Day Trip: Mojave National Preserve
- Location
- Eastern California, between I-15 and I-40, east of Barstow
- From Las Vegas
- Las Vegas airport (LAS) is 60 miles northeast of the Preserve (NPS)
- Entrance fee
- Free; no entrance pass required
- Hours
- Outdoor areas open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
- Visitor center
- Hole-in-the-Wall Information Center, Fri-Mon 10 am-4 pm
- Closures
- Kelso Depot Visitor Center indoors closed for rehabilitation
- Services
- No gas, EV charging, food or lodging inside the Preserve
About
Mojave National Preserve covers 1.6 million acres of eastern California desert east of Barstow, between Interstate 15 and Interstate 40. The National Park Service runs it. Unlike a national park, a preserve allows hunting and some other uses. There is no entrance fee.
The Kelso Dunes, 8 miles south of Kelso Depot on Kelbaker Road, rise more than 600 feet. The park says they are one of only seven dune fields in North America known to 'boom', a deep rumble made when dry sand slides.
From the Teutonia Peak Trail on paved Cima Road, visitors look out over Cima Dome, which the park says has the largest, densest Joshua tree forest in the world. Many trees along the road burned in the 2020 Dome Fire. The preserve also holds the Hole-in-the-Wall area, a lava tube, and the historic Kelso Depot.
What to expect
Roads within the preserve are long and services are far apart. From I-15 at Baker, Kelbaker Road runs south 34 miles to Kelso Depot. The building is closed for repairs, but its restrooms, water and parking lot are open. The Kelso Dunes trail is 3 miles round trip with 600 feet of climbing. The park calls it strenuous and says most people take 2 to 3 hours.
Hole-in-the-Wall, reached from I-40 by Essex Road and Black Canyon Road, has the information center, a campground, a picnic area and the Rings Loop Trail. The Teutonia Peak Trail starts on paved Cima Road. Many dirt roads need high clearance and four-wheel drive.
Plan the trip
Good to know
- Fill your tank before you go. The nearest gas is in Baker, at Cima Road and I-15, in Primm, Searchlight, Fenner, Amboy and Ludlow. There is no station where Kelbaker Road meets I-40.
- Freight trains can stop at the Kelbaker Road crossing near Kelso Depot, causing delays of up to an hour. Carry extra fuel and water.
- Cell service is unreliable or missing in most of the preserve. Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi calling are available in the Kelso Depot parking lot.
- Hiking the dunes in summer is not advised. Temperatures can reach 120°F, and there is no water or shade at the trailhead. Carry at least a gallon of water per person per day.
- For GPS, use Kelso or Hole-in-the-Wall, California. Entering 'Mojave, California' sends you to a town 168 miles from the preserve.
- Fire restrictions are in place: no wood or charcoal fires. Drones are not allowed, and nothing may be collected.
Questions about Mojave National Preserve
Does Mojave National Preserve charge an entrance fee?
No. An entrance pass is not required, and none is sold inside the preserve. If you plan to visit nearby fee areas, the park says passes are sold in person at the BLM Barstow Field Office, Death Valley National Park, Joshua Tree National Park and Lake Mead National Recreation Area. You can also buy them online from the USGS store.
How do I get to Mojave National Preserve from Las Vegas?
The park says Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas is 60 miles northeast of the preserve. From I-15 you can enter at Baker by Kelbaker Road, or by Zzyzx Road, Cima Road or Nipton Road. Kelso Depot is 34 miles south of Baker on Kelbaker Road. The park does not give a driving time from Las Vegas.
Is the Kelso Depot Visitor Center open?
The building's indoor area is closed for rehabilitation of its heating and cooling system. The park's alert says it expects to reopen the depot in 2026. The outdoor areas, restrooms, parking lot and water filling station at Kelso remain open. Until the depot reopens, the park points visitors to the Hole-in-the-Wall Information Center.
How hard is the Kelso Dunes hike?
The trail is only 3 miles round trip, but it climbs 600 feet in loose sand, and the park calls it strenuous. Most people take 2 to 3 hours. There is no water or shade at the trailhead, and summer temperatures can reach 120°F, so the park does not recommend summer hikes. The gravel access road is bumpy but does not need four-wheel drive.
When is the best time to see wildflowers in the Mojave National Preserve?
The park says March through April is the best time, when wildflowers can cover hillsides and canyons. How strong and how long the bloom lasts depends on rainfall and other weather. In summer, visitors often head to higher areas such as Mid Hills and the New York Mountains, where it is cooler.