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Voykit pocket guide · United States
Selma
Selma, California
Skip unless you're driving CA-99 and need a quick raisin stop or a cheap bed near Fresno: 2–3 hours, not a destination.
Selma is a small San Joaquin Valley town of about 23,000 people, known as the Raisin Capital of the World. It sits on CA-99 just south of Fresno. There are no major sights; the main reason to stop is for a meal or an overnight stay while travelling between Fresno and Bakersfield. Most visitors pass through in under an hour.
- Country
- United States
- Local name
- Selma, California
- Best months
- Mar–May, Oct–Nov
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (extreme heat)
- Stay
- 0–1 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 $60–90 excl. bed · Mid $90–150 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 |
|---|---|
| Coffee (diner) | $2–4 |
| Burger and fries | $10–15 |
| Pea soup bowl (Andersen's) | $8–12 |
| Gas (per gallon) | $4–5 |
| Motel room (one night) | $70–150 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- FAT · Fresno Yosemite International
- About 20 min north on CA-99; the closest commercial airport.
Typical fares
- Fresno Yosemite Intl (FAT) → Selma
- Taxi about $40–50, 20 min; no direct bus.
- Selma → Fresno downtown
- Car about 20 min; no public transit.
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
You need a car. Selma is spread along CA-99 with no public transit worth using. Walking is possible downtown but impractical for hotels.
See and do
Known for
- Raisin Capital of the World
- CA-99 pit stop
- Pea Soup Andersen's
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Fresno | CA-99 north, about 20 min | 20 min |
| Kingsburg | CA-99 south, about 10 min | 10 min |
| Reedley | CA-99 north to Manning Ave east, about 20 min | 25 min |
| Clovis | CA-99 north to CA-168 east, about 25 min | 30 min |
| Coalinga | CA-198 west, about 45 min | 50 min |
| Shaver Lake | CA-99 north to CA-168 east, about 1 h 15 min | 1.5 h |
Sleep
- CA-99 corridor
- Hotels cluster near the highway exits, mostly chains. Best for a one-night stop.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Hellohello |
| Thank you | Thank youthank you |
| How much? | How much?how much |
| Where is the bathroom? | Where is the bathroom?where is the bathroom |
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 regularly exceed 38°C; carry water.
- CA-99 can have heavy traffic around Fresno during commute hours.
- Downtown is quiet after dark; most restaurants close by 21:00.
Selma is a safe, quiet town. Standard precautions apply: lock your car, avoid unlit areas at night. Heat is the main risk in summer.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Selma yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Raisin Capital of the World
- CA-99 pit stop
- Pea Soup Andersen's
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: Selma (California), revision 3859143 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=3859143
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
SelmaSelma, California
Take me to this address
Take me to this address
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 (/selma-california). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.