing up for a racecar driving class at the facility, taught by experienced racecar drivers.

If you come in search of the great outdoors, Bakersfield is the perfect base camp at the foothills of the Greenhorn Mountain Range. The fine weather encourages many people to take to the hiking and biking trails, including the Kern River Parkway Trail. This fifteen-mile trail follows the Kern River bed and makes a lovely day trip for the family, offering views of local flora and fauna along the way. For a slightly tamer outing that is still quite memorable, head to Hart Park to check out the live peacocks who roam the grounds. It's a fun experience that also happens to be free of charge. Just be sure to pack plenty of extra water for the journey during the sometimes intense heat of the summer months.

'I love California. It has such a strong contribution to the history of culture, and popular culture. For better and worse, of course. Even the worst can be interesting to some degree sometimes for somebody creative. These words were said by the young French photographer and fashion designer Hedi Slimane.

Land of the Free and Creative 

Bakersfield is a sunny city in Southern California, United States. Although today the city of Bakersfield has a very varied economy that mostly bases on the oil production, agriculture, natural gas and other energy extraction, in the late 19th century this Californian area was rushed by the ones seeking to get rich by working on gold mines. Among those men was Thomas Baker, a former lawyer residing in Ohio and then starting to create a better living on the Banks of the Kern River for himself and for his whole family. A lot of tourists come to visit and see the historical monuments of the city like the First Presbyterian Church, California Living Museum, Historic Union Cemetery and many similar attractions every year. Today Bakersfield is also famous for it's so to call Ê»Bakersfield Soundʼ , a typical steel guitar music made really popular by the local musicians Buck Owens and Merle Haggard. Therefore, you will not be able to come around only for a couple of hours, so for those who really want to experience the real sunshiny adventure, Bakersfield hotels can offer a good selection of accommodation, and it is practically quite easy to find hotels in Bakersfield. 

Cheap Hotels in Bakersfield

Even though you can almost smell the spirit of the gold rush in the air of Bakersfield, the prices of accommodation are not so high. You can search for quite cheap hotels online, or go and try out the ones that we have already found for you. The ones that we recommend are California Best Inn, Ramada Limited, Comfort Suites, Rodeway Inn & Suites or Clarion Hotel. 

A Glimpse of Real Californian Luxuriousness 

In case you are not going to worry about the budget on your vacation, we assure you that you will be able to find some absolutely luxurious Bakersfield hotels. You can check out some really great places like the Hotel Rosedale, Hampton Inn & Suites, Padre Hotel or Bakersfield Marriott at the Convention Center. These hotels in Bakersfield can offer you a great variety of best quality facilities, friendly staff, delicious foods ant the best Californian style vacation experience.

Sun, Wine and Lots of Fun

There are too many places in Bakersfield to visit, but the ones that can really catch the attention of those seeking for a good glass of California wine and even better time are horse shows all year round, annual California's Scottish Games and Clan Gatherings or the annual Kern County Fair. These gatherings will not only help you to feel the real spirit of this once a true gold rush town, but also to have the best sunshiny holiday of your life.