Mojave National Preserve: dunes, depot and cinder cones
Through the empty heart of the Mojave between I-15 and Route 66: cinder cones, a lonely railroad depot, singing dunes and a volcanic crater.
- Distance
- 369 km (229 mi)
- Driving
- 4 h 06 min
- Suggested days
- 3
- Stops
- 7
- States
- CA
- Updated
- July 30, 2026
At a glance: 3-day road trip of about 369 km (229 mi) with 7 stops, from Barstow to Twentynine Palms. About 4 h 06 min of driving in total.
More road trips in California
Route description
From Barstow, follow I-15 east to Baker, the last reliable fuel for a while, with its tall roadside thermometer. Here Kelbaker Road turns south into Mojave National Preserve, passing a field of cinder cones and lava flows.
Kelso Depot, a 1920s railroad station alone in the desert, is now the preserve’s visitor center. South of it, a graded road leads to the Kelso Dunes; the climb to the top is short but tiring in loose sand, and the reward is a view over the whole basin.
Continue south to I-40, then north again on Essex Road to Hole-in-the-Wall, where the Rings Loop Trail climbs through a slot canyon on metal rings. There is a campground here and another at Mid Hills; both are first-come, first-served.
Return to old Route 66 at Essex and drive west to Amboy, where a cinder cone rises from a black lava field. Amboy Road then crosses the desert south to Twentynine Palms and Joshua Tree. Carry plenty of water, and avoid the preserve in the heat of summer.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Barstow
CA - 2114 km
Baker
CA - 357 km
Kelso Depot
HistoryKelso, CAA Mission Revival railroad station from 1924, alone in the Mojave and now the visitor center of Mojave National Preserve. Freight trains still thunder past.
- 416 km
Kelso Dunes
NatureKelso, CADunes rising about 600 feet above the desert floor; slide down the steep faces and the sand can make a low booming sound. Climb early, not in the midday heat.
- 540 km
Hole-in-the-Wall
NatureEssex, CAVolcanic cliffs riddled with holes, where the Rings Loop Trail climbs through a narrow slot using metal rings bolted into the rock. A campground sits nearby.
- 680 km
Amboy Crater
NatureAmboy, CAA near-perfect cinder cone rising from a black lava field next to Route 66. The trail to the rim is exposed; go early in the morning and carry plenty of water.
- 762 km
Twentynine Palms
CA
FAQs
How long is Mojave National Preserve: dunes, depot and cinder cones?
3-day road trip of about 369 km (229 mi) with 7 stops, from Barstow to Twentynine Palms. About 4 h 06 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for Mojave National Preserve: dunes, depot and cinder cones?
We suggest 3 days: about 4 h 06 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does Mojave National Preserve: dunes, depot and cinder cones start and end?
It starts in Barstow and ends in Twentynine Palms.
Which states does Mojave National Preserve: dunes, depot and cinder cones pass through?
California.
