CHEAP GETAWAYS: Budget Friendly Bakersfield

One of the things we wanted to do on this blog for 2012 is to highlight budget friendly trips in this tight economy. Here is our first report…

We’ve been highlighting one of our favorite weekend getaways, Bakersfield, for the last couple of weeks. We’ve also been telling you that it’s friendly on budget. So just how friendly is it?

Here is what you can expect to pay in 2012 for two nights in Bakersfield…

First, you have to get there. It’s approximately 120 miles from Los Angeles, so we’ll start from there. The two hour drive, using a car that gets 16 miles per gallon, will cost you $15 each way, or $30 round trip at the current $4 per gallon cost. Figure another 4 gallons for driving around while you’re there and the total comes up to $46.

Be sure to gas up in L.A. and Bakersfield, not in between where the prices can be significantly higher. Bakersfield tends to be a few cents less per gallon than L.A.

GAS - $46


Hotel – Our go-to hotel in Bakersfield is the Springhill Suites where, with a AAA discount, we can usually get a two-room suite for around $80 per night. This price includes a full breakfast. A quick search at the Expedia link below reveals many other quality hotels starting at $50 per night, so a two night stay will be between $100 - $160.

HOTEL - $100 - $160

Food – Bakersfield is a food lover’s heaven and, apart from the hotel breakfast, one big meal usually is enough for us.  From a low of around $14 for stuffing ourselves silly at Los Tacos de Huicho, to a high of around $60 for two dinners and a bottle of wine at Uricchio’s Trattoria or one of the city’s famous Basque restaurants, you will never go hungry here. We’ll put it right in the middle, $30, for two big meals.  We’ll add another $15 for those of you who want to have a lunch between your breakfast and dinner.

FOOD - $90

Fun – There is a lot to do here for fun. Free stuff includes going to the Kern River east of town for some hiking and dipping your feet in the water (we won’t recommend swimming in this sometimes dangerous river). Many nature reserves, such as the Wind Wolves south of town, offer free wildlife viewing and hiking. You can take a drive up into the nearby mountains and search for Sequoia trees…the largest trees on the planet.

Professional baseball at Sam Lynn Park can be had for $6 per person. $5 will get you into the Crystal Palace to see the Buckaroos play a concert.  If you’re there on the right weekend, Buck Owens’ son Buddy will be there singing along.

FUN - $10 - $12 for two

So there are the prices for all you need for a good Bakersfield weekend, let’s total it up…a two night getaway to Bakersfield from Los Angeles, including a suite, food, gas, and entertainment, will set you back anywhere from $256 to $308 for two people.

-Darryl

Copyright 2012 – Darryl Musick

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