Mojave National Preserve
If you're looking for a holiday destination that provides peace and solitude, the Mojave National Preserve is the place for you. Nearly half of the preserve (nearly 700,000 acres) is designated wilderness, which means there is no development or human habitation in those areas. The preserve is remarkably undeveloped and visitors often comment how they feel like they have the place to themselves.
Other than the two developed campgrounds, one of which is RV rental friendly, the only tourist facility provided is the visitor centre off Interstate 15. There are other campervan rental friendly campgrounds in surrounding areas but not on the actual preserve itself. The rest of the preserve will remain in its original condition, which means no entrance booths, no new hotels, no gift shops to spoil the desert ambience. The wilderness areas themselves are off limits to cars and bikes so the only tracks you will find will be of the animal variety, including your fellow tourists, their horses, wild bighorn sheep, mule deer, coyote, desert tortoises or rattlesnakes.
Climate
The temperate in these desert areas can be extreme and there are very limited sources of water. Campgrounds do their best to provide drinkable, potable water however these supplies are not guaranteed and visitors are asked to bring their own supply where possible. Hikers are advised to allow for at least a gallon per person per day. Fortunately for RV rental holiday makers our vehicles contain all the creature comforts that will ensure your holiday is as comfortable and enjoyable as it can be.
Although the weather can be quite hot it is strongly advisable to wear protection against the sun and wind. Even though it is hot during the day the night time temperates can be quite cool, especially at the higher elevations. Packing adequate clothing for your visit will ensure you enjoy the time you spend here.
Campgrounds
The two developed campgrounds, at Hole-in-the-Wall and Mid Hills, do not require reservations in advance. Because Mid Hills is located at the end of a dirt road it is not recommended for campervan rental vehicles. Despite this, both campgrounds provide facilities that visitors have come to expect from a developed campground such as pit toilets, potable water and trash bins. Each camp site has its own picnic table and a fire ring. Visitors are strictly forbidden to collect firewood or other material. Open fires are only permitted in the campgrounds if you bring your own firewood. The water supply in the area is dependent on the season and visitors are asked to use only what they need. Visitors are advised to bring their own water supply where possible and their own containers for transporting water.
Attractions
The Mojave National Preserve brings together the three vast regions of the Mojave, Sonoran and Great Basin deserts. The preserve contains a variety of interesting geological features including seven different mountain ranges, volcanic cinder cones at Cima, and sand dunes at Kelso. There are many amazing scenic views throughout the preserve which you can easily reach in one of our RV rentals by following the paved roads.
History buffs will find the Piute Range in the south east corner of the preserve particularly interesting. Because it contains the preserves only year round source of water there are numerous archeological remains in the area.
The area can be explored by car or campervan rental through the network of roads that cross the 1.6 million acres of the preserve. The major roads are paved however most are unpaved and lead to old settlements, water wells and mines, with many of them having being abandoned long ago. The three major paved roads can all be found along 1-15; the Kelbaker, Cima and Morning Star Mine roads converge at Cima, and from here a good quality road runs south to Kelso and then on to 1-40 at Amboy.
This route travels past many of the major highlights of the preserve with the journey from 1-15 making a spectacular drive taking roughly 2 hours. It is also part of the shortest route from Las Vegas to Palm Springs. Along the way there are a number of maintained hiking trails.
