Major city · United States
Delano
Stop for half a day on Highway 99 for the Forty Acres labor-history site, or sleep one cheap night; skip if you are not driving.
Delano is a farm town of about 54,000 on Highway 99 in Kern County's San Joaquin Valley, halfway between Bakersfield and Fresno. Its one nationally significant sight is the Forty Acres, the first headquarters of the United Farm Workers, and it works as a two-hour break on a road trip rather than a destination. There is no commercial airport and no rail service, so a car is the only practical way in.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- USD
- Best months
- Mar–May, Oct–Nov
- avoid Jul–Aug (38 °C (100 °F)+ afternoons), Dec–Feb fog on Highway 99avoid Jul–Aug (100 °F (38 °C)+ afternoons), Dec–Feb fog on Highway 99
- Airports
- BFL · FAT · DLO
- Nights
- 0–1
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
- United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
- United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
- United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Delano911 ▾
- Police, fire, ambulance911
- Delano Police Department (non-emergency)+1 661-721-3377
- Delano Regional Medical Center (24 h ER)+1 661-725-4800
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Delano, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the US dollar (USD, $).United States-wide
- SIM or eSIMAT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.United States-wide
- Tap waterTap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.United States-wide
- TippingSit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.United States-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 120 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.United States-wide
- SafetyDelano is a normal working farm town, not a tourist target, and violent crime runs above the California average.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsFree public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations.United States-wide
- Emergency numbers911 police, fire, ambulance · +1 661-721-3377 Delano Police Department (non-emergency) · +1 661-725-4800 Delano Regional Medical Center (24 h ER)
- Sundays & holidaysFederal holidays close offices, banks and post offices; national parks stay open.United States-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportBFL Meadows Field, Bakersfield (Nearest commercial airport, about 50 km (31 mi) south on Highway 99).BFL Meadows Field, Bakersfield (Nearest commercial airport, about 31 mi (50 km) south on Highway 99).
- Getting aroundDelano is a driving town: Highway 99 bisects it and almost every motel, restaurant and store has free parking.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee to go$2–5
- BeerDraught beer at a bar$6–9
- Budget bedBudget motel room (Motel 6, Rodeway Inn), a night, per roomUS$70
- Mid-range bedBudget motel room (Motel 6, Rodeway Inn), a night, per roomUS$95
- High-end bedBudget motel room (Motel 6, Rodeway Inn), a night, per roomUS$130
A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$75 · Mid US$130 · High US$220
Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- BFL Meadows Field, Bakersfield (Nearest commercial airport, about 50 km (31 mi) south on Highway 99) · FAT Fresno Yosemite International (About 110 km (68 mi) north on Highway 99; more airlines and flights) · DLO Delano Municipal Airport (General aviation only; no scheduled passenger service)BFL Meadows Field, Bakersfield (Nearest commercial airport, about 31 mi (50 km) south on Highway 99) · FAT Fresno Yosemite International (About 68 mi (110 km) north on Highway 99; more airlines and flights) · DLO Delano Municipal Airport (General aviation only; no scheduled passenger service)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
Feb
Avoid
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
Mar
Best
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
Apr
Best
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
May
Best
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Jun
not flagged
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
Jul
Avoid
38°C (100°F)100°F (38°C)
Aug
Avoid
37°C (99°F)99°F (37°C)
Sep
not flagged
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
Oct
Best
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
Nov
Best
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
Dec
Avoid
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
Best: Mar–May, Oct–Nov. Avoid: Jul–Aug, Dec–Feb. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (38°C (100°F)100°F (38°C)), coolest Jan (3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C) low), wettest Jan (7 rain days), driest Jul (0). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Delano: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
7 rd
Feb
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
7 rd
Mar
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
6 rd
Apr
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
3 rd
May
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
2 rd
Jun
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
1 rd
Jul
38°C (100°F)100°F (38°C)
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
0 rd
Aug
37°C (99°F)99°F (37°C)
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
0 rd
Sep
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
1 rd
Oct
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
2 rd
Nov
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
4 rd
Dec
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
6 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Delano is a driving town: Highway 99 bisects it and almost every motel, restaurant and store has free parking. Delano Area Rapid Transit (DART) runs three local bus lines from 6:30am to 5:30pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 4:40pm on Saturdays and some holidays. Kern Regional Transit connects to Bakersfield and other Kern County towns. Without a car, plan around the DART timetable rather than assuming you can walk between sights.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: About 45 min
Drive south on Highway 99, about 50 km (31 mi)Drive south on Highway 99, about 31 mi (50 km)
Basque restaurants, the Kern County Museum and a bigger hotel choice.
