Barstow, CA 92311
Park headquarters in Barstow, California is 60 miles from the Preserve, and offers maps, a bookstore and information. Our main visitor center, Kelso Depot, is located inside the Preserve, 95 miles north of Barstow, and 90 miles south of Las Vegas, at the intersection of Kelso-Cima and Kelbaker Roads.
Mojave Desert experiences change with the seasons. In winter, freezing temperatures and strong winds can be expected, with rain and snow in the mountains. With enough moisture, spring wildflowers may carpet the desert floor with vivid colors. Summers are hot, and temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit are typical. In summer, adventurers head for the higher elevations such as Mid-Hills and the New York Mountains. The cooler temperatures of fall mark hunting season.
Entrance Fees:
Mojave Entrance Fee - $0.00
Mojave National Preserve does not charge a fee to enter the park
Entrance Passes:
Mojave Park Pass - $0.00
Mojave does not charge a fee to enter the park
Originally opened in 1924 as a train station, Kelso Depot was renovated and reopened in 2005 as the Visitor Center for Mojave National Preserve. Former dormitory rooms contain exhibits describing the cultural and natural history of the surrounding desert. The baggage room, ticket office and two dormitory rooms have been furnished to illustrate life as it was in the depot during the first half of the twentieth century. A 20-minute orientation film is shown in the theater.