College Visit Guides

Fly-in guide · 2 days, 1 campus

CSU Bakersfield in 2 Days: A Bakersfield, California College Visit Fly-In Trip

A parent-first plan for visiting California State University, Bakersfield: how CSUB's student-led tours work and where to register, complimentary guest parking, a Homewood Suites about 5 minutes from campus plus Budget to Upscale options in central Bakersfield, drive times from Meadows Field and LAX, the CALM Zoo and the Buena Vista Museum for siblings, and Bakersfield weather by season, every fact sourced and checked Oct 31, 2026.

A long tan arena building with a brown metal awning over glass entrance doors, gold letters reading Icardo Center, trimmed shrubs and a lamppost in front under a clear blue sky
The Icardo Center, home of Roadrunners basketball, at California State University, Bakersfield (October 2017). Photo: Spatms · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped

Last checked Oct 31, 2026. Every fact comes from the pages listed in Sources at the bottom. Some hotel and tour links are affiliate links (disclosure).

The short version

Trip at a glance

School
California State University, Bakersfield (CSUB, Bakersfield, CA)
Days
2 days: arrive in Bakersfield and settle in, then a CSUB campus tour the next day.
Fly into
Meadows Field Airport (BFL), about 22 minutes from campus with no traffic. Flying into Los Angeles instead? LAX is about 2 hours 25 minutes away by car with no traffic.
Best base
Homewood Suites by Hilton Bakersfield, about a 5-minute drive to campus, just across Stockdale Highway.
Car or no car
Rent a car. CSUB is on the west side of Bakersfield on Stockdale Highway, and the airport, hotels and sibling stops are spread out.
Registration
Registration is required for all guided tours, with no exceptions: pick a tour on CSUB's Campus Tours sign-up page and wait for your confirmation email.

1. Who this guide is for

This plan is for parents bringing a high schooler, and maybe younger siblings, to see California State University, Bakersfield, home of the Roadrunners.

CSUB's campus covers 375 acres at 9001 Stockdale Highway in California's southern San Joaquin Valley. The campus tours office is in the Student Services Building.

Why this order

  • Day 1: fly into Meadows Field and drive about 20 minutes (about 10.9 miles) to the Homewood Suites by campus, with no traffic.
  • Day 2: an about 90-minute student-led visit, a 30-minute admissions presentation and a 60-minute walking tour of campus.
  • With extra time, the Buena Vista Museum of Natural History & Science downtown is about 14 minutes from campus by car, and the CALM Zoo is about 27 minutes away.
Plan ahead: registration and timing
  • Registration is required for all guided tours, with no exceptions. Space is limited and tours fill quickly, so book ahead on CSUB's Campus Tours sign-up page. Your booking isn't confirmed until CSUB emails you a confirmation.
  • Your student can bring up to two guests, for a total of three people per registration. Tours in Spanish (Visitas en Español) allow up to four guests.
  • Be on time: student-led tours have a 15-minute grace period, and if you're more than 15 minutes late CSUB will need to reschedule your visit.
  • Can't make a guided tour? You can tour on your own with CSUB's printable map; register the self-guided tour on the same sign-up page if you'd like complimentary parking. Information desks in the Student Services and Student Union lobbies are open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Bringing a group of 10 to 100 students? Group tours need a request at least two weeks ahead and one chaperone for every 10 students.
Tour availability varies by season.
  • Summers are hot and dry: July averages about 98°F highs and 71°F lows at Meadows Field, with essentially no rain from June through September.
  • Winters are mild: January averages about 59°F highs and 41°F lows, and December through March is the rainy season at about 1.1 to 1.2 inches a month.
  • Fall and spring are the most comfortable times for a walking tour: October averages about 80°F highs and April about 76°F.
  • Check the Roadrunners schedule before you book if you'd like to catch a game while you're in town.

2. The suggested 2-day plan

  • Drive and walk times are no-traffic estimates from OpenStreetMap routing, with addresses geocoded by OpenStreetMap Nominatim. Campus times are to the CSUB campus off Stockdale Highway.
  • We list drive times only; check which airlines serve Meadows Field (BFL) for your dates. Los Angeles International (LAX) is about 2 hours 25 minutes (about 118 miles) from campus with no traffic, and Los Angeles traffic can add a lot more.

