Cabins near Helendale, California range from primitive structures to fully-equipped accommodations within an hour's drive of town. The high desert region sits at approximately 2,430 feet elevation with temperature extremes ranging from below freezing in winter to over 100°F in summer. Most cabin rentals require advance booking, particularly for weekend stays between March and October when mild temperatures draw visitors to the Mojave Desert area.
What to do
Hiking trails access: Crystal Lake Recreation Area offers several well-maintained hiking trails with mountain vistas. "There are several hiking trails here that are well used and well maintained. This is a great campground near the city," notes a visitor to Crystal Lake.
Ghost town exploration: Campers at Calico Ghost Town Regional Park gain free admission to the historic mining site. "You can't beat having a campsite AND you can enter the ghost town either by foot or drive to the ghost town's parking lot. Your camping fees include all that. Very cute little town and lots to see," reports a camper.
Hot springs soaking: Deep Creek Hot Springs Camp Retreat provides direct trail access to natural hot springs. "The deep creek hot springs were absolutely fabulous, as they were situated next to a cold creek where we could do therapeutic hot cold plunges. The hike to the hot springs was fairly tough, but we found it easily with the trail starting right on the property!"
OHV recreation: Many cabin accommodations near Helendale allow off-highway vehicle access to nearby trails. The terrain supports various skill levels with routes for beginners and more experienced riders.
What campers like
Canyon views: Sites at Calico Ghost Town Regional Park offer unique desert canyon scenery. "Most of the campground is tucked into a narrow sort of canyon just below the Ghost Town. Sites are tightly packed and simple but the proximity to the ghost town, nearby OHV trails, and the ability to walk up out of the canyon for views make this a great spot."
Quiet desert nights: Mojave River Forks Regional Park provides a peaceful overnight experience. "We had a great overnight stay at this park. Two other campers were there, and we had no interactions other than waving. We arrived after hours, and the gate code was included in the reservation information."
Swimming opportunities: Barstow-Calico KOA cabins provide pool access during hot months. "The kids loved the pool and other kids to play with. Great game room with pool, foosball, air hockey etc. big playground and easy campground to bike around."
Proximity to natural features: Many cabin options allow easy access to creeks and natural features. "You're literally a box throw away from the creek if you're not really big on hiking but enjoy the scenery," noted a visitor at Bonita Ranch Campground.
What you should know
Temperature fluctuations: Desert cabin rentals experience extreme temperature swings between day and night. "I was here one October where the weather was above 100F during the day. The sites have absolutely no shade or cover," reported one camper at Calico Ghost Town.
Reservation requirements: Mojave River Forks Regional Park uses a gate code system for after-hours arrivals. "We arrived after hours, and the gate code was included in the reservation information. We will be adding this park back for future stays."
Bathroom facilities: Most cabin areas provide communal bathrooms of varying quality. "Bathrooms are older, but clean and ok. The spots itself are mostly pull through and with gravel," noted a visitor to Barstow-Calico KOA.
Road conditions: Some cabin locations require navigation on unpaved roads. "You will have to drive 6 miles of mountainous dirt roads to reach the property, but it takes you away from all signs of the city and surrounds you in nature when you get there," explains a camper at Deep Creek Hot Springs Camp Retreat.
Tips for camping with families
Game facilities: Barstow-Calico KOA cabins offer recreation options beyond the standard campsite. "Don't let the desert and muted landscape discourage you. The staff was super nice, the store and gift shop well stocked, kids loved the pool, playground, gate room with pool, foosball, ping pong and more."
Mining history lessons: Mining attractions provide educational opportunities for children. "This place has cool little mining caves and a cool train for kids to ride on. Somethings are locked down due to covid but this place isn't shy of family fun," reported a visitor to Calico Ghost Town.
Tent-friendly cabins: Some cabins accommodate additional tents for larger family groups. "We ended up choosing to spend more of our time at Owl Canyon (BLM campground nearby) because it was much more secluded, had better views, and offered shade," wrote a camper about expanding beyond their cabin space.
Weather preparation: Pack for temperature extremes when booking cabins with children. "Weather is around 75 during the day and about 50 to 36 degrees cold throughout the night. Has everything you'll need," explained a camper at Mojave River Forks Regional Park.
Tips from RVers
Site selection: Crystal Lake Recreation Area offers varying site qualities. "We came on a Saturday afternoon, and even though 4 of the sections of camping were closed off - we found an AMAZING space in section D. It wasn't right next to the bathrooms, but the site was spaced out enough that we had plenty of privacy."
Hookup options: Rental cabins often provide similar hookup access as RV sites. "There are primitive sites, only electric sites as well as full hook up sites. Section A came with the full hookup, I saw mainly large class A RVs parking there, probably came for a longer time."
Noise considerations: Highway proximity affects some cabin locations. "Unfortunately it is extremely close to I-15 and the traffic on 15 never stops. It made for a rough night's sleep. We'll find somewhere else to stay next time," warned an RVer about certain sites at Barstow-Calico KOA.
Winter stays: Bonita Ranch Campground provides year-round cabin options. "A little gem hiding out in Lytle Creek! Easy access to a pretty trail right behind the campground. Very quiet and interspersed with long time stayers and temporary campers. Beautiful scenery and we even got a dusting of snow!"
