Campgrounds and RV parks near Barstow, CA

Calico Ghost Town is a restored silver-mining town from the 1880s located northeast of Barstow, with shops, museums, and family-friendly attractions. Rainbow Basin Natural Area is located 8 miles north of Barstow, California, off Irwin Road and is an Area of Critical Environmental Concern with outstanding views and geological and paleontological features, where many visitors come to see multi-colored rock formations and walk the scenic canyons. Hiking, photography, and the one-way Fossil Canyon Loop drive are the main draws, with high-clearance vehicles recommended on the loop. Off-road enthusiasts use BLM trails throughout the area, though staging of OHVs is not allowed inside Rainbow Basin or at Owl Canyon Campground. Day trips reach Afton Canyon, Mojave National Preserve, and the Route 66 corridor through Newberry Springs and Daggett.

Spring and fall are the practical RV seasons. Summer daytime temperatures regularly approach or exceed 100°F, making spring and fall the preferred seasons for most campers, and winter nights can drop below freezing. March through May brings the most comfortable daytime conditions and the chance of wildflower bloom in wetter years, while October and November cool quickly after the summer heat breaks. Winter days are usually mild and dry, but overnight lows near freezing are common, and wind can be persistent in Rainbow Basin and along the open desert. Snow is uncommon in town but can dust higher ground in nearby ranges. Visitors should bring sufficient water, food, clothing, equipment, and first aid supplies for their activity, since services thin out quickly once away from Interstate 15. Summer carries real risk. Pavement and rig interiors heat fast, shade is scarce at most desert campgrounds, and weather extremes and poisonous snakes are desert hazards common to this area, and Rainbow Basin has a flash flood risk, so low-lying areas should be avoided during storms because rain upstream can cause flooding even when it is not raining locally.

Expect a working desert town, not a resort destination. Most commercial RV parks near Barstow offer full hookups, dump stations, and basic laundry and shower facilities, with sites that are flat but often close together and short on shade. Cell service is reliable in and around town and along Interstate 15, but weakens quickly on side roads. Public-land sites are far more primitive. Owl Canyon has 22 sites with picnic tables and fire rings, a single tap centrally located for potable water that is brought in weekly by truck, and it is advised to bring your own drinking water. There are vault toilets, but no dump facilities, and holding tanks can be emptied at facilities in the towns of Baker and Barstow. Developed campgrounds in Mojave National Preserve such as Hole-in-the-Wall provide vault toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings but no showers or hookups. Fuel up before leaving town.