Camping in the Mojave, California area encompasses a range of environments from desert landscapes to mountain settings. Ricardo Campground at Red Rock Canyon State Park offers developed sites with picnic tables and fire rings, while East Mojave Camp provides dispersed camping opportunities with minimal amenities. The region includes both established campgrounds with full hookups for RVs and primitive sites for tent camping, with several locations situated within an hour's drive of Mojave proper.
Road conditions and seasonal temperatures significantly impact camping experiences in this high desert region. Summer temperatures frequently exceed 100°F, making spring and fall the preferred seasons for most campers. Winter nights can drop below freezing, particularly at higher elevations in the Tehachapi Mountains. Many campgrounds remain open year-round, though services may be limited during extreme weather periods. Dispersed camping areas like East Mojave Camp require high-clearance vehicles to access, as roads are often unmarked and unmaintained. Cell service varies throughout the region, with better coverage near highways and developed areas. A review noted that "very remote absolutely nothing out there. Definitely somewhere you need to be aware of your surroundings. You can get far enough away from the highway that you don't need to worry about people driving by."
Campers consistently mention the dramatic desert landscapes and rock formations as highlights of the Mojave camping experience. Red Rock Canyon State Park receives particularly positive reviews for its distinctive geology and hiking opportunities. Several visitors appreciate the stargazing conditions, with minimal light pollution in more remote areas. RV parks near Mojave provide basic amenities at reasonable prices, serving primarily as convenient overnight stops rather than destination campgrounds. Wind can be a significant factor in the camping experience, with several reviews mentioning strong gusts, particularly in open desert areas. A camper described Ricardo Campground as "beautiful campground! We arrived on Wednesday afternoon, and it was about half full, but looked mostly full by the time we left on Saturday. It is first come first served."
$40 / night
"Mojave is in the middle of no where. But if you find yourself out this way, Spaceport RV Park makes up for it. Full hookup for $20.00/ night and VERY helpful park staff!!!"
"Campsites are around 6,000’, pit toilets, grills, steel fire pits, picnic tables and potable water taps."
"My dog and I had a good weekend away (even though we live close by.)"
$43 / night
"Although this RV park isn’t that far from the state park where you could drive and do some day hikes.)"
"I will say there isn’t much to do or see within walking distance, but the town in just a few miles away."
$25 - $30 / night
"When we pulled up the dirt road into the site and all around the site was lit up with cute garden lights on the perimeter. Some of the trees also were lit up with colour changing solar lights."
"It was dark out but the whole site and drive into it was lit by solar garden lights. It was really cool to stay in the wind farm it had a really soothing and interesting noise at night."
"The red rock canyons surrounding the campground are reminiscent of Arizona or Utah desert. Great for hiking, photography, star gazing, climbing and off roading. Dog friendly."
"We luckily got a site away from the road, so less blowing sand from people driving by. We were right next to the nature trail, which was great to have to get some exercise and nice views. "
"Have a damp station near by. This was a great option for passing through on our way to red rock canyon."
"Very beautiful location overlooking a lake. Far from the highway so no traffic noise that I’ve noticed."
"The lake isn't that great. But they are improving their facility. Running water and restrooms are available. Spots available near the water"
RangerThe Views are fantastic sites are rugged but very cool locations, This is mainly a Hike in CG most of the time and better have some serious clearance to get there even when the road is open in summer, BUT very worth it!
GuideBeautiful spot right on the shores of Lake Isabella. Just off of Sierra Way, drive in and take one of the roads to the right. Just be aware there is soft sand in places. We took the second right and drove about 3/4 of the way down, then made a U- turn in the field. We had a great view of the water! Unless you're a small vehicle and are tent camping, I would not attempt to take the curvy road straight ahead. It is very soft and and turning around is a challenge. (Don't ask me how I know!) We are towing a 33' fifth wheel. Any size rigs can fit in here, but again, be aware of areas with soft sand. The only real negative about this place are the burrs. My dog collected them every time she went out. This is a birders paradise!
GuideEasy to pull up to, great fishing, amazing location
LegendJust off the highway, there are two designated vehicle campsites, however, there are several places to park your car and walk a short distance into a tent site. There are several other places that you can park your vehicle that are not designated for vehicle camping. There is a vault toilet but no other amenities. The tent sites have picnic tables and fire rings and hooks on poles for suspending food stuff. The vehicle camping sites have overhead shelters, fire rings with a grill and a hook and pole for suspending food stuff. If you walk about 30 to 40 minutes south on the PCT you will get some T-Mobile coverage, at a site I call the telephone booth, underneath a large pinyon pine sitting on a comfortable rock in the shade. The views are stupendous, and easy access to the PCT.
LegendMountains in the background, camping along a clear blue lake with water, pump outs, vault toilets, dumpsters, fish cleaning station, and boat launch available. What is not to love? What's not to love is RV sites lined up head to toe along the side of the road with no shade or privacy. We were here in March, and although there was a camp host there, he did not answer our calls. We did fill up with free potable water, and dumped our trash. There is a self-service self-pay $20 pump out. Easily over 100 RV sites, and many tent sites, as well as day use parking.
LegendFree dispersed camping right off the highway, on the shore of Lake Isabella. Decent dirt and gravel road. Grassy meadow for tents and flat gravel areas for RVs. Dumpsters provided. Only criticism is the vault toilets were closed for the season in March when we were there. As of the time of our visit, the location marked on Dyrt is accurate, and there is an abundance of signage on the highway. Good T-Mobile coverage. No wood available. Some shade provided by a couple of trees if you are a tent camper.
