Mojave Desert camping sites near Newberry Springs sit at elevations between 1,800 and 2,000 feet, creating significant temperature variations between seasons. Winter temperatures often drop below freezing at night, while summer days frequently exceed 100°F. The area features a mix of established campgrounds with hookups and primitive dispersed camping options, with several locations providing access to unexpected water features despite the desert setting.
What to do
Explore hot springs trails: Deep Creek Hot Springs Camp Retreat offers direct access to natural hot springs via a challenging hiking trail. "The hike to the hot springs was fairly tough, but we found it easily with the trail starting right on the property," notes one visitor. The therapeutic value of alternating between hot springs and cold creek waters makes the trek worthwhile.
Visit Calico Ghost Town: Located just three miles from Barstow-Calico KOA, this preserved mining town provides a popular day trip. "Just up the road too is the Calico western ghost town," mentions one camper who appreciated the proximity to this historical attraction while staying at the KOA.
Try desert archery: Several campgrounds feature dedicated archery ranges as an unexpected desert activity. "They have Archery, a pool, and a store," reports one visitor to South Fork Family Campground, while another notes that Barstow-Calico KOA offers "horseshoes...archery range...etc."
What campers like
Desert water features: Despite the arid landscape, several glamping sites near Newberry Springs feature surprising aquatic amenities. "Nice litle jam with 2 lakes and pool," writes one visitor about Newberry Mountain RV Park. Another adds, "The best part for me was the pool which was clean and cool."
Privacy between sites: Campgrounds have adapted to desert conditions with strategic plantings. "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," notes a visitor about the landscaping at Barstow-Calico KOA. Another camper at Mojave River Forks Regional Park appreciated that "the campsites in the area where we were, were spacious and spread out."
Desert night skies: The clear desert atmosphere provides exceptional stargazing conditions. "Weather is around 75 during the day and about 50 to 36 degrees cold through out the night," reports one camper at Mojave River Forks Regional Park, highlighting the dramatic temperature drops that create ideal night sky viewing conditions.
What you should know
Highway noise considerations: Several campgrounds sit near major highways. "Unfortunately it is extremely close to I-15 and the traffic on 15 never stops. It made for a rough night's sleep," cautions one visitor about Keller Peak Yellow Post Campsites. Another camper at South Fork Family Campground noted "the proximity to the highway as you could hear cars coming up and down the mountain at all times of the day."
Limited cell service: Connectivity varies significantly between desert camping locations. "T-Mobile signal was poor and Verizon and AT&T cell signals were slightly better," reports a camper at Mojave River Forks Regional Park. Another visitor noted "No cell service at campsite with Verizon" at South Fork Family Campground.
Desert access roads: Some sites require navigation of unpaved routes. "You will have to drive 6 miles of mountainous dirt roads to reach the property," warns a visitor to Deep Creek Hot Springs Camp Retreat, though they noted "it takes you away from all signs of the city and surrounds you in nature when you get there."
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly amenities: Look for campgrounds with dedicated play areas. "Kids loved the pool, playground, gate room with pool, foosball, ping pong and more. They had a few other new friends to play with and a huge space out back to start a pick up wiffle ball game," shares one family that stayed at Lighthouse Trailer Resort & Marina.
Safe playground considerations: Evaluate playground safety and location when choosing glamping sites near Newberry Springs with children. Some playgrounds may require maintenance or have concerning locations, as one visitor noted about facilities at a local campground.
Easy biking options: Several campgrounds offer bike-friendly environments. "Bike path right across the street. There are bike and kayak rentals if you didn't bring your toys," mentions a visitor to Lighthouse Trailer Resort & Marina. Another adds, "Little family owned RV spot—some long termers. Everyone super nice. Big spot, shade of trees, walk down to lake. Full hookup. 7 minutes to big bear lake town. Hiking trails out front gate."
Tips from RVers
Site positioning: RV site layout varies significantly between desert campgrounds. "We had to disconnect and park on the side of this gravel site," notes one RVer at Serrano. Another visitor at Newberry Mountain RV Park explained, "Our space was on the end so we had a lot of privacy but near the I-40."
Hookup variations: Check specific hookup configurations before arrival. "The gravel pads are a bit different than most KOAs and don't create that fine white dust, which is a plus. The full hookups worked well but there is no Wi-Fi," reports one RVer. Another camper noted the unusual positioning of utilities: "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)."
Weather considerations: Prepare for extreme temperature fluctuations. "Our sewer outlet was frozen in the morning, so we had to dump when we got out of the mountains," shares an RVer who stayed at Serrano during cold weather. Summer visitors face opposite challenges, with one noting, "I got there so the pool felt really good" when temperatures reached 120°F.
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