Mid Hills Campground — Mojave National Preserve
Mid Hills sits at the geographic and spiritual heart of Mojave National Preserve, tucked into a pinyon pine and juniper forest that feels nothing like the creosote flats below. Twenty-six sites spread across the ridge give you room to breathe, and the elevation means cooler temps and genuine stargazing. Fire rings and vault toilets on-site. Rangers patrol regularly. It fills on holiday weekends — arrive by Thursday if you’re rolling in for a long one.
Access via Black Canyon Road from I-40 or Essex Road — the last stretch is maintained dirt, passable by high-clearance 2WD in dry conditions but gets sketchy after rain. No water on-site, so top off at Hole-in-the-Wall Visitor Contact Station or carry what you need. Perfect staging camp for running the Mojave Road east sections into Piute Gorge and Lanfair Valley.
High desert pinyon camp in the Preserve's core.
Place Details
| Type | Established Campground |
|---|---|
| Elevation (ft) | 5600 ft |
| Nearest town | Needles, CA |
| Miles from pavement | 8.5 mi |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 2WD |
| Access road surface | Dirt |
| Cell service | None |
| Capacity (# of rigs) | 26 rigs |
| Cost (USD/night, 0 = free) | $12.00 / night |
| Reservation required | No |
| Stay limit (nights) | 14 nights |
| Best season | March-November |
| Land manager | NPS |
| Permit required | No |
| Amenities | Fire ring, Picnic table, Shade, Toilets, Trash service |
| Coordinates | Open directions |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |