Overview
California City is a town of 14,000 people in Antelope Valley, southern California.
3 sights · 1 things to do · 2 places to eat · 1 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about California City
Desert Tortoise Research Natural Area
Twenty Mule Team Parkway
From the road, you can see the numerous dirt tracks from the original construction, where houses were never built. It continues for several miles, so don't turn around until you've gone quite a long way.
Central Park
The centerpiece of California City. There is also a lake in the park.
Tierra Del Sol Golf Course
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Apr–Oct. Summer highs reach about 87°F; winter lows dip to about 30°F. Wettest: Jan and Mar. (climate data from nearby Tehachapi)
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.
- BFL Meadows Field, Bakersfield — 64 mi away. Directions
- BUR Hollywood Burbank/Bob Hope Airport, Burbank — 67 mi away (major hub). Directions
California City Boulevard connects Route 14 to the city, so if you're on State Route 14, come off at the California City Boulevard turn-off.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 1-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Twenty Mule Team Parkway, Desert Tortoise Research Natural Area
- Lunch Tokyo Tuna Restaurant
- Afternoon Tierra Del Sol Golf Course, Central Park
- Dinner Coyote Cafe
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
Location
California City is in the Mojave Desert north of Los Angeles.
History
California City was a master-planned city in the desert. More than 200 square miles of the desert were covered by roads for a city intended to rival Los Angeles. However, people did not move into the area in large numbers until the 21st century. The city is now slowly growing in population.
Get in
By car
California City Boulevard connects Route 14 to the city, so if you're on State Route 14, come off at the California City Boulevard turn-off.
Get around
Although the populated part of the town is compact, getting to the still-uninhabited outer regions of the town requires a car.
See
See Twenty Mule Team Parkway
From the road, you can see the numerous dirt tracks from the original construction, where houses were never built. It continues for several miles, so don't turn around until you've gone quite a long way.
Do
Buy
The Aspen Mall, the main shopping mall in town, has several restaurants and a grocery store.
Eat and drink
Sleep
Most of the hotels in the California City area are in Mojave.
Stay California City Best Western
Go next
- Death Valley – low-lying desert region to north of California City, with some of the hottest-ever temperatures ever recorded
- Barstow – town in the Mojave Desert
- Lancaster – town similar to California City, but closer to Los Angeles
- Bakersfield – large city in the Central Valley to the west
Nearby
Mojave
City / town · 12 listings · 13 mi away
Rosamond
City / town · 9 listings · 21 mi away
Tehachapi
City / town · 9 listings · 26 mi away
Lancaster
City / town · 27 listings · 31 mi away
Keene
City / town · 2 listings · 33 mi away
Inyokern
City / town · 1 listings · 37 mi away
Palmdale
City / town · 59 listings · 38 mi away
Ridgecrest
City / town · 24 listings · 39 mi away
My experience
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