Campground

Mid Hills Campground

Mojave National Preserve, California

About this campground

Mojave preserves a diverse mosaic of ecological habitats and a 10,000 year history of human connection with the desert.

Each campsite contains 1-2 vehicle parking spots, picnic table, fire ring, and tent area.

Mid Hills requires 9 miles of driving on unpaved roads.

Map

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Latitude
35.123425° N
Longitude
115.433098° W
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Know before you arrive

Access, sites & campground features

Official facility and campsite inventory, supplemented by clearly marked community reports when the official listing does not publish the detail.

Connectivity

No community carrier report is currently published for this campground.

Community-reported service can change with terrain, weather, congestion, and carrier coverage.

Access

  • Drive-in

Site types

  • Tent sites
  • RV / trailer sites
  • Standard campsites

Features

For campers

  • Toilets
  • Picnic table
  • FiresSubject to current restrictions
  • Reservable

For vehicles

  • Pull-through sites
  • Parallel parking sitesCommunity report
  • Water hookupsCommunity report

Official campground guide

Plan with the full campground details

Facility information, site rules, booking windows, and published rates. Source snapshot checked Oct 18, 2026.

Open official source

Overview

Mojave preserves a diverse mosaic of ecological habitats and a 10,000 year history of human connection with the desert. Offering extensive opportunities to experience desert landscapes, the preserve promotes understanding and appreciation for the increasingly threatened resources of the Mojave Desert. This remote preserve encourages a sense of discovery and a connection to wild places.

The Hackberry Fire swept through the Mid Hills area in 2005, burning much of the vegetation. About half of campsites were left unburned and remain surrounded by pinyon pine and juniper trees. At 5,600 feet in elevation, Mid Hills is much cooler than the desert floor below. The access road is unpaved and somewhat steep and is therefore not recommended for large motor homes or trailers. Water is not available at this campground.

Facilities

Each campsite contains 1-2 vehicle parking spots, picnic table, fire ring, and tent area. Vault toilets are available around the campground. No water is available.

Recreation

There are over 1.6 million acres to explore. The popular main attractions are accessible by paved and unpaved roads and more remote areas of the park will require a high clearance, 4WD vehicle.

Check out the must see highlights: Mojave National Preserve Must See Highlights

Explore the preserve off the beaten path! Take your street legal vehicle along the historic Mojave Road or visit the multitude of canyons and mining roads. Be sure to have high clearance and 4WD. Do not enter mines. 4WD Routes

Mojave offers many hikes to choose! Hiking

Visit Zzyzx and learn about its history. It is also a great birding location due to its pond.

Natural Features

Three of the four major North American deserts are found at Mojave National Preserve: the Mojave, Great Basin, and Sonoran. Dozens of seeps and springs coupled with varied elevations and soil types create microhabitats that support a diversity of plant and animal life. Cactus gardens, relict plant communities of white fir and chaparral and the densest, largest Joshua tree forest are all found here.

Geologically, the region is just as diverse as it is ecologically. Mountain ranges, dry riverbeds, great mesas, towering sand dunes, striking cinders cones, domes and lava flows define Mojave. Ancient rocks that date back to 2.5 billion years old have been discovered in the Clark Mountains.

Set out to search for the blooms across the preserve: Wildflowers

Visit the world’s largest Joshua Tree forest around the Cima Dome area.

Nearby Attractions

Popular Hikes:

Kelso Dunes - Hike to the top of our most popular sand dune!

Rings Loop – 1.5 miles, Discover how Hole-in-the-Wall got its name as you ascend narrow Banshee Canyon with the help of metal rings mounted in the rock.

Barber Peak - This loop trail encircles Barber Peak just west of Hole-in-the-Wall Campground.

Lava Tube - Explore an underground wonder! High clearance vehicle recommended.

Teutonia Peak - A mixed Joshua tree forest and Joshua tree graveyard beckon en route to a rocky peak with expansive views of Cima Dome and beyond! This area burned in August 2020.

Activities & amenities

What Recreation.gov or the campground’s official source specifically lists.

Available activities

The official source does not publish a separate activity list.

Amenities and facility features

  • Toilets
  • No potable waterThe official facility record directs visitors to carry water
  • Picnic tables
  • Site fire ring or grateSubject to current restrictions
  • Fire Pit
  • Vault Toilets

Recreation sites

Published inventory grouped by site type. Individual sites can have stricter limits.

