Get your bags, walk out of arrivals at Bakersfield, CA Airport (BFL-Meadows Field), and pick up your rental car. Which one you jump into depends on what your travel itinerary looks like. If you’ll be spending the majority of the time driving in downtown Bakersfield, around 4 miles from the terminal, go for something small and zippy. A compact car that’s easy to handle will suit those bustling city streets. But with so many things to see, like the gorgeous sandy shores of the region, there’s a good chance you’ll rack up those miles. A bigger vehicle, like an SUV or a full-size car, will make longer road trips a joy.