Hole-in-the-Wall Campground — Mojave National Preserve

Hole-in-the-Wall sits at roughly 4,500 feet in the heart of Mojave National Preserve, surrounded by chunky rhyolite formations that give the place its name. Twenty-five sites with fire grates, picnic tables, and pit toilets make this the most legit overnight stop between Needles and Barstow. Water is available on-site — a rarity out here. Sites fill fast on holiday weekends from October through April; shoulder-season weekdays you’ll likely have neighbors but not a crowd. No hookups, no showers, just high desert silence and a sky full of stars.

Access off Black Canyon Road is straightforward paved and maintained dirt — high-clearance recommended but not strictly required in dry conditions. The camp is a natural anchor for anyone running the Mojave Road east-to-west: it sits just north of the Government Holes area and connects to the Rings Loop and Mid Hills via the Wild Horse Canyon Road. Cell service is essentially nonexistent. Fire restrictions vary by season — check with the Needles Field Office before you light anything.

Volcanic ring-dike camp in the Preserve's heart.