LegendGot caught in a wind storm and needed to get off the road. This county park was a refuge. Pulled in around 2pm and had many sites to choose from. Got a nice site right on the river. Mostly stayed inside due to the strong winds. Did not see any camp hosts. Nice hot showers. Walking trails along the river and bike paths too.
GuideSo beautiful, so flat and open, we did genuinely see other people maybe 4 times, great area for fun rock scrambling and tooling around in the lake, perfect for tent camping or car camping!
The ground can get very rocky the deeper you go in and is a bit sandy/packed dirt for most of the roads, but there are “spots” for all cars and comfort levels.
Seems like this site will be rain-dependent, the water line was low when we went but space could be more limited after rain for sure.
GuideStayed here for one night tent camping. No one in sight in the tent section. Good spot with showers and restrooms. The pool and spa were open.
Mojave, California offers dry desert camping environments with high elevation changes ranging from 2,600 to 6,000 feet across camping areas. The region experiences significant temperature swings between day and night, with 30-40°F differences common even in moderate seasons. Wind is a dominant feature at most camping spots near Mojave, California, particularly in open desert areas.
Glider watching at Mountain Valley RV Park: Located adjacent to a glider airport, visitors can observe flights throughout the day. "In the morning we walked over to the Raven's Nest for breakfast and watched the gliders take off starting around 9am," notes one camper who enjoyed the unique aviation experience.
Hiking at Tehachapi Mountain Park: The park offers multiple scenic trails with mountain views. "Beautiful hikes with tons of scenic outlooks. Kid and pet friendly, never crowded it seems so you can also have some privacy," shares a regular visitor who considers it their go-to camping spot.
Star-gazing at Wind Walker Ranch: This primitive site provides exceptional night sky viewing due to minimal light pollution. "We saw a stunning sun rise and we both hope to be able to come back for another stay on our next trip," mentions a camper who appreciated the isolation.
Joshua Tree landscapes at Joshua Tree Ranch Los Angeles: The property offers a unique Joshua Tree environment without traveling to the national park. "I've been here in the winter and the summer. I actually like the winter better! When there's snow on the Tehachapi mountains and the San Gabriel mountains, the view is incredible," explains one visitor.
Red rock formations at Ricardo Campground: The campground's position against colorful rock walls creates a dramatic setting. "Gorgeous and Clean. The views from this campground are absolute stellar," notes a camper who found plenty of available spaces during their visit.
Wildlife viewing at Brite Lake: The lakeside setting attracts various wildlife. "We enjoyed watching the bunnies and squirrels from our camper window and ducks and birds on the lake," shares a visitor who appreciated the natural surroundings despite drought conditions.
Limited facilities at East Mojave Camp: This dispersed camping area requires self-sufficiency. "You can get far enough away from the highway that you don't need to worry about people driving by. There is nothing out here. The road to it is unmarked and very unmaintained," warns a camper emphasizing the need for preparedness.
Varied bathroom access: Many campgrounds have restricted bathroom hours or primitive facilities. At Mountain Valley RV Park, "bathrooms are locked between 10 pm and 7:30 am (not good for those of us with early mornings)," notes one review highlighting timing constraints.
Vehicle requirements: Access to many sites requires appropriate vehicles. For dispersed sites like East Mojave Camp, reviewers recommend "high clearance vehicle if you want to be further away then 100 feet from the highway. Lots of wash outs."
Tehachapi Mountain Park accessibility: The park offers family-friendly camping with nearby nature trails. "Great getaway without going far! Beautiful hikes with tons of scenic outlooks. Kid and pet friendly, never crowded it seems," comments a frequent visitor who appreciates the convenience.
Brite Lake Aquatic Recreation Area restrictions: Despite the lake setting, swimming is not permitted. "Our family stayed here for 2 nights. We enjoyed our time but the kids were disappointed they couldn't touch the water at the lake. I brought a small plastic pool for them to get wet in at our site because it was hot," advises a parent who found creative solutions.
Space considerations: Many campgrounds offer generous site spacing. At Tehachapi Mountain Park, "sites are around 6,000', pit toilets, grills, steel fire pits, picnic tables and potable water taps," making it comfortable for family camping with necessary amenities.
Economic options at Spaceport RV Park: This basic park offers practical amenities at low cost. "Full hookup for $20.00/night and VERY helpful park staff!!! It's my understanding they let you dump for $5.00 and fill your freshwater tank for $2.00 even if you don't stay here," notes an appreciative RVer.
Size limitations at Tehachapi Mountain Park: Larger rigs face challenges navigating the roads. "The road to the campground is a narrow, twisty, two lane road. Then we got to the campground and it got narrower and steeper. The grades in some parts of the campground were double digit percent grades and the hairpin turns were very sharp," warns a camper who managed with a small 13' trailer but cautions against larger vehicles.
Leveling needs at Ricardo Campground: The terrain requires preparation. "Most sights have a little slope... used a few leveling blocks," advises an RVer who found the sites manageable with proper equipment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Mojave, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Mojave, CA offers a wide range of camping options, with 158 campgrounds and RV parks near Mojave, CA and 20 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Mojave, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Mojave, CA is Spaceport RV Park with a 3.2-star rating from 6 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Mojave, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 20 free dispersed camping spots near Mojave, CA.
Keep Exploring
