Hole-In-The-Wall Campground

Star3.16
253 reviews
Hole-In-The-Wall Campground

Quick Facts

4,400 ft

Price

Varies

Booking

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Sites

38 campsites

Season

Year-round

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Not Allowed

WiFi

Opens Mojave National Preserve site

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Hole-In-The-Wall Campground
No fees available
Campsite Fees
Standard Site Fee$0.00
Hookup Site Fee$0.00
Premium Site Fee$0.00
Hike and Bike Site Fee$0.00
Group Site Fee$0.00
Food Storage Locker Fee$0.00
Total Campsite Fees$0.00

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What Campers Say

3.16

Mixed Reviews

Based on 253 reviews

228 Google reviews

Most mentioned

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"Reviewers overwhelmingly love Hole-in-the-Wall Campground, describing it as beautiful, quiet, remote, and well maintained. Campers highlight the dramatic desert scenery, dark skies, and nearby hiking trails, and many say it’s one of their favorite campgrounds. Amenities are basic but appreciated, and visitors value the sense of isolation and space between sites."

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About Hole-In-The-Wall Campground

Tucked away at 4,400 feet in the heart of Mojave National Preserve, Hole-in-the-Wall Campground offers an otherworldly desert escape surrounded by dramatic volcanic rock formations. This remote basecamp serves adventurers seeking to explore one of California's most diverse desert landscapes, where ancient geology meets endless hiking opportunities beneath vast Mojave skies.
The campground comprises 38 campsites that include tent areas and 1–2 vehicle parking spots per site; a dump station and camp hosts in peak season are noted. Specific RV hookups, group sites, cabins, or glamping accommodations are not detailed in the source material.
Historical SignificanceThe desert landscape surrounding Hole-in-the-Wall holds stories stretching back 10,000 years, bearing witness to countless generations who have called this harsh yet beautiful environment home. Just beyond the campground, visitors can discover Zzyzx, a fascinating historical site where human history intersects with nature at a spring-fed pond that draws birders hoping to spot desert species in this unlikely oasis. These cultural touchstones remind us that the Mojave has always been more than empty desert—it's been home, highway, and haven for millennia.
ElevationPerched at approximately 4,400 feet above sea level, the campground occupies a sweet spot in the desert's vertical landscape—high enough to offer cooler temperatures and clearer air than the scorching valley floors below, yet nestled intimately among the preserve's signature volcanic rock walls that tower overhead like ancient sentinels.
Natural Features and SceneryThe volcanic rock walls that give Hole-in-the-Wall its name are just the beginning of the geological wonders awaiting exploration. Beyond your campsite, the Mojave National Preserve unfolds as a masterclass in desert diversity: frozen rivers of ancient lava flows wind between cinder cones and volcanic domes, while mountain ranges rise dramatically from the desert floor. Hidden seeps and springs create unexpected pockets of life, nurturing everything from vibrant cactus gardens to rare stands of white fir and chaparral that somehow survive in this arid realm. The crown jewel may be the extensive Joshua tree forests, particularly around Cima Dome, where these iconic desert sentinels stand in one of the densest concentrations anywhere on Earth.
Geological RegionThe Mojave Desert reveals its volcanic heart here, where dramatic rock walls, lava flows, cinder cones, and domes tell the story of the Earth's fiery past. This landscape is punctuated by impressive mountain ranges including the distinctive Cima Dome and the towering Clark Mountains, creating a geological playground that showcases millions of years of desert formation in a single spectacular preserve.
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Campsite details

Sites SizeEach campsite contains 1–2 vehicle parking spots and a tent area.
Sites PrivacyCampground is set among sculptured volcanic rock walls in a remote preserve setting.
Total Campsites38 campsites
Recommended CampsitesEach campsite contains 1–2 vehicle parking spots, a picnic table, a fire ring, and a tent area. Water spigots and vault toilets are available around the campground; a dump station is available for campers. Free WiFi is available 24/7 at the Hole-in-the-Wall Information Center.

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Tents
Tents are allowed
RV vehicles
RV vehicles are not allowed
Primitive
Primitive are not allowed
Reservable
Reservations are not allowed

Site layout38 individual campsites, each with 1–2 vehicle parking spots, picnic table, fire ring, and tent area. Vault toilets and water spigots are distributed around the campground; a dump station is available. Free WiFi at the nearby information center.

