Wagon Wheel Staging Area sits in open Mojave Desert terrain southeast of Ridgecrest, where the landscape flattens into a wide expanse of rock outcroppings, sandy washes, and desert scrub. The area is managed by the Bureau of Land Management and functions as a dispersed camping zone with no assigned sites. Campers simply pull in and spread out across the flat ground, choosing their own spot among the boulders.
The layout is more spacious than it might appear from the road. Even with ten or more groups present, the area absorbs them without much noise or crowding. Brandon C. called it "a nice and clean campsite," and multiple reviewers note that trash and broken glass do appear in some corners, so picking your spot with a quick scan is worthwhile. After dark, light pollution is minimal, and the open sky makes stargazing a consistent draw. Sunrises and sunsets over the surrounding desert draw repeated mention from campers who stayed multiple nights.
Wildlife shows up here. Reviewers have spotted chuckwalla lizards on the rocks, ravens nesting in the one shaded tree on site, and at least one sidewinder rattlesnake passing through camp. Boots are worth wearing, and keeping dogs and kids within sight is standard advice from those who have camped here. The area is also an OHV staging area, which means dirt bikes and off-road vehicles are active on weekend mornings, though riders generally stop before dark.
Facilities are minimal: two or three vault toilets and nothing else. This is dry camping. Bring all water, food, and fuel. Cell coverage varies by carrier and location within the site, with AT&T getting up to three bars in some spots and T-Mobile working across the road on higher ground. Some sites deeper in the sandy washes require four-wheel drive, but plenty of two-wheel-drive vehicles, including large rigs up to 80 feet, access the main area without trouble. Summer temperatures can reach 113°F, making spring and fall the more manageable seasons. Nearby alternatives include BLM Dispersed off Trona Road near Spangler and Spangler Hills BLM Dispersed — Teagle Wash for campers wanting to compare options in this stretch of desert.
As Sara S. put it, "sunrises and sunsets were also pretty dope." If a no-frills night under a dark desert sky sounds right, this one is worth the stop.
RV Road Trip Guides
Map & DirectionsWagon Wheel Staging Area is located in California near Ridgecrest
Coordinates
35.57210742 N
117.55070581 W
Connectivity
T-MobileLTESome CoverageVerified by 2 usersLast on 8/3/26- VerizonLTESome CoverageVerified by 1 userLast on 2/23/26
AT&TNo CoverageVerified by 1 userLast on 12/11/25
Connectivity
- T-MobileLTESome CoverageVerified by 2 usersLast on 8/3/26
- VerizonLTESome CoverageVerified by 1 userLast on 2/23/26
- AT&TNo CoverageVerified by 1 userLast on 12/11/25
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
Site Types
- Dispersed
Features
For Campers
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Pets
- Fires
For Vehicles
- Pull-Through Sites
- Big Rig Friendly
DISPERSED CAMPING
Enjoy dispersed camping on government land and leave no trace. Pack in and pack out. No (or limited) services at this camping area. Permit may be required.
PERMIT might be REQUIRED
We curate permit requirements across the US for our PRO members. Try PRO to see if Wagon Wheel Staging Area needs a permit.
Drive Time
- 1 hr 40 min from Bakersfield, CA
- 2 hrs 8 min from Los Angeles, CA
- 2 hrs 43 min from Visalia, CA
- 2 hrs 51 min from Hanford, CA