Day 1: fly into Bakersfield and settle in

  1. Meadows Field Airport (BFL) → Homewood Suites by Hilton Bakersfield

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~20 min, 10.9 mi
    Driving
    Rental car

  2. Meadows Field Airport (BFL) → Home2 Suites by Hilton Bakersfield

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~17 min, 8.0 mi
    Driving
    Rental car

  3. Meadows Field Airport (BFL) → Spark by Hilton Bakersfield Central

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~13 min, 6.8 mi
    Driving
    Rental car

  4. Meadows Field Airport (BFL) → DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Bakersfield

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~12 min, 5.6 mi
    Driving
    Rental car

  5. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) → CSU Bakersfield

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~2 hr 25 min, 117.6 mi
    Driving
    Rental car
  • Arriving early? The Buena Vista Museum of Natural History & Science is about 4 minutes from the Spark and about 5 minutes from the DoubleTree. It's open Thursday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday noon to 4 p.m.

Day 2: CSU Bakersfield campus tour

  1. Homewood Suites by Hilton Bakersfield → CSU Bakersfield

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~5 min, 1.0 mi
    Driving
    Drive (about an 18-min walk)

  2. Home2 Suites by Hilton Bakersfield → CSU Bakersfield

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~7 min, 2.3 mi
    Driving
    Drive

  3. Spark by Hilton Bakersfield Central → CSU Bakersfield

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~11 min, 4.8 mi
    Driving
    Drive

  4. DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Bakersfield → CSU Bakersfield

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~13 min, 5.7 mi
    Driving
    Drive

  5. CSU Bakersfield → Buena Vista Museum of Natural History & Science

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~14 min, 6.4 mi
    Driving
    Drive

  6. CSU Bakersfield → CALM Zoo

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~27 min, 17.1 mi
    Driving
    Drive

  7. CSU Bakersfield → Meadows Field Airport (BFL)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~22 min, 9.9 mi
    Driving
    Drive
  • CSUB sends complimentary guest parking information after you confirm your tour. Enter campus from Stockdale Highway at Don Hart Drive West, which CSUB's driving directions use.
  • The visit is led by current CSUB students: a 30-minute admissions presentation, then a one-hour walking tour that covers academic programs, student support services, campus life and campus facilities.
  • Along the way, look for the Student Recreation Center with its 34-foot climbing wall, the Student Union (Rowdy's Place, a Starbucks and the Roadrunner Bookstore), the five-story Walter W. Stiern Library and the Doré Theatre. Keep an eye out for San Joaquin kit foxes, an endangered species that dens around campus.
  • Flying out the same day? Meadows Field is about 22 minutes from campus with no traffic.

3. Campus by campus

A long tan arena building with a brown metal awning over glass entrance doors, gold letters reading Icardo Center, trimmed shrubs and a lamppost in front under a clear blue sky
The Icardo Center, home of Roadrunners basketball, at California State University, Bakersfield (October 2017). Photo: Spatms · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped

Campus

California State University, Bakersfield (Bakersfield, CA)

Where visits start
  • The campus tours office is in the Student Services Building at 9001 Stockdale Highway. Watch for your confirmation email, which comes with parking information.
  • Tours are student-led: a 30-minute admissions presentation and a 60-minute walking tour, about 90 minutes in all.
Visitor parking
  • Guest parking is complimentary for registered tours; CSUB sends the details after you confirm your attendance.
Getting there
  • CSUB is about 22 minutes by car from Meadows Field with no traffic, about 5 minutes from the Homewood Suites, about 7 minutes from the Home2 Suites and about 11 to 13 minutes from central Bakersfield.
What to know
  • CSUB's 375-acre campus includes the Student Recreation Center, the Student Union, the Walter W. Stiern Library and the Doré Theatre, and the campus ponds and open spaces are home to wildlife including San Joaquin kit foxes.
  • Want to see a residence hall? CSUB Housing takes in-person room tour requests through a separate form linked on the Campus Tours page.
Contact
CSUB Campus Tours: Student Services Building, 9001 Stockdale Highway, Bakersfield, CA 93311, (661) 654-6169 or (661) 654-3243, campustours@csub.edu, Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Last checked Oct 31, 2026. Tour and admissions details change often, so confirm them on the school's official visit page before you go.

Official pages: CSUB: Visit CSUB · CSUB: Campus Tours (all tour options) · CSUB: Individual/Family Tours · CSUB: Self-Guided Tours · CSUB: Group Tours · CSUB: Visitas en Español

4. Where to stay: Bakersfield hotels near campus and central Bakersfield

Price tiers (Budget, Mid-range, Upscale) follow each hotel's star class on Expedia. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.

Hotel · Our pickMid-range

Homewood Suites by Hilton Bakersfield

1505 Mill Rock Way, Bakersfield, CA 93311

Why here

  • It's just south of campus across Stockdale Highway, about a 5-minute drive (or about an 18-minute walk) with no traffic.
  • Expedia lists this hotel as a 3-star property, so we place it in the Mid-range tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.

