Desert Driving Safety

Mojave is a beautiful place to go for a ride, but ensure you're prepared for what the desert has to offer (views included).

NPS / K. Lewandowski

Traveling into the preserve isn't to be taken lightly. Travel here often requires specialized vehicles, equipment, and planning to avoid or recover from a mishap. Improper planning could result in getting stuck and paying a very expensive third-party towing company. The fact that you are reading this means you are the right track as you prepare for a safe visit!

Desert Driving Pro-Tips

Required knowledge for a successful desert adventure.

🦺 You're #1

You are responsible for your own safety. 

• 24-hour Emergency or Missing Persons [phone] (Intergency Dispatch) 
• Non-emergency use [phone] during business hours.

Staying with your car is the most important thing you can do in the event of an emergency. While not often, people have died from exposure trying to walk back to the paved roads.

🚙 Your Vehicle is #2

Appropriate vehicles and equipment in good working order with adequate supplies are critical. 

• Roads are narrow, sandy, rocky, and winding. No commericial vehicles are allowed along preserve roads. 
• Travelers need to be prepared for their trip and understand their skills and the conditions.
• Unpaved roads vary in difficulty. Not all vehicles are right for travel for off-pavement travel in the preserve.

🛰️ Don't Get Turned Around! GPS Navigation Apps Don't Always Work Here

Do not rely solely on automated mapping and driver assisted applications, they often lead you astray in and around the preserve. Bring an old-timey paper map or atlas for backup and to teach the crew the ways of the ranger. Check for updated road conditions from the National Park Service. 🗺️ Don't rely on your phone for in the preserve for navigation where coverage is spotty at best, except for pictures at scenic locales!

🚧 Closures and Barricades

The desert's rugged nature, large size, and remote locations make assessing, designing, and repairing roads a constant challenge for park maintenance crews. Roads are closed by the superintendent for public safety or to preserve the character of the road bed.

Please do not move barricades or bypass signed or coned-off closures. Park rangers are patrolling closed roads, turning back travelers, and issuing citations.

⛽ Fill'er Up! No Gas Stations

Enjoy a stress free vacation by not worrying about running out of gasoline. Gas is not sold in Mojave National Preserve. In addition, there are no gas stations where Kelbaker Road meets Interstate 40.

Visitors to the north side of the preserve can fill up in Barstow, Baker, Cima, Primm, Jean, Henderson, or Las Vegas. 

Visitors coming from the south should fill up near 29 Palms, Amboy, or take a detour on Interstate 40 to the nearest gas stations in Fenner or Ludlow. Needles (east) or Barstow (west) are farther but also have gasoline. The preserve is filled with long inclines and mountains that will drain your tank, so it's best to come with a full tank if you want to explore without running on E. 

😋 The Hunger is Real

There are no food or beverages sold in the preserve. The nearest restaurants and grocery stores are often a half day's drive away. Come prepared with all of your necessary snacks and meals! 

For more information, see Restaurants - Mojave National Preserve (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)

🚰 Water is Life

Potable water can be found at the following locations:

• Kelso Depot bathhouse

• Hole in the Wall Visitor Center

• Hole in the Wall Campground

Outside of those locations, there are no other public water facilities in the preserve. 

🐢 Drive Like a Tortoise

Slow your roll. Motorists must observe posted speed limits.

Keep an eye out. Watch for tortoises crossing the road, especially during rainy weather. Tortoises are attracted to puddles that form on roadways during rainstorms.

Always look under your car before driving away. Tortoises enjoy resting in the shade of parked cars.

Keep vehicles on established roads only. Vehicles will crush tortoise burrows, killing the tortoises and eggs within.

Be a tortoise crossing guard! Never pick up a tortoise unless it is immediate danger. From a distance where the animal's behavior remains unchanged, watch to ensure the tortoise makes it across the road safely. Take a GPS from your phone and email your sighting to [e-mail]. Every tortoise is important as they are threatened. The NPS is currently monitoring desert tortoises and relies on sightings from the field to help protect this cool animal.



 

NPS / K. Lewandowski

Recommended Safety Equipment

A high clearance 4x4 with tires designed for off-pavement use is the most important safety item you need.

✔️ Return plan filed with friend or relative.
✔️ Shovel to smooth off cut banks or dig out of sand
✔️ Jack to lift vehicle with a base that can be set up on rocky or sandy ground
✔️ All-terrain spare tire
✔️ A second spare tire
✔️ Extra food, water, and any needed medications to last several days
✔️ Hot/cold weather clothing
✔️ Headlamp or flashlight
✔️ Satellite phone or satellite messenger

Appropriate vehicles and equipment in good working order and adequate supplies are critical. Roads are narrow, sandy, and winding. Travelers need to be prepared for their trip. Unpaved roads vary in difficulty. Not all vehicles are right for travel for off-pavement travel in the preserve.

Most rescues involve vehicles stuck in the sand. Other rescue reasons include flats where rocks ripped up tires only rated for street use. Additional reasons include vehicles getting stuck in mud or high-centered on uneven road beds, or vehicles suffering some kind of mechanical breakdown

Rental 4WDs

Rental 4x4 trucks and SUVs often come with street tires not designed for off-pavement use. Just because the vehicle is a 4x4 doesn't mean it has the right tires for places like off-pavement use. Check the sidewall to see if it says "All-Terrain."