Visit LA from Bakersfield?
 

Hi Friends,
Is it a good idea to stay in Bakerfield and visit LA form there for 2-3 days? I have some relatives in Bakersfield..and thought could save on hotel

thanks

From Bakersfield to the northern most part of the San Fernando Valley (the beginning of the 405 fwy), it will take you approx. 90 minutes. From there it would take another 30 minutes or so, to Universal Studios. If you are traveling in the winter, there are times when there is snow on the I-5 (Grapevine) and will be closed. Also, Bakersfield has a good deal of fog in the winter. I would check with your relatives, and indicate some specific places in LA that you would like to visit.

When might this trip be? I agree w/ mpf, the amount you might save needs to be weighed by the cost of gas, all the hours wasted in I-5 and other freeways, the often HORRIBLE fog in the B'field area, and snow on the grapevine.

If you only wanted to spend one day sightseeing in LA, then an early morning start from B'field and late night return would be doable -- but I certainly would not use Bakersfield as a base to travel back and forth to LA for 2 or 3 days.

Thanks for your reply. I and my wife are visting California for the first time. We will be spending 2-3 days in San Francisco first, then take scenic route#1 along coast , may be stay in Montery and then visit our relatives in Bakersfield for a day. Rest of the (about 5) days of our trip will be spent in visting LA area attractions and Disneyland. I was thinking I could save some money if I stayed with my relatives in Bakersfield. It seems like it will be inconvinient and hectic?
-JB

No offense to my fellow Californians who live there, but please keep in mind that Baskersfield is a pit. Shell out a little $$$ and get a room in LA.

Better to spend the money on a motel and keep the relatives as friends and not housing! You'll enjoy the trip so much more if you are where you want to spend your time. You should be able to find reasonably priced accomodations anywhere you wish to be in LA (and it's a huge metropolitan area). Look on Traveladvisor.com to find a motel that's inexpenisve and rated highly by those who use it.

Ok, I think I get it. You want to day trip to L.A. from Bakersfield, then return each night, right?

If so, wrong! It's 100 miles from Bakersfield to L.A., and a boring, boring, ugly, tiring ride. Going over the grapevine is something everyone HATES to do. You're battling with truckers, road construction, and as the others said, in winter snow and closures. In summer, there's a sea of dead and overheated cars to the side of the road looking like panting dogs, while the owners are standing off to the side of the road, scratching their heads waiting for the tow trucks.

The only cultural advantage (!) is once you are on the other side of the mountain, you're right at Magic Mountain.