Overview
McFarland is a city in Kern County in the San Joaquin Valley of California. The 2015 movie McFarland, USA was based on the town's high school cross-country team, which won 24 state championships between 1987 and 2013.
1 things to do · 1 places to eat
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about McFarland
Auto Club Famoso Raceway
The Famoso Raceway is a 1/4 mile drag strip featuring both local and national series racing. See the website for a schedule of race dates.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Feb–May, Oct–Nov. Summer highs reach about 98°F; winter lows dip to about 36°F. Very hot (Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: Jan and Mar. (climate data from nearby Buttonwillow)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- BFL Meadows Field, Bakersfield — 19 mi away. Directions
- FAT Fresno Yosemite International Airport, Fresno — 81 mi away (major hub). Directions
California Highway 99 bisects McFarland granting access from Fresno to the north and Bakersfield to the south.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
McFarland is a small farming community that was established in 1908. Local crops are cotton, sugar beets, potatoes, and roses.
Place McFarland City Hall
Get in
By car
California Highway 99 bisects McFarland granting access from Fresno to the north and Bakersfield to the south.
Do
Eat
Go next
- Bakersfield - Nicknamed "the country music capital of the West Coast", Bakersfield is the largest city in the southern San Joaquin Valley and is thus the best option for those seeking lodging, transportation, or other services.
- Wasco - Located southwest of McFarland, Wasco is known as the city of roses, with 55% of all roses grown in the USA grown in and around Wasco. Its annual spring Rose Festival attracts visitors from all over southern California.
- Delano - Located north of McFarland on Highway 99, Delano was a major center in the push for farmworker's rights, and includes a federally-landmarked complex that was the first headquarters for Cesar Chavez's United Farm Workers organization.
Nearby
Delano
City / town · 14 listings · 6 mi away
Wasco
City / town · 5 listings · 9 mi away
Pixley
City / town · 7 listings · 20 mi away
Buttonwillow
City / town · 7 listings · 22 mi away
Bakersfield
City / town · 39 listings · 25 mi away
Lost Hills
City / town · 2 listings · 26 mi away
Porterville
City / town · 3 listings · 29 mi away
McKittrick
City / town · 3 listings · 34 mi away
My experience
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