Amenities available

Fire rings
Picnic tables
Dump station
WiFi
Vault toilets

Activities you can enjoy

The preserve offers extensive opportunities for hiking, off-road driving on 4WD routes, scenic exploration, and wildlife/bird watching. Popular nearby attractions and trails include Kelso Dunes, Rings Loop, Barber Peak, Lava Tube, and Teutonia Peak, and visitors can explore historic routes such as the Mojave Road (street-legal vehicles) and other high-clearance 4WD roads.
Hiking
Many hikes are available ranging from short loops to longer excursions; highlights include Rings Loop (1.5 miles, with metal rings in the rock), Kelso Dunes, Barber Peak loop, Lava Tube access (high-clearance vehicle recommended), and Teutonia Peak.
Wildlife viewing
The preserve supports diverse plant and animal life, world’s largest Joshua tree forest near Cima Dome, seasonal wildflower blooms, and birding opportunities such as at Zzyzx (pond) noted for birding.
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Campground rules

  • Pets are not allowed

Hazards

General hazardsRemote location with unreliable cell phone service; many park areas and routes require high-clearance or 4WD vehicles. Some areas have experienced recent fire (Teutonia Peak area burned in August 2020). Mines are hazardous — do not enter.

Weather at Hole-In-The-Wall Campground

60
°F
Dec 11
Thursday
Clear sky
Precipitation: 0%
Humidity: 25%
Wind: 9.2 mph
Clear sky

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Good to know

Proximity to water featuresNo on-site lake or river listed; the preserve contains numerous seeps and springs and Zzyzx (with a pond) is noted elsewhere in the park as a water/birding feature.
HostCamp hosts are typically present during peak season months.

Campground Map

Hole-In-The-Wall Campground
Driving directionsFrom Los Angeles, Barstow, and Joshua Tree via Interstate 40: Exit Essex Road and drive north for 10 miles and turn right at the junction to Black Canyon Road. Continue for 10 miles to Hole-in-the-Wall. The roads are paved until the turn-off into the campground. Cell phone service is unreliable. From Death Valley and Las Vegas via Interstate 15: From the Kelbaker Road, Cima Road, or Nipton Road entrances, make your way to Kelso-Cima Road and turn east onto Cedar Canyon Road. Continue onto Cedar Canyon Road for 6 miles and turn right onto Black Canyon Road for 9 miles.
Accessible via Interstate 40 (Essex Road to Black Canyon Road) and from Interstate 15 via Kelbaker/Cima/Nipton to Kelso-Cima Road then Cedar Canyon Road to Black Canyon Road. Roads are paved until the campground turn-off; many remote park areas require high-clearance or 4WD vehicles.

Reviews from booking and map sources

3.2
253 reviews
Mixed Reviews
Mixed Reviews
Hole-In-The-Wall Campground has mixed reviews, placing it in the bottom 85% of campgrounds based on reviews
Reviewers overwhelmingly love Hole-in-the-Wall Campground, describing it as beautiful, quiet, remote, and well maintained. Campers highlight the dramatic desert scenery, dark skies, and nearby hiking trails, and many say it’s one of their favorite campgrounds. Amenities are basic but appreciated, and visitors value the sense of isolation and space between sites.
Review Summaries
Based on 253 reviews

What Campers Love

Campers consistently praise the stunning desert views, starry night skies, and overall beauty of the Mojave Preserve setting. They like the quiet, remote feel with minimal people, spacious sites, and...
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Based on 253 reviews

Common Concerns

There are very few complaints in these reviews. One tent camper mentioned a neighboring RV running a generator and playing music late into the night, affecting the sense of quiet. Another noted that...
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Based on 253 reviews

Pro Tips & Recommendations

Several reviewers stress bringing plenty of supplies (gas, propane, wood, food, and water) because the campground is “crazy far from services.” RV users report that sites can accommodate larger rigs...
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Based on 253 reviews

Camper Quotes

"If you're looking for isolation and a good camping site, this is it. Nice space between sites, clean but desert dusty, and very open on weekdays." "Beautiful, remote campground with hiking trails....
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Based on 253 reviews

Site-Specific Reviews

One reviewer specifically mentioned tent camping at site #11 in February, describing it as a very beautiful camp and surrounding area but noting noise from a neighboring RV’s generator and music late...
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Based on 253 reviews

Pet-Friendly Features

One reviewer notes that the Rings Trail is fun and likely enjoyable for kids but "probably the least friendly to dogs" because it involves a bit of climbing, even though aids are provided to make it...
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Based on 253 reviews

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Last updated December 10, 2025
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