I-40 and California

• Barstow
• Essex
• Needles

Barstow

If you didn’t fill your fuel tank in Victorville (last of the decent prices), you better do it in Barstow. There will be few chances before you get to Needles (about 141 miles) and you certainly will not like the prices – even in Needles.

Visitors' Center - From I-15 take exit 181. Turn north (toward downtown) on Barstow Road to Fredericks Street. Turn left and it is on your left at 409 East Fredericks Street.
  For more information phone 1-888-422-7786 (toll free) or visit their web site: BarstowCoC.

Route 66 Museum - US-66, America's Main Street, became so famous because of the heavy, early 20th Century westward migration to California, that it has become part of the folklore in the West. You can encounter many 'Route 66 Museums' along I-40; this may well be the newest (at the moment) having opened Independence Day of 2003.
  So far there is not a lot to see here but, considering the enthusiasm of many in the Barstow community, we expect the inventory to grow rapidly in both quantity and quality. Admission is FREE but they would sure appreciate donations. "This history must be preserved."
  For more information, phone the Visitors' Center at 1-888-422-7786 (toll free) or visit their web site: Route66Museum.
  Located in the restored (combination) railroad depot, hotel and tavern (Harvey House) on the north side of Barstow near the tracks on N. 1st Street.

Western American Railroad Museum - This Railroad Museum houses railroad memorabilia from not only the Barstow area, but from the entire West as well. Old locomotives, photos and archives are on display. Outside the building are two cabooses open for tours.
  For more information phone 1-760-525-5800 or see their web page: RailroadMuseum.

Mojave River Valley Museum - A well established museum dedicated to preserving the story of the early settles in the Mojave River Valley. A wide assortment of artifact is on display both inside and outside the building.
   Admission is FREE. For more information phone 1-760-256-5452.
   From I-15 take exit 181. Head toward downtown Barstow to Virginia Way (2 blocks from the Interstate on the north side). Turn left and the museum is at 270 East Virginia Way.

» RV Parks in Barstow «

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Essex

Providence Mountains State Park - Located in the Mohave National Preserve just north of I-40, the area is known for its many limestone caverns. Most prominent is the Mitchell Caverns. Tours take about 80 minutes, are 1.5 miles of walking and are available daily during the 'winter' season - Labor Day through Memorial Day - and weekends only during the summers. A very few camp site are available (first come first served).
  For more information phone 1-760-326-2586.
  From I-40 take exit 100 ('Essex') and head north on Essex Road. About 1.3 miles from I-40 there is a split. Take the left hand road and continue northbound on Essex Road to its end in the State Park.

There are no RV Parks in this immediate area.

You are crossing the famous Mojave Desert. Also, along the Interstate, you will occasionally see the residue of volcanic eruptions of past millennia. If this looks like unfriendly terrain to you, now, imagine what it was like to cross these desert valleys in the summer on horseback – or on foot when something happened to your horse.

Needles

About 8 miles west of Needles is the intersection of US-95 north, which runs by Searchlight NV and the Lake Mead Recreation Area on its way to Las Vegas and points north. Needles, with its access to the Colorado River water, is a man-made oasis. Unless you have to stop, though, we recommend you continue to Kingman AZ.

Visitors' Center - From I-40 take exit 142 and turn toward downtown (you want to be on the opposite side of the Interstate from the Denny's Restaurant. Drive up 'J' Street past Jack-in-the-Box to the end of the street at Front Street (at the tracks). Turn right on Front Street and the Needles Chamber of Commerce is 4 blocks ahead just around the corner on 'O' Street.
NeedlesCoC.

Needles Regional Museum - On display is a wide assortment of artifacts some dating back to the Spanish colonial days.
  Open Monday through Saturday but closed the entire month of August.
  For more information phone 1-760-326-5678. 
  From the Visitors' Center just walk a little over 100 feet down Front Street (that's the street which is next to the tracks) and the museum is in a store front next to the thrift shop.

contributed by Bob Masters

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