Buttonwillow
cautionDoor to door: About 45 min
Drive south on Highway 99 then west on Highway 58
Mostly a highway services stop and a race track; little else.
Taft
cautionDoor to door: About 1 h 15 min
Drive south via Highway 33 and Highway 119
Oil-history town; pair it with the West Kern Oil Museum if open.
Tehachapi
goDoor to door: About 1 h 30 min
Drive south on Highway 99 then east on Highway 58
Cooler mountain air and the Tehachapi Loop; a better overnight than Delano.
Door to door: About 2 h 30 min
Drive east on Highway 178 via Bakersfield
Gateway to the Mojave desert sights; too far for a return day.
Maricopa
skipDoor to door: About 1 h 30 min
Drive south via Highway 33
Very small; only worth it if you are already heading that way.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Girard Street motel strip
Highway 99 interchange cluster: Holiday Inn Express, Rodeway Inn and others within a short walk of each other. Best for one night with a car.
Cecil Avenue
Motel 6 and several restaurants; closer to the older downtown grid.
County Line Road
Best Western Liberty Inn at the north edge of town; quietest, but you need a car for everything.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- $60–90 excl. bed
- Mid
- $90–150 excl. bed
- High
- $150+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Mid-range chain room (Holiday Inn Express, Best Western)1 × 1 night × US$150 | US$150 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × US$130 | US$260 |
| Fuel, Highway 99 leg of about 150 km1 × US$20 | US$20 |
| DART local bus day of riding2 × US$4 | US$8 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$15 | US$30 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | US$47 |
| Trip total≈ US$258 per person per day, bed included | US$515 |
2026 estimate in US dollars; prices are shown before sales tax. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee to go | $2–5 |
| Mexican plate at a taqueria | $10–16 |
| Pizza, medium | $14–22 |
| Draught beer at a bar | $6–9 |
| 9-hole round at Delano Golf Course | $18–20 |
| Gallon of petrol | $4–5 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Two state prisons sit near town; do not pick up hitchhikers on the highway or back roads.
- A 911 call from a mobile phone may reach the California Highway Patrol rather than the Delano dispatcher: give your street address and cross street clearly.
- Summer afternoons regularly pass 38 °C (100 °F); carry water and do not leave anyone in a parked car.Summer afternoons regularly pass 100 °F (38 °C); carry water and do not leave anyone in a parked car.
- Winter tule fog on Highway 99 can cut visibility to a few car lengths: slow down and use low beams.
- The Forty Acres is a working site with limited visitor infrastructure; check hours before driving out.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance
- 911
- Delano Police Department (non-emergency)
- +1 661-721-3377
- Delano Regional Medical Center (24 h ER)
- +1 661-725-4800
Pocket card
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DelanoDelano
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
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Can you take me to this address, please?To this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance911
- Delano Police (non-emergency)+1 661-721-3377
- Delano Regional Medical Center+1 661-725-4800
Embassy
No embassies in Delano. Your country's consulate is most likely in Los Angeles or San Francisco; check before you travel.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Bakersfield → Delano, Highway 99 by car: about 50 km (31 mi), 45 minabout 31 mi (50 km), 45 min
- Fresno → Delano, Highway 99 by car: about 110 km (68 mi), 1 h 15 minabout 68 mi (110 km), 1 h 15 min
- DART local bus: weekday service 6:30am–5:30pm; Saturday 9am–4:40pm; exact fare check with DARTweekday service 6:30 AMam–5:30 AMpm; Saturday 9am–4:40 AMpm; exact fare check with DART
Say or show
- Where is the Highway 99 on-ramp? — Where is the highway entrance?
- Is parking free here? — Is there parking here?
- Can we get the check, please? — The bill, please
- Do you take credit cards? — Do you take card?
Tipping is expected in the US: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink, 15–20% for taxis.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Delano. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Mar–May, Oct–Nov · avoid Jul–Aug (38 °C+ afternoons), Dec–Feb fog on Highway 99 · month by month →
- 3 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 6 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
- Walking clusters with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Field-verified times and fares
Sources
Ask about Delano
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