Standard Non-Electric

25 sites
Equipment
Car, Caravan/Camper Van, Pickup Camper, RV, Tent, Vehicle
Maximum people
8
Maximum vehicles
2
Maximum vehicle length
20 ft
Check-in
01:00 PM
Check-out
12:00 PM
Accessible sites
None flagged in site inventory

Management

1 site
Equipment
Car, Caravan/Camper Van, Pickup Camper, RV, Tent, Vehicle
Maximum people
8
Maximum vehicles
1
Maximum vehicle length
20 ft
Check-in
01:00 PM
Check-out
12:00 PM
Accessible sites
None flagged in site inventory

Site rules, inventory & rates

Facility rules, inventory procedures, and price seasons published by the official source.

Site rules

Allow Mid Stay Modification
1
Reservation cutoff
0 Not Reservable
Maximum published occupancy
8 people per site
Maximum published vehicles
2 vehicles per site
Check-in
01:00 PM
Check-out
12:00 PM
Food storage
The current official campground record does not publish a campground-specific food-storage rule. Check posted rules before leaving food, trash, toiletries, or scented items unattended.
Fire and stove use
Mid Hills Campground's official facility record states: Each campsite contains 1-2 vehicle parking spots, picnic table, fire ring, and tent area.
Pets
Mid Hills Campground's official facility record does not publish a campground-specific pet allowance; verify the current Mojave National Preserve pet boundary before arrival.

Inventory window

Recreation.gov publishes a rolling booking window. The dates below are the official snapshot captured for this catalog build.

Currently bookable through
Apr 18, 2027
Next release
Oct 19, 2026, 7:00 AM PDT
Next book-through date
Apr 19, 2027
Group sites bookable through
Oct 18, 2027

Published seasons & rates

SeasonSite typeNightly rateAdditional personDeposit
Peak SeasonJan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026Standard Non-Electric$20——
Peak SeasonJan 1, 2027 – Dec 31, 2027Standard Non-Electric$20——
Peak SeasonJan 1, 2028 – Dec 31, 2028Standard Non-Electric$20——

Important facility notices

Read these with current closure and fire notices before departure.

  • Mid Hills requires 9 miles of driving on unpaved roads. Use caution and drive slowly.
  • Maximum occupancy is 8 people. Parking is limited to 2 vehicles/trailers per site, a truck and trailer count as two vehicles.
  • Plan ahead: Gas and food are not available within the preserve.
  • There is no cell coverage at the campground. Please have your confirmation and site information available.
  • Generator hours are from 8am - 7pm. Quiet hours are from 9pm to 7am.
  • Wood gathering is prohibited within the park.
  • All pets must be always leashed (6 feet or less in length). Pets must not be left unattended.
  • Feeding wildlife is prohibited.
  • Free public Wi-Fi is available 24/7 at the Hole-in-the-Wall Information Center.

Getting there & contact

Official directions

From Los Angeles, Barstow, and Joshua Tree via Interstate 40: Exit Essex Road and drive north for 10 miles and turn right at the junction to Black Canyon Road. Continue for 16 miles and turn left at Wild Horse Canyon Rd. Continue for 2.5 miles to the campground. Roads leading to Mid Hills after Hole-in-the-Wall Information Center are unpaved and not recommended for motorhomes and trailers.  From Death Valley and Las Vegas via Interstate 15: From the Kelbaker Road, Cima Road, or Nipton Road entrances, make your way to Kelso-Cima Road and turn east onto Cedar Canyon Road. Continue onto Cedar Canyon Road for 6 miles and turn right onto Black Canyon Road for 3 miles. Turn right onto Wild Horse Canyon Road for 2.5 miles.

Sources

Recreation.gov — Mid Hills CampgroundRecreation.gov — Mid Hills Campground — dog policyRecreation.gov — Mid Hills CampgroundMid Hills Campground official facility detailsRecreation.gov — Mid Hills Campground — campground rulesThe Dyrt community reports — Mid Hills Campground — Mojave National PreserveRecreation.gov campground details APIRecreation.gov published seasons and ratesRecreation.gov booking-window release dataRecreation.gov recreation-site inventory