Go if
Cave geology is the draw for you. Book the Mitchell Caverns guided tour well in advance, plan around October-November or February-April, and pack every drop of water you'll need. The 65-degree caverns are worth the drive out Essex Road.
Providence Mountains State Recreation Campground
4.4821 reviewsProvidence Mountains State Recreation Area, PO Box #1, Essex, CA 92332
Real-Time Availability
Select a month, then check for open campsites
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Quick Facts
4,300 ftPrice
$20/night
Booking
Reservable
Sites
5 campsites
Season
Open seasonally from...
Cell
No Service
Pets
Very Pet Friendly
Real-Time Availability
Select a month, then check for open campsites
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
Quick Facts
4,300 ftPrice
$20/night
Booking
Reservable
Sites
5 campsites
Season
Open seasonally from...
Cell
No Service
Pets
Very Pet Friendly
Providence Mountains State Recreation Campground
$20.00 - $20.00 / night
Campsite Fees
The standard campsite fee is $20 per night. An additional vehicle fee of $10 per night applies. Reservations are required and must be made through...
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Standard Site Fee$20.00
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Reserve California
Provider760-928-2586interp@parks.ca.gov
I manage this campgroundCampground Map
Providence Mountains State Recreation Area, PO Box #1, Essex, CA 92332
Providence Mountains State Recreation Campground
Providence Mountains State Recreation Area, PO Box #1, Essex, CA 92332
Nearby places
Essex: 16 miles (approximately 20 minutes)
Needles: 56 miles (approximately 1 hour)
Barstow: 116 miles (approximately 2 hours).
Nearby supplies
The nearest fuel station is in Fenner, 24 miles away. There are no stores or food services at the park. Visitors should bring all necessary supplies, including water, food, and fuel.
Weather at Providence Mountains State Recreation Campground
About Providence Mountains State Recreation Campground
Planning your trip?Check out our camping packing checklist
Skip if
No potable water, no cell signal, tight site spacing, wind that reviewers say can flatten a tent, and the nearest hospital is 56 miles in Needles. Car campers expecting any convenience will be miserable here.
From official sources
Reference information about Providence Mountains State Recreation Campground compiled from official sources. Every claim links to its source. View official page →
Providence Mountains State Recreation Area campground has reopened with five developed campsites available Friday and Saturday nights by reservation only through www.reservecalifornia.com. The park is located at an elevation of 4,300 feet in the eastern Mojave Desert, accessible only via Essex Road, 16 miles northwest from Interstate 40 Exit 100. The campground enforces a 2 pm check-in and 12 pm check-out, with a maximum of 2 vehicles and 8 people per site. Quiet hours run from 10 pm to 6 am with generators off from 8 pm to 8 am, and the front gate closes at 5 pm. Water is scarce at the park, so campers must bring their own for drinking, washing, and cooking. There is no trash service; campers must pack out all waste. The park features Mitchell Caverns with guided tours, three hiking trails including the Cave Trail and Mary Beal Nature Trail, and diverse Mojave Desert vegetation such as pinyon pines, junipers, yucca, cholla, and barrel cactus. Campsites cost $25 per night with an additional $10 per night for extra vehicles.
- Natural features
- The park features Mitchell Caverns with limestone cave formations and unique wildlife including bats and pseudoscorpions. Vegetation includes pinyon pines, junipers, wildflowers during spring, Mojave and banana yucca, cholla, and barrel cactus. source
- Elevation
- Located at an elevation of 4,300 feet in the eastern Mojave Desert. source
- Reservations
- Camping is by reservation only through www.reservecalifornia.com. Campsites are available Friday and Saturday nights. source
- Accessibility
- The campground has two campsites (#1 and #2) that are generally accessible in fair weather, with an accessible unisex restroom at the west end of the campground. source
- Site layout
- The campground has five developed campsites with a maximum of 2 vehicles and 8 people per site. Check-in is at 2 pm and check-out at 12 pm. source
- Fees
- $25 per night per campsite, with an additional $10 per night for extra vehicles. source
