Campgrounds and RV parks near California City, CA

California City sits in the western Mojave Desert in Kern County, between the towns of Mojave and Ridgecrest along the State Route 14 corridor. The area serves RV travelers heading to the southern Sierra Nevada, Death Valley, or the high desert. Campground options range from full-hookup commercial RV parks in town and along the highway to primitive state park camping among red sandstone cliffs. Close-in options include Sierra Trails RV Park and Spaceport RV Park, both convenient for travelers using California City as a base. A short drive north on Highway 14 leads to Ricardo Campground at Red Rock Canyon State Park, a primitive desert campground tucked against dramatic cliffs. Mountain Valley RV Park serves travelers staging in the Tehachapi area to the west, while Antelope Valley Fair RV Park provides hookup sites to the south near Lancaster. The mix lets travelers pair full-service overnights with a night or two of dry camping in scenic desert terrain.

Reservation systems vary by operator. Private RV parks in and around California City, including Sierra Trails RV Park, Spaceport RV Park, Mountain Valley RV Park, and Antelope Valley Fair RV Park, are typically booked directly through the operator by phone or website, often with hookup sites available on shorter notice than state parks. For Ricardo Campground at Red Rock Canyon State Park, planning is different: camping is first-come, first-served with no reservation system. Arrive early on Friday or, better, by Thursday afternoon during spring and fall, and have a backup plan. Federal lands managed by the BLM in the surrounding Mojave allow dispersed camping in many areas, but confirm road conditions and rig clearance before leaving pavement. For holiday weekends, book private RV park stays several weeks ahead.