Mid Hills Campground

2.41

44 reviews

Quick Facts

5,600 ft

Price

Varies

Booking

Check Site

Sites

Varies

Season

Year-round

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Not Allowed

Opens Mojave National Preserve (National Park Service) site

Get Directions

Quick Facts

5,600 ft

Price

Varies

Booking

Check Site

Sites

Varies

Season

Year-round

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Not Allowed

Opens Mojave National Preserve (National Park Service) site

Get Directions

Mid Hills 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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Recreation Dot Gov

Provider

(760) 252-6100

What Campers Say

2.41

Mixed Reviews

Based on 44 reviews

24 Google reviews

Most mentioned

viewscleanshadesites

"Reviewers overwhelmingly love Mid Hills Campground for its seclusion, desert scenery, and spacious, quiet sites, with most ratings at 4–5 stars. Campers describe it as beautiful, open, and peaceful, though remote access, lack of water, and windy conditions are recurring challenges."

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Best Time to Camp at Mid Hills Campground

The campground's lofty elevation of 5,600 feet creates a dramatically different climate than the desert valleys below, offering a welcome respite from extreme heat. While the desert floor shimmers in triple-digit temperatures, Mid Hills remains noticeably cooler, making it an ideal retreat during warmer months. Visitors should check current conditions and seasonal accessibility before planning their trip, as specific opening and closing dates vary.

Spring (Mar-May)

Wildflowers bloom, mild temperatures, fewer crowds. Great for hiking and photography.

Best

Summer (Jun-Aug)

Peak season with warm days. Most facilities open. Reserve ahead.

Fall (Sep-Nov)

Beautiful fall colors, cooler temps, quieter campgrounds. Ideal for peaceful trips.

Winter (Dec-Feb)

Off-season, limited services. Check for closures before visiting.

Planning Tips

About Mid Hills Campground

Perched at 5,600 feet in the heart of Mojave National Preserve, Mid Hills Campground offers a refreshing escape from the scorching desert floor below. This remote sanctuary sits beneath a canopy of pinyon pine and juniper, where winding unpaved roads lead adventurous travelers to a cooler, quieter corner of the Mojave—though you'll need to bring your own water for this off-grid desert experience.

Campsites include tent areas and parking for 1–2 vehicles; the site is remote with minimal services and an unpaved, somewhat steep access road. No on-site water is provided.

Historical SignificanceThe landscape surrounding Mid Hills tells stories spanning 10,000 years of human connection to this remarkable desert. More recently, the area bears the marks of natural transformation—the 2005 Hackberry Fire swept through much of Mid Hills, reshaping the ecosystem, while the August 2020 fire near Teutonia Peak reminded visitors of the desert's dynamic nature. These events have become part of the preserve's ongoing story, creating a landscape of renewal and resilience that continues to evolve.

Weather and SeasonsThe campground's lofty elevation of 5,600 feet creates a dramatically different climate than the desert valleys below, offering a welcome respite from extreme heat. While the desert floor shimmers in triple-digit temperatures, Mid Hills remains noticeably cooler, making it an ideal retreat during warmer months. Visitors should check current conditions and seasonal accessibility before planning their trip, as specific opening and closing dates vary.

ElevationAt approximately 5,600 feet above sea level, Mid Hills Campground sits high enough to offer a distinctly different climate from the desert basins below. This elevation advantage translates to cooler days, comfortable nights, and a mountain-desert environment that feels worlds away from the classic low-desert experience.

Natural Features and SceneryMid Hills sits within one of North America's most diverse desert landscapes, where three great deserts—the Mojave, Great Basin, and Sonoran—converge in a spectacular mosaic of ecosystems. The preserve's 1.6 million acres showcase nature's artistry: ancient Joshua tree forests march across Cima Dome, while pinyon-juniper woodlands give way to unexpected pockets of white fir and chaparral. Cactus gardens flourish alongside life-giving seeps and springs, and the horizon reveals a dramatic tableau of cinder cones, lava flows, and wind-sculpted mesas that have stood sentinel for millennia.

Geological RegionThe Mojave National Preserve encompasses a geological wonderland where Earth's deep history rises to the surface. Ancient rocks in the Clark Mountains date back an astounding 2.5 billion years, while more recent volcanic activity left behind dramatic cinder cones, sweeping lava flows, and distinctive domes. Mountain ranges punctuate vast basins, dry riverbeds trace the paths of ancient waters, and sand dunes shift with the wind—all creating a landscape that reads like a textbook of geological time, written in stone, sand, and sky.

Campsite details

Sites SizeEach site includes 1–2 vehicle parking spots and a tent area.

Sites PrivacyAbout half of the campsites were left unburned and remain surrounded by pinyon pine and juniper trees; other sites are in more open areas due to the 2005 Hackberry Fire.

