Seeing Bakersfield from a plane8 ★
Oil country: the Kern River field just north is one of the largest in the US, and the city gave country music the Bakersfield sound. Look for grids of pump jacks and well pads on the hills north of town.
19 of our routes pass it. California · rated 4 of 10
The easy pick
Phoenix to Bakersfield: sit on the left, on the way down.
Which side, by route
| Route | Side | When |
|---|---|---|
| Austin to San Jose | Right Best seat for the whole flight: left | 158 min after takeoff |
| Dallas-Fort Worth to Bakersfield | Left | on the way down |
| Los Angeles to Oakland | Right Best seat for the whole flight: left | 16 min after takeoff |
| Los Angeles to Fresno | Left Best seat for the whole flight: right | 17 min after takeoff |
| Los Angeles to Pasco | Left Best seat for the whole flight: right | 18 min after takeoff |
| Los Angeles to Redding | Right | 18 min after takeoff |
| Los Angeles to Bakersfield | Left Best seat for the whole flight: right | on the way down |
| Phoenix to Taipei | Left | 55 min after takeoff |
| Phoenix to Bakersfield | Left | on the way down |
| Sacramento to Guadalajara | Right | 34 min after takeoff |
| Sacramento to Leon | Right | 40 min after takeoff |
| San Diego to Spokane | Left Best seat for the whole flight: right | 27 min after takeoff |
| San Diego to Medford | Right | 27 min after takeoff |
| San Francisco to Panama City | Left | 34 min after takeoff |
| San Francisco to Phoenix | Left Best seat for the whole flight: right | 36 min after takeoff |
| San Francisco to San Antonio | Right Best seat for the whole flight: left | 36 min after takeoff |
| San Francisco to San Salvador | Left | 38 min after takeoff |
| San Jose to Phoenix | Left | 32 min after takeoff |
| Seoul to Los Angeles | Left | 578 min after takeoff |
From the real paths of every nonstop on these routes in the last 10 days, at the usual time of day. Where the best seat for the whole flight is on the other side, you'd trade this sight for more elsewhere.
Questions
Which side of the plane do you see Bakersfield from?
It depends on the direction: the left on most of our routes (12 of 19). The table lists each route's side.
When can you see Bakersfield from a plane?
Near the airport, on the climb or on the way down, and mid-flight on longer routes: see the table for each route.
Can you see Bakersfield at night?
Yes, by its lights. The app scores lit places at night by how bright they are.
Do clouds matter?
Yes. These answers assume a clear day. Within 3 days of your flight, pick your exact flight in the app for the cloud forecast.
More
Double Mountain Lake Isabella Alta Wind Energy Center Tulare Lake Six Flags Magic Mountain Austin (AUS) Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) Los Angeles (LAX) Phoenix (PHX) All routes