Bakersfield/Barstow and points inbetween

[Rostok]

Hi. Hope it's ok to post this here (flame away if not) but I couldn't find another category to put it in.

I and several other parents (oh yeah, and daughters) will be driving from the SF Bay Area to Las Vegas for B Western Nationals. We're planning to break up the trip with a stop somewhere after Bakersfield. We're looking at Mojave, possibly or Barstow? Does anyone have any experience staying in these places? any recommendations? - we're really just looking to make sure we don't end up staying in crummy place in a bad neighborhood.

Thanks

[Sam]

Bakersfield sucks. Mojave sucks. Barstow has a new Hampton Inn and Holiday Inn Express...but you're only 1:45 from Vegas. I would go through Sacramento to Tahoe and stay there.

[Demonboy]

What Sam said.

[sportzjunky]

DO NOT stay in Mojave. Stop for food in Bakersfield, and make the 2 hour trip to Barstow from there. Better options for hotels, more modern, outlet mall & a straight shot to Vegas. Mojave has nothing going for it.

Stay in Bakersfield before Mojave. Bakersfield has 650K living there, and the options are countless for amenities. Mall, fun park w/ mini golf, movies... things for the girls... in my opinion, Mojave isnt even a town.... its a desert..

Some general timelines to consider....
San Jose to Bakersfield = Roughly 4 hours.
San Jose to Mojave = 5 hours
San Jose to Barstow = 6 hours

Bakersfield to LV = 4 hours
Mojave to LV = 3 hours
Barstow to LV = 2 hours unless you have Sam's lead foot

And good luck at Western B's...

[NoNothin]

If you can, I would avoid stopping. It will just make you wish you had driven straight through.
MHO

NoNo

[Rostok]

Thank you everyone for your views. The Tahoe scheme would be excellent if it did not add 3+ hours onto the trip

Looks like Barstow may be the winner (though the straight run-through is tempting).

Thank you!

[pixsguy]

that should be a striaght shot...going to midland and goin striaght throo...leave at dawn and get there by dark...you can rest when since youll have the extra night

[VictoryFreak]

Easy On Bakersfield Now! It's my hometown. I mean compare us to Southern California and yes it looks bad, but we do have some fun stuff around here, and it's not the dumps. If you stay off Hwy. 99 off Rosedale Hwy. There are some nice rooms there, and there are plenty of food joints there, um a 24 hour fitness, Johns incredible pizza for the kids, etc., all within walking distance of your room. Depending on what night you come we always have big name acts coming to perform, just do some searching online, or PM me! I will be taking my dd to Texas for her nationals (GO VICTORY***GUERRA) , otherwise I would be happy to show a fellow softball parent around town. Good luck in your travels, and to your dd's team. Be safe.

Here, check this video. A Cool Video about Bakersfield
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYMBaYJOxzs