Mojave National Preserve covers more than 1.5 million acres between Las Vegas and Los Angeles. It is a mysterious place with long-abandoned mines, singing sand dunes, and deserted homesteads that may seem out of place in the Southern California landscape. If you choose to visit Mojave National Preserve, you will also discover a seasonally changing environment that is fun to explore. Pack up your RV and head that way as soon as possible.
There are many miles of paved and compacted gravel roads running through Mojave National Preserve, so it is easy to get around most of this location in an RV. The preserve’s two campgrounds are great places to camp. If you do not have an RV, rent one on RVshare.com. You will love the easy terms for the rental equipment and the various choices available.
You will want to explore many magical places at Mojave National Preserve, like the Lava Tube, which leads to a three-room cave. The 140-mile-long Mojave Road running between the Colorado River at Arizona’s border and the Mojave River in California is a fantastic place to go off-roading. The 45-square-mile Kelso Sand Dunes is an excellent spot to play in the sand. You will experience many unique photo opportunities throughout this park because of the wide variety of plants and wildlife.
Hiking TrailsThis 8-mile trail runs between the two family-friendly campgrounds. You can enjoy seeing many barrel and cholla cacti on the first part of the route, followed by seeing how the preserve’s landscape is rejuvenated following the 2005 Hackberry fire.
8 miles
Moderate
The Barber Peak Loop Trail runs around Barber Peak, starting near the Hole-in-the-Wall campground. Climb down the natural stone staircase to see the Opalite Cliffs glistening like diamonds in the sun. Then, follow the dirt road back to the starting point.
California 92332
6 miles
Moderate
SightseeingThe Kelso Depot is a Spanish Mission-style building restored to its former grandeur by the National Park Service to serve as its headquarters. This location is a fabulous place to engage with preserve staff. You will want to eat a delicious sandwich and get ice cream at The Beanery.
90942 Kelso Cima Road, Kelso, California 92309
Except during extremely rainy periods, Soda Lake is dry. Sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate make up its surface, and water lies just below the earth’s surface at this location that was a large lake hundreds of years ago. It probably connected to the Colorado River, but it has no outlet today. In the late 1800s, the sodium carbonate was mined and sold to farmers as salt licks.
Soda Lake Road Santa Margarita, California 93453
MuseumsThis museum tells the story of the Mojave River Valley from Father Garces' arrival in 1776 to the role the valley has played in space exploration. This museum is divided into several different exhibit areas that cover more than 40,000-square-feet. Leave time to browse the bookstore and gift shop.
270 East Virginia Way, Barstow, California 92311
See a variety of locomotives at the Western America Railroad Museum. Once inside, view tools used by early railroad workers and other artifacts. This museum has several great places for photo ops, so you may want to come prepared.
885 North 1st Avenue, Barstow, California 92311
Nearby Shops and RestaurantsFind educational games, books, maps, and more at the Park Store. The proceeds from this store go to support programming at the preserve. Staff choose each product carefully to help people learn more about the people of the Mojave Desert, its plants, and wildlife.
90942 Kelso Cima Road, Kelso, California 92309
Find unique items like records, books, furniture, and toys at Searchlight Treasures Thrift Store. You can also find kitchenware and home décor. Profits from this store go to help numerous local organizations.
101 E Hobson Street Searchlight, Nevada 89046
Get hot dogs with chili and outstanding cold sandwiches at The Beanery. They also serve iced tea and a variety of warm drinks. The set-up at this restaurant resembles an old-time food counter in a train depot.
90942 Kelso Cima Road, Kelso, California 92309
Get an outstanding hamburger or some excellent fish and chips at Fatburger. Each order is made to your specifications when you place your request. Be sure to try their crispy seasoned fries.
72922 Baker Boulevard Baker, California 92309
It is incredibly easy to get to Mojave National Preserve from Los Angeles. Take Interstate 10 East until you get to Interstate 15. Take that highway north to exit 246 for CA-127/Kelbaker Road toward Death Valley. Turn right on Kelbaker Road, and you will arrive at your destination when you get to Kelso Cima Road. Once you visit the depot visitors center, they can direct you to other areas of the preserve that are perfect for you.
90942 Kelso Cima Road, Kelso, California 92309
Fee: Entry fee $0
Mojave National Preserve offers a fantastic variety of things to do, including hiking, exploring sand dunes, and investigating a lava tube. You can easily find isolated locations to explore. The visitors center in Kelso, California, is a fantastic place to get information about the park. Explore it for yourself by bringing your RV to Mojave National Preserve, where you can camp in two well-equipped campgrounds. These campgrounds and other nearby choices are terrific places to camp while exploring the entire San Bernardino Valley.
If you do not have an RV, you can find one at RVshare.com as they have various sizes available, and their renter’s agreement is easy to understand. Roadside assistance is always available in the unlikely event that something goes wrong. Get an RV and get on the road to explore Mojave National Preserve today.
