Best Campgrounds near Cima, CA

Bumpy road to get in, but definitely worth it.  Sites are spacious and well spaced out.  I was there in March and it was uncrowded with plenty of vacancies.  Some of the spots on the outside of loop have amazing views over the surrounding mountains.  Highly recommend.

This out-of-the-way campground is wonderful.  Sites are spacious and well spaced out.  I was there in March and it was uncrowded with plenty of vacancies.  Look for a spot on the outside of the loop - some of them have amazing views out over the adjacent hills.  I highly recommend this campground.

This is dispersed desert camping at its best. The dirt road was easy to find but a bit narrow and rough in places. We squeezed a 24’ travel trailer down behind a 3/4 ton truck but it was worth it. Your rig will brush against bushes and at one point we used walkie-talkies to spot the route. I backed about 50 yards into the site itself because I was too long to maneuver in the site (this was figured out the hard way). Car, van, or tent camping here would be a breeze but only bring a trailer if you’re willing to risk it, or it’s an off-road set up. Some sites could accommodate pretty large groups and others are very small and private, nestled in the giant boulders.

Probably one of my favorite spots of all time! A very beautiful area with the opportunity for good camping. There are several dispersed sites--some closer to the boulders than others. Some sites more private than others. Some more accessible than others. I think I liked this spot so much because I snagged one of the only private sites. Don't plan on having cell service--it's pretty much non-existent in this area.

This area is one of my Go-To spots when visiting the Mojave National Preserve. We stayed at a couple sites over the course of a few days. Our sites were clean, the location was quiet, we felt safe, and the cell reception was spotty.

A little windy at night when we went but it was a very beautiful spot. No shade really so keep that in mind for summer months.

Everything slopes to the south. We had one other camper join us that evening. This is a great spot.

Nous avons dormis ici hier soir, nous étions seuls. L’endroit est magnifique!!!

This campground lies within the most populous state in our union, but feels like it’s a million miles from nowhere. The only thing that might remind you of civilization is the distant glow of interstate trucks moving along the highway which cuts through the Mojave National Preserve some 30 miles distant. 

Situated on a high vantage point the sites offer options to observe the vastness of this desert plain. The sites are mostly small with only a few offering room for larger rigs but lots of space in between sites. The campground loop road is dirt and narrow, so maybe scout ahead if you need more clearance for turns. 

The picnic table, tent pad, and fire ring are cool, and the vault toilets are super clean, at least when we were there. Fresh water is available at the Visitor’s Center just down the road. 

You can hike, road bike or mountain bike right out of the campsite. In fact, one of the coolest hikes we’ve been on is the famous “hole in the wall” which makes you twist through these beautiful marble canyon walls. While it’s not for the faint of heart, it is easy enough for anyone who can climb a ladder. Other, less committing hikes are all around, including some longer distance trails. 

Access to the campground and visitor’s center is easy and paved, but north of the campground the road is 4 wheel drive access only. This makes it great for mountain or cyclocross bikes, with fewer cars and traffic. Driving through the park can be an adventure in and of itself -- defnitely go see the Joshua Tree forest and the lava caves on the north side of the preserve.  

There’s not much nearby at all so come prepared to be self-sufficient. The nearest towns with restaurants are to the east or west along the interstate.

This campground lies within the most populous state in our union, but feels like it’s a million miles from nowhere. The only thing that might remind you of civilization is the distant glow of interstate trucks moving along the highway which cuts through the Mojave National Preserve some 30 miles distant. 

Situated on a high vantage point the sites offer options to observe the vastness of this desert plain. The sites are mostly small with only a few offering room for larger rigs but lots of space in between sites. The campground loop road is dirt and narrow, so maybe scout ahead if you need more clearance for turns. The picnic table, tent pad, and fire ring are cool, and the vault toilets are super clean, at least when we were there. 

Fresh water is available at the Visitor’s Center just down the road. You can hike, road bike or mountain bike right out of the campsite. In fact, one of the coolest hikes we’ve been on is the famous “hole in the wall” which makes you twist through these beautiful marble canyon walls. While it’s not for the faint of heart, it is easy enough for anyone who can climb a ladder. Other, less committing hikes are all around, including some longer distance trails. 

Access to the campground and visitor’s center is easy and paved, but north of the campground the road is 4 wheel drive access only. This makes it great for mountain or cyclocross bikes, with fewer cars and traffic. Driving through the park can be an adventure in and of itself. There’s not much nearby at all so come prepared to be self-sufficient. The nearest towns with restaurants are to the east or west along the interstate.

I camped down the road from the designated camping grounds. The road is sandy, rocky, and hilly with rivets and ruts. I made it in an AWD Subaru, but be careful. I scraped the undercarriage in one spot of the road and worried about getting stuck in sand in several other spots. I chose a spot that looked previously used. It was spotlessly clean and even had a fire pit and wood left by generous previous campers. (I didn’t use the wood; maybe you will?) Took a mostly easy hike to the ridge of the dunes. Aside from the desert gnats, it was bug-free with decent temps.

Stayed here two nights, nicely spread out sites, with a variety of types. Walk in, drive in, pull through etc. Nice area away from traffic and noise. NPS staff a nearby visitor friendly. we did a few nearby hikes. Was a bit windy and rained a bit, but that’s what happens in April.

Stayed here a couple nights to rest on our travels and it was nice. It was getting pretty hot already during March but was safe and no litter.

There are a few options available depending on how far you're willing to push your vehicle into sandy terrain. If you don't turn into the most obvious site by the boulders right away, then you'll get to a four way intersection each way leading to different options.

Regardless of where you are, I find that I was able to hear the cars from the road. It's not bad but something to consider.

Pit toilets are available and maintained. Mossies have fire rings as this seems to be a decommissioned campground. Very spotty cell connection. Great views of the dunes.

This is one of my favorite campgrounds.  It's easy to get to and is in the middle of the beautiful Mojave Preserve.  All camp sites now must be reserved on Recreation.Gov.  Luckily, we had enough bars on Verizon to do it on the spot when we arrived.  We found plenty of sites available that were large enough for our 30 foot travel trailer.  The campground was only about a quarter full.

Although the campground is dry camping, there is a dump site and water is available to top off your tank.  They also provide trash receptacles.  

The nearby visitor center closes at 1500, and there is no store or fuel in Mojave.  Most people drive to Baker, CA for fuel, or over to AZ, about an hour away.  I would come next time with a fuller tank of fuel.

Long bumpy road to get to (20 min of driving ruts).

No ATT service (with booster) otherwise would have stayed.

I love this campground. The scenery is gorgeous and there are several interesting hiking trails. The campsites are spread out. A great place to enjoy the desert, especially in the winter.