Meadows Field Guide
Meadows Field sits about three miles northwest of downtown Bakersfield, in the Oildale area of Kern County. It is the commercial airport for the southern San Joaquin Valley. Kern County bought the field in 1935, making it the first county-owned airport in the United States. It took its current name in 1957 from Cecil Meadows, the county's Director of Airports.
The airport has two asphalt runways. Runway 12L/30R is 10,855 feet long, the longest in the San Joaquin Valley. Runway 12R/30L is 7,703 feet. About 194 aircraft were based here in 2021, and the field handled roughly 104,000 aircraft operations in 2025.
Scheduled service is operated by American Airlines, American Eagle, United and United Express, with connections to Dallas/Fort Worth, Phoenix, Denver, San Francisco and Los Angeles. Cargo carriers Ameriflight and FedEx Feeder also fly here. The airport handled about 435,000 passengers in 2025.
Services
3 of 6 availableCompare 8 listed options at Meadows Field, spanning parking, car rentals and hotels. Each guide sets out locations, distance from the airport, key features and links to book direct, so you can weigh cost against convenience before you fly. Select a service below to see every provider we track for Meadows Field.
Location
Key facts
- Size
- 435K passengers (2025)2 runwaysopened 1926
- Location
- 35.434, -119.057
- Operator
- Kern County Department of Airports
- Links
- Wikipedia ↗
Terminals
1 terminalMeadows Field has 1 passenger terminal — William M. Thomas Terminal, handling domestic flights for around 4 airlines. Check which terminal your airline uses before you travel, as check-in, security and boarding points differ between them, and moving from one to another can take time.
- William M. Thomas TerminalDomestic
American, American Eagle, United, United Express
Nearby cities
4 citiesMeadows Field is closest to Bakersfield (8 km southeast), and also serves Shafter, Delano and other nearby areas. With 4 towns and cities within reach, it is a practical gateway for the wider region. Distances shown are straight-line from the airport, so allow extra time for road transfers, traffic and parking.
- Bakersfield8 km southeast
- Shafter32 km northwest
- Delano56 km northwest
- Taft56 km southwest
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the airport codes for Meadows Field?
What are the airport codes for Meadows Field?
Where is Meadows Field located?
Where is Meadows Field located?
What services are available at Meadows Field?
What services are available at Meadows Field?
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