Cabin camping near Hinkley, California offers access to the Mojave Desert's distinctive landscape at elevations ranging from 2,000 to 3,500 feet. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 100°F from June through September, while winter nights can drop below freezing. The area's low annual rainfall of less than 5 inches creates ideal conditions for stargazing during overnight stays.
What to do
Explore ghost town history: At Calico Ghost Town Regional Park, visitors can tour historic mining caves and ride the narrow-gauge railroad. "Super cool ghost town, and really family friendly! This place has cool little mining caves and a cool train for kids to ride on," notes one camper who appreciated the historical attractions.
Hike nearby trails: North Shore Campground provides access to walking paths with minimal elevation gain, suitable for casual hikers. "There is a lovely hiking trail at the far end of the site. It is a short walk to Lake Arrowhead," according to a visitor who enjoyed exploring the area on foot.
Stargaze after dark: The minimal light pollution around Mojave River Forks Regional Park creates excellent conditions for night sky viewing. "Weather is around 75 during the day and about 50 to 36 degrees cold throughout the night," mentions a camper, highlighting the clear evening conditions ideal for stargazing.
What campers like
Hot springs access: Deep Creek Hot Springs Camp Retreat offers natural thermal pools on-site. "The spring pools at our site were so relaxing to have all to ourselves and well worth it to reserve for our party! 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," reports a visitor who enjoyed the unique water features.
Off-highway vehicle trails: The desert terrain near Calico Ghost Town supports OHV recreation. "Good fall to spring. Way to hot in summer. Dusty but that's expected in an OHV Campground," notes one reviewer about the dedicated off-road vehicle areas.
Affordable accommodations: Cabin options at various campgrounds offer cost-effective alternatives to hotels. "We stayed here with family who had an RV. At the time, we didn't so we rented one of the cabins," explains a visitor who found the cabin rental met their basic needs.
What you should know
Limited shade coverage: Barstow-Calico KOA and other area campgrounds have minimal natural shade. "The park itself is basically a gravel lot but they have done some nice work with trees and shrubs to make it seem less so," explains one visitor who noted the landscaping efforts despite the desert conditions.
Highway noise: Some campgrounds sit near major transportation routes. "Unfortunately it is extremely close to I-15 and the traffic on 15 never stops. It made for a rough night's sleep," reports a camper who found the road noise disruptive.
Seasonal considerations: Summer heat makes spring and fall the preferred seasons for cabin stays. "We loved visiting calico ghost town! It was fabulous, but the two nights at the campground were rough," writes a visitor who found the daytime temperatures challenging.
Tips for camping with families
Pool access: Mountain Lakes Resort offers swimming facilities suitable for children of various ages. "They have an adult center and an adult pool there's tons of things for kids to do as well as the kid pool and they have a really awesome water park," notes a member who appreciated the water recreation options.
Playground safety: Some play areas require parental supervision due to maintenance concerns. "The playground is 100ft from the Interstate 15. Some parts are dangerous to play, especially the swing. That needs absolutely immediate maintenance," warns a parent who visited Barstow-Calico KOA.
Game room activities: Indoor recreation spaces provide entertainment when outdoor temperatures become uncomfortable. "Great game room with pool, foosball, air hockey etc. big playground and easy campground to bike around," mentions a family who found these amenities valuable during their stay.
Tips from RVers
Site dimensions: Mojave River Forks Regional Park offers separated camping areas for different vehicle types. "The campsites in the area where we were, were spacious and spread out. We liked very much not being on top of one another and appreciated how vast this campground is," notes an RV camper who enjoyed the layout.
Utility placement: Some hookup configurations require additional equipment. "We had a spot in the front with a patio and everything. It was very nice except for the sewer drain being at the front end of the site (I had to put an extension on my poop pipe)," explains an RVer who needed to adapt to the site layout at Barstow-Calico KOA.
Road conditions: Access to certain cabin camping areas requires navigating unpaved routes. "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," advises a visitor to Deep Creek Hot Springs Camp Retreat.
