Dispersed camping near Newberry Springs offers free sites at Ord Mountain where fires are allowed without services or facilities. The surrounding desert landscape reaches temperatures exceeding 100°F in summer months, with minimal rainfall throughout the year. Access to most camping areas requires traveling unpaved roads that vary in condition depending on recent weather patterns.
What to do
Explore historic sites: Calico Ghost Town Regional Park camping includes admission to explore the preserved silver mining town. "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," notes D T.
Hike canyon trails: Owl Canyon Campground offers access to unique geological features with colored rock formations. "The hikes through the colored rocks are so pretty. It can get pretty windy and trash just gets blown all over so part of our daily activities when we stay here is walking around with our trash pickers and picking up trash that's blown into the washes," explains Laura M.
Wildlife viewing: Afton Canyon provides opportunities to observe desert wildlife near the Mojave River. "There is a lot of wildlife and the geology seems neat. There are pit toilets, no showers, some shade structures which are newish. It's a good pretty campsite not far from I-15 and close to other areas of Mojave Natl Preserve," shares Brian K.
What campers like
Desert oasis experience: Newberry Mountain RV Park features two small lakes and a swimming pool that create relief from the desert heat. "Nice little jam with 2 lakes and pool," mentions Ioan P. Another camper adds, "We stayed here for four nights and actually enjoyed it in spite of the heat during the afternoon hours. The lakes here give it a nice feel since it's in the Mojave desert."
Shaded camping spots: Despite desert conditions, some campgrounds offer shade protection. "It is shady with large trees. Opened in 1948, same as the office trailer! Very quiet... very low train noise! If you know Barstow, you know the trains never stop!" explains Kenny W. about Shady Lane RV Camp.
Affordable camping options: Afton Canyon Campground provides budget-friendly camping with basic amenities. "Afton Canyon Campground is one of the hidden gems for spring and fall camping in the Mojave desert. The campground is located 4 miles from I-15 down a dirt road. The dirt road is easily accessed with any type of car. The campground is a first come first service basis and cost $6 a night," describes Berton M.
What you should know
Extreme temperatures: Desert conditions require preparation for heat. "I was here one October where the weather was above 100F during the day. The sites have absolutely no shade or cover, and are just lined up in a row next to each other with no privacy," reports Hannah O. about Calico Ghost Town.
Wind conditions: High winds can impact camping experiences, particularly for tent campers. "I agree with others warning about the rough road to the campground. Winds blew down my tent and I had to sleep in my car. Left next morning," shares Dave B. about his experience at Afton Canyon.
Road access considerations: Mountain Shadow Hideaway and other dispersed sites require careful navigation. Many access roads in the area are unpaved and can be challenging after rain or for larger vehicles. When visiting Ord Mountain, one reviewer noted they "made it down the dirt road fine in our 26 ft class c. Proceed at your own comfort level, but it seems like a road that would be ok for any rig (maybe not a class A?) if you go slow and watch for dips and bumps."
Tips for camping with families
Swimming options: Barstow-Calico KOA provides family amenities including a pool and play areas. "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. BIG area out back to ride around in and play baseball," reports Jennifer H.
Educational opportunities: Ghost town visits offer learning experiences. "I had always wanted to visit a ghost town so when this came up in our travel path, we had to stop for a night. The next morning, we wandered into the Ghost Town for some entertainment. We took pictures of the bottle house, mercantile, and many other buildings. There was a shooting show going on that was really cool and the boys enjoyed ice cream on a hot day," shares Christy C.
Pack extra water: For pet friendly camping near Newberry Springs, California, water access is limited at most sites. When camping with children and pets, bring additional water supplies since most dispersed areas have no potable water sources.
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: Calico Ghost Town Regional Park offers various utility options. "There are 253 different 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. I took a space in camp B with only electricity, which is enough for me and my Class B," explains SmallRVLifestyle V.
Site selection strategy: When staying near Newberry Springs with pets, consider wind direction and noise factors. "We were only here one night but we had a nice stay. We left the windows open since it was great evening weather. The freeway noise was there but it didn't keep us up. We had full hookups and check-in was easy. Our near-end site was great for our dogs since no one was booked at the end so we had plenty of space," notes Christina H.
Seasonal planning: Fall through spring offers better camping conditions for RV camping with pets. "Free admission to Ghost Town with camping reservation. Good fall to spring. Way too hot in summer. No shade. Dusty but that's expected in an OHV Campground," advises Aaron S.
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