Overview
Barstow is a city of 24,000 people (2018) in the southern desert of the state of California. The city's location at the junction of Interstate 15 and Interstate 40 in the middle of a barren desert, as well as its position on the old Route 66, make it a frequent pit stop for travelers passing through on their way to more exotic destinations.
3 sights · 2 things to do · 5 places to eat · 6 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Barstow
Rainbow Basin Natural Area
Rainbow Basin is a natural basin that features fantastic and beautiful shapes in its rock formations. The road is one-way narrow dirt road is best driven with a high clearance or four-wheel drive vehicles.
Main Street Murals
A series of 16 murals depicting the history of Barstow are painted on the sides of buildings along Main Street. All of the murals have jackrabbit painted into them, some obvious, some require searching.
Mojave River Valley Museum
Presents the history of the Mojave River Valley from the arrival of Father Garces in 1776 through the space program.
Barstow Harvey House
The "Casa Del Desierto" is one of the hotels built by Fred Harvey during the effort to build his vision of "3,000 Miles of Hospitality" along the Santa Fe Railways. No longer in operation as a hotel, the Harvey House hou…
Skyline Drive-In Theater
As one of the last drive-ins in San Bernardino County, this is a chance to experience the classical drive-in cinema under the dark desert sky, while seeing the newest blockbusters. It frequently has packed nights on new …
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Feb–May, Oct–Nov. Summer highs reach about 102°F; winter lows dip to about 35°F. Very hot (Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: Feb and Jan.
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- SBD San Bernardino International Airport, San Bernardino — 54 mi away (major hub). Directions
- ONT Ontario International Airport, Ontario — 64 mi away (major hub). Directions
Barstow does not have commercial airline service. The closest commercial airport is LA/Ontario International Airport (ONT) about a 1-hour 14 minute (77 mi) drive south of Barstow on Interstate 15, passing through Victorville, Cajon Pass, and Rancho Cucamonga en route. The next nearest commercial airport is Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport about 2 hour 15 minutes (153 mi) drive, northeast, on Interstate 15.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
- Places to stay listed here: about $35–$65 a night (typical $45), from 5 listed prices.
- Typical meal: about $12 per person at listed restaurants.
- Estimated daily budget per person (room, two meals, local transport and an activity): budget ~$70, mid-range ~$100, comfortable ~$190.
See the Sleep guide ↓ for places to stay.
Sample 1-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Mojave River Valley Museum, Barstow Harvey House, Skyline Drive-In Theater
- Lunch Jenny's Grill Steak & Mariscos
- Afternoon Rainbow Basin Natural Area, Main Street Murals
- Dinner Lola's Kitchen
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
Climate
Barstow is in the desert.
History
Barstow has always been a transportation hub, dating back to the days of the Mojave Road. By the late 19th century, the Santa Fe Railroad came to town, which was named for Santa Fe executive William Barstow Strong. By the 1920s, Route 66, Route 91 and Route 466 intersected in the town.
Municipal information
City of Barstow website
Get in
By plane
Barstow does not have commercial airline service. The closest commercial airport is LA/Ontario International Airport (ONT) about a 1-hour 14 minute (77 mi) drive south of Barstow on Interstate 15, passing through Victorville, Cajon Pass, and Rancho Cucamonga en route. The next nearest commercial airport is Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport about 2 hour 15 minutes (153 mi) drive, northeast, on Interstate 15.
By car
- & , both major cross-country highways, intersect in Barstow. I-15 (Mojave Freeway) comes from San Diego in Southern California to the south and to Las Vegas in the north. I-40 (Blue Star Memorial/Needles Freeway) comes from Northern Arizona and the Grand Canyon ends at its junction with I-15 in Barstow (exit 184A from NB lanes of I-15 only) while WB traffic on I-40 merges into I-15 SB only. Travelers going between Las Vegas (I-15) and northern Arizona (I-40) would have to get onto Main St (exit 184 from I-15 or exit 1 from I-40) as there are no direct onramps from I-40 WB to I-15NB or from I-15SB to I-40EB.
- Bakersfield-Barstow Hwy (exit 179 of I-15) connects I-15/40 in Barstow to CA-99/I-5 in Bakersfield. Travelers going towards I-5 can get off CA-58 at Bear Mountain Springs and continue west on CA-223 to exit 239 of I-5, to bypass local traffic in Bakersfield. This route serves as a northern bypass of the Los Angeles metropolitan area for travelers coming from Northern California and the San Joaquin Valley in the north & west, and going to Las Vegas, Northern Arizona or the Inland Empire in the east (and vice-versa).
- & The Historic Route 66 goes alongside I-15 & 40 as County Road (CR) 66, through town as Main St and becomes National Trails Highway west of town.
