Kernville is about three hours from Los Angeles by car, four hours from Las Vegas, and an hour and a half from Bakersfield. The drive from LA is via Highway 178 east from Bakersfield, then north on Sierra Way along Lake Isabella — a scenic climb out of the Central Valley.
There is no public transport into Kernville and the Kern Valley Airport (3 miles south) handles only general aviation. The nearest commercial flights are at Bakersfield. A rental car is essentially required.
In winter, check road conditions: Highway 178 is sometimes closed by rockslides and the higher mountain roads to the north close for snow.