Wasco, California travel guide: things to do, food & where to stay

Overview

Wasco is a city in Kern County in California's San Joaquin Valley.

4 things to do

Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage

Best things about Wasco

Rose Parade

Wasco has an annual Rose Parade which gives visitors a chance to buy the freshest roses possible. (Usually in August)check the web site for schedule.

Wasco Recreation Ball Park

Cormack Park

Westside Park

Skate Park

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
SBP San Luis County Regional Airport, San Luis Obispo — 77 mi away. Directions
FAT Fresno Yosemite International Airport, Fresno — 85 mi away (major hub). Directions

Wasco is surprisingly well served by rail, with Amtrak providing six trains per day in each on its Gold Runner service between Oakland/Sacramento via Fresno, and Bakersfield

Full “Get in” guide ↓

Budget & where to stay

No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.

Sample 1-day itinerary

Day 1

Morning Rose Parade, Wasco Recreation Ball Park
Afternoon Cormack Park, Westside Park

Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.

Food for you

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.

Get in

Wasco is surprisingly well served by rail, with Amtrak providing six trains per day in each on its Gold Runner service between Oakland/Sacramento via Fresno, and Bakersfield

Go Wasco railway station

📍 700 G St⚠ Last checked Nov 2019 — confirm before you go

Maps Website

Get around

Wasco is a real small town. Do not be fooled by the population that it claims;there is around 8,000 people in the prison and perhaps 1,000 more in other correctional institutions.

You can walk through the whole town excluding the outskirts in little time.

See

Wasco is known for being the city of Roses. In fact if you buy roses in the U.S they probably came from Wasco so take a look around the fields or just pull over and enjoy your surroundings.

Do

Visit family that may be behind bars, (worry not visitors the prison is far from the town and is surrounded by spiky roses).

Do Rose Parade

Wasco has an annual Rose Parade which gives visitors a chance to buy the freshest roses possible. (Usually in August)check the web site for schedule.

Maps Website

Do Wasco Recreation Ball Park

Maps

Do Cormack Park

Maps

Do Westside Park

Skate Park

Maps

Buy

There is a dollar tree store. Other than that, your best bet is going down town, which is really just one street.

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.
Buttonwillow - Located southwest of Wasco, Buttonwillow offers additional lodging options and services and is home to the Buttonwillow Tree, a state landmark that gave the town its name.
Lost Hills - This town will be of most interest to travelers on I-5 who need fuel, food or other services. It is west of Wasco on Highway 46.
McFarland - Located northeast of Wasco, McFarland is a small farming community that may be best known for the cross-country team that inspired the 2015 movie McFarland, USA.