Total Campsitesnull campsites

Recommended CampsitesEach campsite contains 1–2 vehicle parking spots, a picnic table, a fire ring, and a tent area; vault toilets are located around the campground. Roads leading to the campground are unpaved and steep—not recommended for large motorhomes or trailers; high-clearance/4WD is required for some routes. Water is not available at the campground.

Best Campsites

Curated by campers, for campers

Reveal picks

Reserving a campsite

Tents

Tents are allowed

RV vehicles

RV vehicles are not allowed

Primitive

Primitive are not allowed

Reservable

Reservations are not allowed

Site layoutIndividual campsites include 1–2 vehicle parking spots, a picnic table, a fire ring, and a tent area. Vault toilets are available around the campground.

Amenities available

Fire rings

Picnic tables

Vault toilets

Activities you can enjoy

The preserve offers extensive opportunities for desert recreation including numerous hikes, historic route driving (4WD/high-clearance recommended), wildlife viewing, and seasonal wildflower viewing. Several named hikes and attractions are highlighted for visitors.

Hiking

Mojave National Preserve offers many hikes and popular trails/attractions are noted (examples in nearby areas include Kelso Dunes, Rings Loop — 1.5 miles, Barber Peak loop, Lava Tube, and Teutonia Peak). Some routes require high-clearance or 4WD vehicles.

Wildlife viewing

The preserve supports diverse plant and animal life across multiple desert habitats; Zzyzx is specifically noted as a great birding location due to its pond. Wildflower viewing across the preserve is also highlighted.

Campground rules

Pets are not allowed
Each site includes a fire ring. No specific fire restriction or permit information is provided in the source material.

Hazards

General hazardsUnpaved, somewhat steep access roads; sections not suitable for motorhomes or trailers. Some areas burned in past wildfires (Hackberry Fire 2005; Teutonia Peak area burned in August 2020). Remote roads and routes may require high-clearance/4WD. Mines are hazardous—do not enter. No potable water at the campground.

Weather at Mid Hills Campground

°F

Dec 11

Thursday

Clear sky

Precipitation: 0%

Humidity: 29%

Wind: 6.7 mph

Clear sky

Weather History

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Detailed 7-Day Forecast

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Good to know

Proximity to water featuresNo water available at the campground. The preserve contains seeps and springs elsewhere, but potable water is not provided at Mid Hills.

Campground Map

Mid Hills 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 16 miles and turn left at Wild Horse Canyon Rd. Continue for 2.5 miles to the campground. Roads leading to Mid Hills after Hole-in-the-Wall Information Center are unpaved and not recommended for motorhomes and trailers. 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 3 miles. Turn right onto Wild Horse Canyon Road for 2.5 miles.

Access via Interstate 40 (Essex Road) or Interstate 15 (via Kelbaker/Cima/Nipton routes) with the final roads to Mid Hills unpaved and somewhat steep. Roads after Hole-in-the-Wall Information Center are unpaved and not recommended for motorhomes and trailers; high-clearance/4WD is recommended for more remote routes.

Nearby places

Los Angeles

Barstow

Joshua Tree

Las Vegas

Death Valley (distances not provided)

Reviews from booking and map sources

2.4

44 reviews

Mixed Reviews

Mid Hills Campground has mixed reviews, placing it in the bottom 85% of campgrounds based on reviews

Reviewers overwhelmingly love Mid Hills Campground for its seclusion, desert scenery, and spacious, quiet sites, with most ratings at 4–5 stars. Campers describe it as beautiful, open, and peaceful, though remote access, lack of water, and windy conditions are recurring challenges.

Review Summaries

Based on 44 reviews

What Campers Love

Campers praise the spectacular desert and valley views, dark skies for stargazing, and the sense of solitude—many report having the campground largely to themselves. Sites are described as large,...

Based on 44 reviews

Common Concerns

The most common complaints are about the road in: multiple reviewers describe it as washboarded, bumpy, or sketchy for passenger cars, with one warning it’s not suitable without 4x4 and noting a...

Based on 44 reviews

Pro Tips & Recommendations

Reviewers strongly advise bringing all the water you’ll need, as there is no running water in camp; some note the nearest water is at Hole-in-the-Wall visitor center. They recommend driving in slowly...

Based on 44 reviews

Camper Quotes

"Beautiful camping in the middle of nowhere. Only bad thing is the water near our camp was not working." "Very very quiet and peacfull… Views of the sky were stellar… Very Clean bathrooms… Would...

Based on 44 reviews

Accessibility Features

Road access is a significant issue: several reviewers describe a poor washboard or bumpy dirt road, one calls it “sketchy for passenger cars,” and another reports a sign advising not to attempt the...

Based on 44 reviews