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Voykit pocket guide · United States
McFarland
Skip McFarland unless you are a drag-racing fan or a cross-country history buff: half a day is enough for the raceway and a pizza lunch.
McFarland is a small farming town in the San Joaquin Valley, known for its high school cross-country dynasty (24 state championships) and the 2015 film McFarland, USA. The main draw is the Auto Club Famoso Raceway, a quarter-mile drag strip. Most travellers pass through on CA-99; there is no reason to stop unless you have a specific interest.
- Country
- United States
- Best months
- Mar–May, Oct–Nov
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (extreme heat), Dec–Jan (fog)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for tips and small vendors.
- Daily spend
- Budget $50–80 excl. bed · Mid $80–150 excl. bed · High $150+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Chargers are dual-voltage; hair dryers and straighteners from 230 V countries need a converter.
- Tipping
- Sit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: US$1–2 per drink or 20% of the tab.; Taxi / ride-hailing: 15–20%, in the app.; Hotel housekeeping: US$3–5 a night.; Porter / valet: US$2–5 per bag or car.; Tour guide: US$10–20 per person for a day tour.; Counter service / tablet prompts: Optional; 0–15%.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations. Rest areas on highways are free.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Pizza slice (Maria's Pizza) | $3–5 |
| Coffee | $2–4 |
| Gas (per gallon) | $4–5 |
| Famoso Raceway entry | $15–30 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- BFL · Meadows Field (Bakersfield)
- About 30 min south via CA-99; limited flights.
- FAT · Fresno Yosemite International
- About 1 h north via CA-99.
Typical fares
- Bakersfield → McFarland (CA-99)
- about 25 min, $5–10 gas
- Fresno → McFarland (CA-99)
- about 1 h, $15–20 gas
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Car is essential. CA-99 runs through town; local streets are walkable but spread out.
See and do
Known for
- Auto Club Famoso Raceway
- McFarland, USA film and cross-country legacy
- Farming community (cotton, sugar beets, potatoes, roses)
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield | CA-99 south, about 25 min | 25 min |
| Wasco | CA-46 west, about 15 min | 15 min |
| Delano | CA-99 north, about 10 min | 10 min |
| Buttonwillow | CA-58 west, about 30 min | 30 min |
Sleep
- McFarland
- Very limited options; most visitors stay in Bakersfield or Wasco.
- Bakersfield
- Full-service hotels, 20–30 min south.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Hellohello |
| Thank you | Thank youthank you |
| How much? | How much?how much |
| Where is the raceway? | Where is the raceway?where is the raceway |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'hi, how are you?' — reply 'good, thanks'; avoid: Treating the question as a real health enquiry
- Restaurants: Tip 18–22% and wait for the check; avoid: Leaving without tipping
- Personal space: Keep an arm's length in queues; avoid: Standing close to strangers
- Politics and religion: Listen more than you speak; avoid: Opening with hot-button topics
- Smoking: Smoke only in marked areas; avoid: Smoking near doors or in parks where banned
Scams and watch-outs
- Summer temperatures often exceed 38°C; carry water and sun protection.
- Famoso Raceway operates on a schedule; check the website before going.
- No public transport within McFarland; you need a car or rideshare.
McFarland is a quiet farming town; typical small-town safety. Heat and highway driving are the main concerns.
One and two days
No timed day plan for McFarland yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Auto Club Famoso Raceway
- McFarland, USA film and cross-country legacy
- Farming community (cotton, sugar beets, potatoes, roses)
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: McFarland, revision 3841106 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=3841106
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
McFarland
To this address, please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance911
English is universal; no language barrier.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/mcfarland). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.