- S Barstow Rd (exit 183 of I-15) winds its way south towards CA-62 in the Yucca Valley (via Lucerne Valley), at the northwestern edge of the Joshua Tree National Park. It is another way to go towards Joshua Tree and Palm Springs without going through the busier San Bernardino. Going north, it goes into downtown as Barstow Rd. and ends at its intersection with E Main St (CR-66).
By train
By bus
The on 1611 E Main St is a mini-mall (Baja Taco, Dunkin Doughnuts, McDonald's, Panda Express, Subway, etc.) built in a historic train station that serves as a de-facto bus station for:
*
Go Greyhound
Greyhound travels primarily on Interstate 15 (San Bernardino, Barstow, Las Vegas). Other variations of this route go towards downtown Los Angeles along the 210 without going into San Bernardino or continue south towards San Diego from San Bernardino. They have an additional stop in Claremont.
*
*
* Other buses traveling between Southern California and Las Vegas tend to take a break here to allow passengers to buy something to eat, buy souvenirs, use the restrooms, and/or smoke.
The following are local public transportation routed through Barstow in other parts town:
Go B-V Link (Rt #15)
Bus service between Barstow, Victorville and San Bernardino in the Inland Empire.
Get around
By foot
The downtown area of Barstow is small enough to easily get around by walking.
By car
Main Street, L Street, Rimrock Road, and Montera Road encircle Barstow, while Barstow Road bisects the city.
Barstow is a small town with no traffic problems.
By bus
See
See Barstow Harvey House
The "Casa Del Desierto" is one of the hotels built by Fred Harvey during the effort to build his vision of "3,000 Miles of Hospitality" along the Santa Fe Railways. No longer in operation as a hotel, the Harvey House houses the Barstow Route 66 Museum, the Western America Railroad Museum, the Barstow Chamber of Commerce and the Barstow Visitor's Bureau.
Do
Do Skyline Drive-In Theater
As one of the last drive-ins in San Bernardino County, this is a chance to experience the classical drive-in cinema under the dark desert sky, while seeing the newest blockbusters. It frequently has packed nights on new movie openings and even has a small (but fully functional diner) attached to the projector house. Bring your own car (obviously). If you wonder why you are not hearing any sound, it is broadcast on FM that you can tune into using your car or a personal stereo. The entry kiosk and diner staff can help you to find the frequencies for each screen. There are two separate screens each showing two new movies per night, allowing visitors to watch two movies for one price (with "theater hopping" allowed between pictures if you don't like the one you picked.)
Buy
Eat
Eat Jenny's Grill Steak & Mariscos
A family-run Mexican restaurant with Sonoran, Continental, and Seafood entrees. Good food, and reasonable prices with dinner entrees starting around $6.
Eat McDonald's Barstow Station
If not the largest McDonald's in the world, it is certainly the most unique. Barstow Station is a McDonald's with an ice cream shop, candy store, gas station and the home of several radio stations that broadcast to travelers crossing the Mojave Desert. The most unique aspect of Barstow Station is the eating area. You can dine in old train cars and enjoy the view of travelers passing through this town. There is also a stand inside that sells homemade fudge.
Eat Lola's Kitchen
Excellent Mexican food in the Von's shopping center. Cash only.
Eat Del Taco (Del Taco #1)
Opened in 1964, this is one of the first Del Tacos (the chain started in Barstow) and has an extensive menu, serving otherwise long discontinued offerings. A special menu available only at the Barstow restaurants offers a selection of items with increased quantity at a discounted price.
Eat DiNapoli's Firehouse
DiNapoli's Firehouse is a dark yet warmly lit and arranged Italian restaurant with Fire Department of New York memorabilia and New York crooners during their heyday lining the walls. Meals cover the gamut of Italian cooking and pasta/baked lunch and dinner variety.
Sleep
Stay Stardust Inn
Go next
Place Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex
Guided tours of the 53-square-mile (137-km²) complex housing the massive antennas that NASA uses to communicate with its deep space missions to the planets. All tours must be scheduled in advance. Note that the tour requires entry to the Fort Irwin Army Base so ID is required and vehicles may be searched.
- Mojave - 70 miles west of Barstow on Highway 58, Mojave is a hotbed of aerospace activity, with the Mojave Spaceport the headquarters of Scaled Composites, the first private company to launch a human into space. Edwards Air Force base, a landing site for the space shuttle and a center for the development of experimental aircraft, is next to the town.
- Baker - About 60 miles to the northeast of Barstow on I-15, Baker is the only significant town on the interstate in the remote desert stretch between Barstow and the Nevada border. It offers food, fuel and lodging, is home to the world's tallest thermometer, and is the starting point for those journeying north to Death Valley.
Nearby
Apple Valley
City / town · 3 listings · 26 mi away
Victorville
City / town · 10 listings · 27 mi away
Adelanto
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Hesperia
City / town · 2 listings · 35 mi away
Lake Arrowhead
City / town · 9 listings · 43 mi away
Big Bear Lake
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Ludlow
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San Bernardino
City / town · 26 listings · 53 mi away
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