Car Rental BFL: Bakersfield Airport

Because BFL is a small airport, you can usually get your rental car in 15 to 20 minutes after you get to the counter. During normal business hours, you rarely find long lines.

You can use a standard car for most of the year. For winter trips to the mountains like Tehachapi, Lake Isabella and Sequoia, you should consider an SUV or a vehicle that has good ground clearance. Make sure you check mountain pass conditions during winter storms and carry tire chains if the California Highway Patrol requires them.

Tule fog is a thick fog that stays close to the ground. You see it a lot in the Central Valley during the winter, especially in the early morning. If you run into this fog, you should slow down a lot, use your low-beam headlights (not high beams) and leave more space between you and the car ahead. If the fog is really bad, you might want to wait until mid-morning to travel, since it usually clears up by then.

In Bakersfield and the areas around it, you follow the same driving rules as the rest of California. You should know that some roads to oil fields might be private and only for workers. When you drive in farming areas, watch out for dust and large farm machines, especially when farmers are harvesting crops.

Yes. Most rental companies at BFL let you return your car after they close. You will usually have to park in a special spot and put the keys in a secure drop box. You should check with your rental company to get the exact instructions, because each one has a different process.