Private charter to & from Bakersfield

Bakersfield is the seat of Kern County, which has long been California’s leading oil-producing county and ranks among the nation’s top agricultural counties. Carrots, almonds, pistachios, citrus and table grapes grow across the southern San Joaquin Valley, and some of the country’s largest produce companies operate here. Distribution centers along Interstate 5 and Highway 99 add logistics to the mix. The city is also the home of the Bakersfield Sound, the twangy country music made famous by Buck Owens and Merle Haggard, and of a Basque dining tradition that dates back to sheepherding days.

The drive from Los Angeles takes about two hours over the Grapevine on Interstate 5, a mountain pass that can close in winter storms, and the Bay Area is four or more hours north. Meadows Field sits just north of the city, so flying privately makes farm tours, oil field visits and meetings with growers practical as same-day trips. Leisure travelers use Bakersfield as a starting point for rafting on the Kern River, the Tehachapi Mountains and the southern Sierra.