Mid Hills Campground

Mojave National Preserve — riverside

Location: Barstow, CA, CA

Price: From $20 per night

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (35 reviews)

Season: May through October

Mojave preserves a diverse mosaic of ecological habitats and a 10,000 year history of human connection with the desert. Offering extensive opportunities to experience desert landscapes, the preserve promotes understanding and appreciation for the increasingly threatened resources of the Mojave Desert. This remote preserve encourages a sense of discovery and a connection to wild places.

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/mid-hills-campground to be notified when sites open up.

Remote desert preserve offering peaceful, spread-out camping with excellent night sky views and cooler temperatures at 5,600' elevation. Sites are generally very spaced out with clean facilities.

Wildlife alert: Rattlesnake species present: Northern Mojave Rattlesnake, Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake, and Crotalus pyrrhus. Also black-tailed jackrabbits, kangaroo rats, and raptors including red-tailed hawks.

Insider tips for Mid Hills Campground: Expect washboard road conditions on the approach drive Book early as this is a federal campground with limited 25 sites Bring self-contained RV setup; no hookups available at most sites 8 vault restrooms total (4 pairs) are maintained and clean

Skip Mid Hills Campground if: You need RV hookups (water, electric, sewer not available). You prefer paved road access (washboard road to campground). You require year-round access (seasonal May-October only). You're uncomfortable around rattlesnakes in desert habitat.

Best time to visit Mid Hills Campground: August-September — At 5,600' elevation, temperatures remain moderate even in peak summer (93°F recorded in August at 5pm). Campground operates May through October.. May-June — Spring season within operational window with cooler temperatures before peak heat..

Nearby campgrounds: Hole-In-The-Wall Campground (Barstow, CA), Black Canyon Group And Equestrian Campground (Barstow, CA), Red Rock Canyon Campground (Red Rock Canyon NCA, NV).

Cell Phone Coverage at Mid Hills Campground

Cell signal at Mid Hills Campground (Barstow, CA): none overall signal based on FCC broadband data.

Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.

CamperWatch
CamperWatch›CA›Mid Hills Campground
Mid Hills Campground — photo 1
Mid Hills Campground — photo 2
Mid Hills Campground — photo 3
Mojave National Preserve — riversideLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Mid Hills Campground

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Barstow, CA, CA★ 4.5 (35 reviews)From $20/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

Mojave preserves a diverse mosaic of ecological habitats and a 10,000 year history of human connection with the desert. Offering extensive opportunities to experience desert landscapes, the preserve promotes understanding and appreciation for the increasingly threatened resources of the Mojave Desert. This remote preserve encourages a sense of discovery and a connection to wild places.

Best for:CampersNature loversFamiliesSites:TentRV
LIVE · weather + fire + AQI + availability + wildlife

Verified facts

RIDB / Recreation.gov official database
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
SeasonMay through October
Stay limit14 days
Max RV20 ft
HookupsNo hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
Pull-throughsAvailable
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed
Max/site6 people

Amenities

RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
Essentials
Fire Rings
Recreation
Picnic Tables
Family & Pets
Vault Toilets

Straight talk

CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reports

Known issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.

Known issuesFederal campground — book early. No hookups at most sites. Seasonal operations.
Skip it if:✕ You need RV hookups (water, electric, sewer not available)✕ You prefer paved road access (washboard road to campground)✕ You require year-round access (seasonal May-October only)✕ You're uncomfortable around rattlesnakes in desert habitat

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Expect washboard road conditions on the approach drive

Book early as this is a federal campground with limited 25 sites

Bring self-contained RV setup; no hookups available at most sites

8 vault restrooms total (4 pairs) are maintained and clean

Best: August-September

At 5,600' elevation, temperatures remain moderate even in peak summer (93°F recorded in August at 5pm). Campground operates May through October.

Best: May-June

Spring season within operational window with cooler temperatures before peak heat.

Things to do nearby

RIDB /activities /recareas + intel

Conditions today

Live
at campground coordinates

Cell signal

FCC BDC · quarterly dataset
T-Mobile
4G · 0%
Verizon
4G · 0%
AT&T
4G · 0%

FCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal.

Wildlife nearby

iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 km
Alert: Rattlesnake species present: Northern Mojave Rattlesnake, Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake, and Crotalus pyrrhus. Also black-tailed jackrabbits, kangaroo rats, and raptors including red-tailed hawks.

Location

Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
(760) 252-6100· Mojave National Preserve
Getting there →

From Los Angeles, Barstow, and Joshua Tree via Interstate 40: Exit Essex Road and drive north for 10 miles and turn right at the junction to Black Canyon Road. Continue for 16 miles and turn left at Wild Horse Canyon Rd. Continue for 2.5 miles to the campground. Roads leading to Mid Hills after Hole-in-the-Wall Information Center are unpaved and not recommended for motorhomes and trailers. From Death Valley and Las Vegas via Interstate 15: From the Kelbaker Road, Cima Road, or Nipton Road entran

Campground entrance

Google Maps API

Community

#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)

Pro tips

  • Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Mojave National Preserve fills fast in peak season.
  • Check current road conditions at Mojave National Preserve before arrival — seasonal closures common.

Frequently asked questions

RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakable
How much does Mid Hills Campground cost per night?+
Mid Hills Campground costs $20 per night. Hookup options: No hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
What season is Mid Hills Campground open?+
Mid Hills Campground is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Mid Hills Campground have hookups?+
No hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
What is the maximum RV length at Mid Hills Campground?+
Mid Hills Campground can accommodate RVs up to 20 feet.
How do I make reservations at Mid Hills Campground?+
Mid Hills Campground is a federal campground — book 6 months ahead at Recreation.gov. Set a free CamperWatch cancellation alert to be notified the moment a site opens.
What is the cell service like at Mid Hills Campground?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Mid Hills Campground is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is Mid Hills Campground open, and what are check-in times?+
Mid Hills Campground is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
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●Data sources on this page
Recreation.gov — Live site availability — updated every 30 min
recreation.gov · RIDB API
National Weather Service — Live hourly forecast + active alerts
api.weather.gov · open-meteo.com
Google Air Quality API — Live AQI at exact campground coordinates
airquality.googleapis.com
iNaturalist — Research-grade wildlife within 8km
api.inaturalist.org
Google Pollen API — Today’s tree, grass & weed pollen forecast
pollen.googleapis.com
FCC Broadband Map — Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile 4G/5G coverage data
broadbandmap.fcc.gov · quarterly
Sunrise-Sunset.org — Sunrise, sunset & golden hour for today
api.sunrise-sunset.org
Google Street View — Campground entrance & access road imagery
maps.googleapis.com
RIDB — ADA sites, hookups, toilets, pets, campfire rules, bear boxes, max RV, activities, contact, directions
ridb.recreation.gov · /facilities /campsites /activities /links /recareas

CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.

$20 /night★ 4.5 (35)
SeasonMay through October
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
Reserve on Recreation.gov ↗
Dates full? Get an availability alert
FAQ
How much does Mid Hills Campground cost per night?+
What season is Mid Hills Campground open?+
Does Mid Hills Campground have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

Nearby Campgrounds

Hole-In-The-Wall Campground

Barstow, CA

From $25/night

Black Canyon Group And Equestrian Campground

Barstow, CA

From $50/night

Red Rock Canyon Campground

Red Rock Canyon NCA, NV

From $12/night

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