# 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.

Source: https://camping-spirit.com/guides/b8-mojave-preserve/

**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. 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 |
| Route | Barstow → Twentynine Palms |
| States | CA |
| Updated | July 30, 2026 |

## 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

1. **Barstow** (CA)
2. **Baker** (CA)
3. **Kelso Depot** (Kelso, CA): A Mission Revival railroad station from 1924, alone in the Mojave and now the visitor center of Mojave National Preserve. Freight trains still thunder past.
4. **Kelso Dunes** (Kelso, CA): Dunes 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.
5. **Hole-in-the-Wall** (Essex, CA): Volcanic 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.
6. **Amboy Crater** (Amboy, CA): A 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.
7. **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.