Good to know

  • Expedia lists a free buffet breakfast, free self-parking, in-room kitchens, an outdoor pool, a gym and pet-friendly rooms (fee). The minimum check-in age is 21. Confirm details on the Expedia listing before you book.

Check rates on Expedia →

Expedia link is an affiliate link

Hotel · AlternateMid-range

Home2 Suites by Hilton Bakersfield

8227 Brimhall Rd., Bakersfield, CA 93312

Why here

  • Expedia lists this hotel as a 3-star property, so we place it in the Mid-range tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
  • It's northwest of campus, about a 7-minute drive with no traffic and about 17 minutes from the airport.

Good to know

  • Expedia lists a free breakfast, free self-parking, in-room kitchens, an outdoor pool, a 24-hour gym and pet-friendly rooms (fee and deposit). The minimum check-in age is 21. Confirm details on the Expedia listing before you book.

Check rates on Expedia →

Expedia link is an affiliate link

Hotel · AlternateBudget

Spark by Hilton Bakersfield Central

1017 Oak St., Bakersfield, CA

Why here

  • Expedia lists this hotel as a 2.5-star property, so we place it in the Budget tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
  • It's in central Bakersfield, about 11 minutes from campus and about 4 minutes from the Buena Vista Museum.

Good to know

  • Expedia lists a free continental breakfast, free self-parking, a 24-hour gym and pet-friendly rooms (fee). Confirm details on the Expedia listing before you book.

Check rates on Expedia →

Expedia link is an affiliate link

Hotel · AlternateUpscale

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Bakersfield

3100 Camino Del Rio Ct., Bakersfield, CA 93308

Why here

  • Expedia lists this hotel as a 4-star property, so we place it in the Upscale tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
  • It's near Highway 99 in central Bakersfield, about 12 minutes from the airport and about 13 minutes from campus.

Good to know

  • Expedia lists a restaurant and bar, an outdoor pool, a 24-hour gym, free self-parking and breakfast for a fee; pets aren't allowed (service animals welcome). The minimum check-in age is 18. Confirm details on the Expedia listing before you book.

Check rates on Expedia →

Expedia link is an affiliate link

The Homewood Suites is the closest to campus and includes breakfast. The Home2 Suites is another suite hotel a few minutes away, and the Spark and DoubleTree put you in central Bakersfield, closer to the airport and the Buena Vista Museum.

5. Meals between tours

Hours change, so check before you go.

At the hotels

The Homewood Suites, Home2 Suites and Spark include a free breakfast. The DoubleTree has a restaurant and bar and serves breakfast for a fee.

On campus

The Student Union has Rowdy's Place, a cafe with Panda Express, plus a Starbucks.

6. Things for siblings along the route

With siblings

CALM Zoo (California Living Museum)

10500 Alfred Harrell Hwy., Bakersfield, CA 93306

A zoo of California wildlife northeast of town, about 27 minutes from campus. Open Tuesday to Sunday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (online ticket sales end at 3 p.m.); closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Day and Easter. Picnics are welcome.

Official page →

With siblings

Buena Vista Museum of Natural History & Science

2018 Chester Ave., Bakersfield, CA 93301

A downtown science and natural history museum, about 14 minutes from campus. Open Thursday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday noon to 4 p.m. (closed Monday to Wednesday); check the hours page for holiday closures.

Official page →

7. Practical tips

Getting to campus

  • Head for 9001 Stockdale Highway and turn into campus at Don Hart Drive West. CSUB sends guest parking details after you confirm your tour.

Flying in and out

  • Meadows Field (BFL) is about 22 minutes from campus with no traffic. LAX is about 2 hours 25 minutes away with no traffic, so leave plenty of extra time if you fly out of Los Angeles.

Weather by season (1991–2020 NOAA normals: Bakersfield Meadows Field)

  • Spring: March averages about 70°F highs and 47°F lows, April about 76°F/51°F and May about 84°F/58°F, with rain tapering from about 1.2 inches in March to a quarter inch in May.
  • Summer: June averages about 92°F/65°F, July about 98°F/71°F and August about 97°F/70°F, with essentially no rain.
  • Fall: September averages about 91°F/65°F, October about 80°F/55°F and November about 67°F/45°F.
  • Winter: December averages about 59°F/40°F and January about 59°F/41°F, the wettest stretch at about 1.1 to 1.2 inches of rain a month; snow is rare.

Parent checklist

  • Register for a CSUB tour on the Campus Tours sign-up page (up to two guests) and wait for your confirmation email.
  • Plan to arrive on time: tours have a 15-minute grace period for late arrivals.
  • Book flights into Meadows Field (or LAX, with the longer drive) and plan a rental car.
  • Book the Homewood Suites by campus, the Home2 Suites, or the Spark or DoubleTree in central Bakersfield.
  • Watch your confirmation email for complimentary guest parking information.
  • After each visit, take five minutes to jot down what stood out to your student.

