Being a preserve, MNP lacks a few of the facilities you would find in Joshua Tree or Death Valley, but this absence creates the opportunity for a more intimate visit with the desert.
For the traditionalists (those who like camping near a bathroom) MNP has a couple standard campgrounds. For more adventurous campers, Mojave also offers a unique experience akin to wilderness car camping. Roadside camping is permitted in areas that are “traditionally used for this purpose” which means, if you turn down a dirt road and see a fire ring and a spot to put up a tent, you can camp there! This option offers you immediate access to your vehicle while you enjoy the seclusion of wilderness camping. There is a large roadside camping area near the Kelso Dunes and perhaps hundreds of other single sites spread throughout this 1.6 million acre park.
These “sites” are both listed and unlisted so ask a ranger for recommendations. All roadside camping is free. The map below show the location of the maintained campgrounds and also a few of the roadside camping options.
Sunrise in the Mojave Desert
Campgrounds in Mojave National Preserve
Hole-in-the-Wall Campground | 37 sites | first-come first-serve | $12 per night | potable water, picnic tables, fire rings, and pit toilets | elevation 4,400 feet
Mid Hills Campground | 26 sites | first-come first-serve | $12 per night | potable water, picnic tables, fire rings, and pit toilets | elevation 5,600 feet
Providence Mountains State Recreation Area | 6 sites | first-come first-serve | $12 per night | potable water, picnic tables, fire rings, and flush toilets | elevation 4,300
The location of each campground can be viewed on the map below:
View California Desert Hikes in a larger map
Nearby Trails
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The 4-mile round trip hike crosses a Joshua tree forest to summit a short peak with a great view of Cima Dome. |
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This 7 to 9-mile round trip hike summits the highest point of the New York Range in the northeast corner of the preserve. |
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This short 0.6-mile hike drops below the surface into an old lava tube. |
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Petroglyphs near Seventeen Mile Point This quarter-mile path visits ancient engravings in the volcanic rock at the western rim of the cinder fields just off Kelbaker Road. |
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This 1.5-mile loop takes visitors through a landscape of pocketed rocks. Ringbolts allow fun passage through narrow canyons. |
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This 5-mile off trail trek summits a peak with commanding views over the Providence Mountains. |
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This 3-mile round trip hike climbs 470 feet to the highest point in this 45 square mile dune field. |
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This 8.5-mile hike summits a 6.365-foot peak in the Granite Mountains. |
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This 3-mile round trip hike travels up and into this ‘Mojave National Preserve adjacent’ crater. |
More Desert Camping
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There are nine campgrounds with 500 total sites spread throughout the park to facilitate your visit<./p> |
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There are nine campgrounds spread throughout this large park to facilitate your visit. |
