Difficulty
Distance
Recom. Days
Trip type
Comprising the western tip of the extensive Mojave Desert, Antelope Valley is a natural paradise. It’s best known for its massive, colorful, and sweet-scented poppy fields, but this valley is home to a wide variety of wild plants and animals.
Antelope Valley is replete with hundreds of acres of state parks, carefully maintained to protect and preserve California’s wildlife. Take your time on the road and make sure to enjoy the fantastic landscapes of the poppy valley.
Visiting
Antelope Valley
1
Recom. Days
135 km
Los Angeles Depot
1h20min
Los Angeles Depot
Visit
Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve
Free
Colorful fields of poppies and other wildflowers in the spring
Arthur B. Ripley Desert Woodland State Park
Free
Home to Joshua Tree
Prime Desert Woodland Preserve
Free
Scenic location filled with natural simplicity
Eat at
A.M. Café
€€
Comfy cafe for ordinary and extraordinary breakfasts
Broken Bit Steakhouse
€€€
Combination of contemporary American Cuisine with a Western Flare
Medrano's Mexican Restaurant
€€
Authentic Mexican food and live entertainment
Parking
Lancaster Metrolink Station
€
ㅤ
Lancaster Road
€
ㅤ
Stay at
Antelope Valley Fairgrounds RV Park
€€
fully-facilitated
Shady Elms RV & Trailer Park
€
fully facilitated
Mojave National Preserve is one of the largest national preserves within the continental U.S. It’s packed with natural attractions and unique experiences a camper can expect from a desert road trip.
From canyons to cinder cones to the astounding sound of the Kelso Dunes “singing”, this 1.6 million acres national preserve is sure to be a high point in your road trip.
On your way from the Antelope Valley, about half an hour before reaching the National Preserve, take a small detour to visit the Afton Canyon, on Afton Road, known locally as the Grand Canyon of the Mojave.
End your stay at the Mojave Natural Preserve with a quick stop at the Amboy Crater, an extinct cinder cone volcano, located right outside the preserve.
Visiting
Mojave National Preserve
2
Recom. Days
250 km
Antelope Valley
2h30min
Antelope Valley
Visit
Kelso Dunes
Free
Isolated dune system more than 600 feet above the desert floor
Edgar Peak
Free
The highest point in the Providence Mountains
Castle Mountains National Monument
Free
Some of the most unique elements of the Mojave Desert
Mojave Lava Tube Trail
Free
Accessible volcanic tunnel
Eat at
River City Pizza
€
A locals’ favorite
GP's Steakhouse
€€
American and European cuisine
Los Dos Toritos
€€
Delicious Mexican quick bites
Mad Greek Cafe
€
Greek food in the middle of an American desert
Parking
Dirt lot along Aiken Mine Road
Free
ㅤ
Stay at
Hole-in-the-Wall Campground
€€
no utility hookups
RV Park Baker
€
fully facilitated
Afton Canyon Campground
€
no dump station
Pioneertown is an Old Western permanent movie set. Building sets for movies was a costly and complex process, making it difficult to stay within a film’s budget. The actor Dick Curtis came up with the idea of building a permanent set for Old Westerns to avoid set expenditures. The idea was to establish businesses restaurants, motels, grocery and hardware stores, feed stores for horses, and saddle makers for the crew members during filming and the population of the city, who would play the role of extras.
Although its current inactivity as a movie set, the Old Western spirit and infrastructures remain.
Visiting
Pioneertown
1
Recom. Days
150 km
Mojave National Preserve
1h40min
Mojave National Preserve
Visit
The Integratron
Free
An out-of-this-world structure
Pioneertown Bowl
€€
Vintage bowling alley
Pioneertown Mane Street
Free
Old western movie street, home to many types of art
Eat at
Pappy and Harriet's
€€
BBQ and live music in one place
Parking
Eastside of Mane Street
€
ㅤ
Stay at
Little Pioneertown RV
€€
fully facilitated
Palm Desert has the best of both worlds, able to provide a full movie-like shopping experience in the El Paseo Shopping District, a tree-lined boulevard boasting public art pieces, upscale stores, and restaurants, Palm Desert is also the perfect place for hiding away in natural landscapes for a day.
The Indian Canyons and the San Jacinto Mountains are just two of the several attractions that make Palm Desert so inviting.
Visiting
Palm Desert
1
Recom. Days
74 km
Pioneertown
50min
Pioneertown
Visit
Shields Date Garden
€€
Well-known garden with biblical sculptures
Santa Rosa and the San Jacinto Mountains National Monument
Free
World-famous scenic landscape
Coachella Valley Preserve
Free
An exceptional place hidden in the desert
Eat at
Café des Beaux-Arts
€€
Parisian brasserie with a nice patio
La Spiga
€€€
Tuscan-style villa with a unique outdoor space
Cork Tree
€€€
Distinct menu in a relaxed atmosphere
Parking
Civic Center Parking
Free
ㅤ
Stay at
Palm Springs RV Resort
€€
fully facilitated
Palm Springs Oasis RV Resort
€€
fully facilitated
Borrego Springs is a Californian natural wonder. Located 78 miles from San Diego, this desert area is packed with places of interest that can’t be left out.
About halfway into the drive between Palm Desert and Borrego Springs, you can see the Salton Sea, a saltwater lake that used to be flocked with celebrities, such as Jerry Lewis and Frank Sinatra. Unfortunately, nowadays, it’s one of the most polluted and toxic lakes in the state.
Spending the night in Borrego Springs is an out-of-this-world experience. Thanks to the minimal light pollution, the sky above you is covered in flickering stars that seem to fall off the sky.
Visiting
Borrego Springs
2
Recom. Days
120 km
Palm Desert
1h20min
Palm Desert
Visit
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Free
Rich, unparalleled landscape in the desert area
Borrego Springs Sculptures
Free
Free sculpture exhibition for desert hikers
Font's Point
Free
Lookout that offers exceptional views of the California badlands
Eat at
Red Ocotillo
€€
Ingredients from an organic garden with a pet-friendly patio
Kendall's Cafe
€
A locals’ choice for an American meal
Carmelita's Mexican Grill
€
a Borrego Spring’s must for a comforting Mexican meal
Parking
Slot Canyon Parking Lot
€
ㅤ
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park Visitor Center Parking
€
ㅤ
Stay at
The Springs at Borrego RV Resort
€€€
fully facilitated
Borrego Palm Canyon Campground
€
fully facilitated
Primitive Campgrounds
Free
free of charge, no amenities but toilets
251 km
Los Angeles International Airport
3h10min
drive