8. Student-athlete recruiting visits

For families whose student hopes to play a college sport. Rules below are the NCAA's; each school's links were checked Oct 26, 2026.

Coaches arrange the recruiting part of a visit, not the admissions office. The tour sign-ups in this guide are for the regular family visit. An official (school-paid) visit is offered by the school, and contact with coaches follows NCAA rules that vary by division, sport and grade level.

Start with your sport's questionnaire, then email the coaches. The NCAA suggests emailing coaches with your achievements, highlight videos and interest in their program, including your name, position, NCAA ID and graduation year.

1 Division I

NCAA basics for parents

  • Unofficial visit: any campus visit you or your family pay for. You can take as many as you like; in Divisions I and II each one has to come after the first permissible date for your sport.
  • Official visit: a visit paid for by the school. Each school can offer your student only one. Before a Division I official visit, your student must be registered with the NCAA Eligibility Center, be on the school's institutional request list, and the school must have their high school transcripts.
  • Division I (California State University, Bakersfield): on an official visit the school can pay for travel for the student and up to two family members, lodging, up to three meals a day for the student and up to four family members, and up to $60 a person in entertainment, including five home-game tickets. On an unofficial visit there are no free meals, but the school can give up to three home-game tickets. Division I uses recruiting calendars with contact, evaluation, quiet and dead periods; in a dead period, no in-person contact and no visits.
  • Rules change. Confirm with the coach, or check the NCAA's recruiting page and recruiting calendars, before you plan dates.

Planning around the season

  • Check each school's athletics schedule (linked above) before you pick dates, so a coach meeting doesn't land on a road trip or game day for your sport.
  • Our recommendation, not a school rule: ask the coach whether they can line up an admissions session or tour around your meeting. If not, book the regular family tour yourself through the official sign-up links in this guide, and leave time between the two.

Student-athlete sources

All checked Oct 26, 2026.

  1. NCAA, 2026-27 Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete (pp. 3, 21–25)
  2. NCAA.org: NCAA Recruiting
  3. NCAA: Division I and II Recruiting Calendars and Guides
  4. NCAA Directory: California State University, Bakersfield
  5. California State University, Bakersfield Athletics (official site)
  6. California State University, Bakersfield Athletics: Staff Directory
  7. California State University, Bakersfield Athletics: schedule of events

Trip planner

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Sources

All checked Oct 31, 2026. Tour schedules change constantly, so always confirm on each school's official sign-up page. Photo credits are under each photo and on our About page.

  1. CSU Bakersfield: Visit CSUB
  2. CSU Bakersfield Campus Tours: tour sign-up (official Microsoft Bookings page)
  3. CSU Bakersfield: Campus Tours (late policy, contact)
  4. CSU Bakersfield: In-Person Individual/Family Tours
  5. CSU Bakersfield: Self-Guided/Virtual Tours
  6. CSU Bakersfield: In-Person Group Tours
  7. CSU Bakersfield: Visitas en Español (tours and driving directions)
  8. Expedia listing: Homewood Suites by Hilton Bakersfield (star class; amenities and address via same-id Hotwire listing, checked 2026-10-31) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Bakersfield-Hotels-Homewood-Suites-By-Hilton-Bakersfield.h1100579.Hotel-Information)
  9. Expedia listing: Home2 Suites by Hilton Bakersfield (star class; amenities and address via same-id Hotwire listing, checked 2026-10-31) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Bakersfield-Hotels-Home2-Suites-By-Hilton-Bakersfield.h36877551.Hotel-Information)
  10. Expedia listing: Spark by Hilton Bakersfield Central (star class; amenities and address via same-id Hotwire listing, checked 2026-10-31) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Bakersfield-Hotels-Spark-By-Hilton-Bakersfield-Central.h59740.Hotel-Information)
  11. Expedia listing: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Bakersfield (star class; amenities and address via same-id Hotwire listing, checked 2026-10-31) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Bakersfield-Hotels-Doubletree-By-Hilton-Hotel-Bakersfield.h24426.Hotel-Information)
  12. OSRM routing (OpenStreetMap), driving and walking profiles
  13. OpenStreetMap Nominatim geocoder
  14. NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 Monthly Normals, Bakersfield Meadows Field Airport, CA (USW00023155)
  15. CALM Zoo (California Living Museum): Plan Your Visit
  16. Buena Vista Museum of Natural History & Science: Hours and Admission
  17. CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners Athletics: Composite Schedule