Mojave National Preserve

A wild desert between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, with the singing Kelso Dunes, the world's densest Joshua tree forest and lava tubes.

Mojave National Preserve lies in southeastern California, sandwiched between Interstates 15 and 40. Covering about 6,400 km², it is the third-largest National Park Service unit in the contiguous United States. Though it sits between Los Angeles (about 3.5 hours' drive) and Las Vegas (about 1.5 hours), it sees few visitors and preserves the Mojave Desert in its unspoiled state: the towering Kelso Dunes, one of the densest Joshua tree forests in the world, dozens of cinder cones and lava tubes, honeycombed volcanic-rock canyons and limestone caverns.

The best seasons are March–May and October–November; in springs with good rainfall, wildflowers carpet the hills. Winter days are mild, but nights can drop below freezing and higher elevations occasionally see snow; from June to September, daytime temperatures often exceed 40°C, making outdoor activity dangerous.

Routes: in the north, head south from Baker on Kelbaker Road to see the Cima cinder cones and lava tube, then continue to the Kelso Depot Visitor Center and Kelso Dunes; in the east, take Cima Road through the Joshua tree forest and climb Teutonia Peak, then go to Hole-in-the-Wall for the Rings Trail and book a tour of Mitchell Caverns; in the west is Zzyzx, an oasis off I-15; exiting south to I-40 connects you with Amboy Crater and Roy's Motel on Route 66.

Tips: there's no entrance fee, but there are almost no gas stations or stores inside the preserve, so fill up and bring plenty of water and food in Baker, Needles or Barstow; some roads are dirt and become difficult after rain; cell coverage is very poor, so download offline maps. You can camp at the Hole-in-the-Wall or Mid Hills campgrounds or stay in Baker; plan on 1–2 days.

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Where to eat

Itineraries