Overview
Ludlow is an unincorporated community along historic Route 66 in the Mojave Desert region of Southern California. Nearby is Pisgah Crater and the Lavic Lake volcanic view.
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 Ludlow
Bagdad ghost town
Siberia ghost town
Pisgah Crater and Lavic Lake volcanic view
Views of the lava field, lava tubes to explore.
Klondike ghost town
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Feb–Apr, Oct–Nov. Summer highs reach about 110°F; winter lows dip to about 34°F. Very hot (May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: Feb and Jan. (climate data from nearby Baker)
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.
- PSP Palm Springs International Airport, Palm Springs — 67 mi away (major hub). Directions
- SBD San Bernardino International Airport, San Bernardino — 76 mi away (major hub). Directions
Most travelers will arrive by car, either along Interstate 40 or along what was once Route 66 (now San Bernardino County Route 66, also known as National Old Trails Highway). Route 66 west-bound parallels I-40 to New Berrysprings; Route 66 east-bound bends south and away from I-40.
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 Klondike ghost town, Bagdad ghost town
- Lunch Ludlow Cafe
- Afternoon Siberia ghost town, Pisgah Crater and Lavic Lake volcanic view
- Dinner Dairy Queen
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Dining in Ludlow is limited. The nearest next options would be west in Barstow.
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
With a population of 10 persons in 2000, Ludlow is a ghost town of two eras: first from the railroad, then from the Interstate highway system.
Today there are a few traveler-oriented services, like many rural Interstate stops-along-the-way – gas stations, restaurants and a motel.
For most tourists this is a waypoint along Interstate 40 or a turn onto historic Route 66. Route 66 branches off from I-40 onto (now) San Bernadino County Route 66, proceeds east through several ghost towns including Amboy, and after 70 mi connects back up with Interstate 40 near Needles.
History
The settlement dates from the 1870s. The town was founded in 1882 as a water stop for the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad. Ore was found in the nearby hills, leading to the town's boom. Several railway lines catered to the several mining industries of the immediate area and further afield, carrying bulk cargo to the long distance lines of the (then) Santa Fe Railway – gold and other ores in the nearby hills and further south, to borax from Death Valley and Beatty, Nevada from the north.
By the 1940s the mining and railway activity had ceased, and the town survived suppling the needs of travelers on the National Old Trails Road, later renamed and numbered to become the legendary Route 66.
Interstate 40, completed in 1973, didn't bypass Ludlow but paralleled Route 66 to the west. However, even with an exit for historic Route 66 most businesses and residents departed.
The original portion of Ludlow lies along the railroad, just south of the current stand of buildings. The BNSF railway carries cargo and Amtrak's Southwest Chief roll right on by.
Get in
Most travelers will arrive by car, either along Interstate 40 or along what was once Route 66 (now San Bernardino County Route 66, also known as National Old Trails Highway). Route 66 west-bound parallels I-40 to New Berrysprings; Route 66 east-bound bends south and away from I-40.
Gas stations are available on both sides of the I-40 exits.
See
The old railroad-era town is south of the existing buildings, along the railroad tracks. A few buildings are still partially standing.
Nearby
East, along Route 66 — For railroad enthusiasts, explore other ghost towns along the BNSF railway and Route 66, southeast towards Amboy. These towns provided services to area mining operations, or were water stops or sidings along the way. Now, even most of the foundations have disappeared.
Between Klondike and Siberia there is a steep grade where the railway line splits, with one route a steeper, more direct, and the second more gradual but snake-curved climb.
See Bagdad ghost town
See Klondike ghost town
See Siberia ghost town
West, accessible along Route 66 — The Lavic Lake volcanic view is a 39 mi2 lava plain with four cinder cone-type volcanos. The Pisgah Crater is the most accessible and most prominent in the field with a height of 330 ft (100 m) aboue the field.
Lava tubes can be dangerous, so take caution. Take water with you. And drink it! Black volcanic rock radiates heat during the afternoon, making temperatures unbearable. Hiking in open desert mid-day, the hottest time, is dangerous in summer. One quart (one liter) of water per person per hour (or more) may be needed for survival; as soon as you've used 40% of your potable water, turn back lest you run dry during the return trip.
Eat
Dining in Ludlow is limited. The nearest next options would be west in Barstow.
Sleep
Other than the one motel in town, nearest next options would be west in Barstow.
Stay Ludlow Motel
Go next
- Amboy Crater National Natural Landmark, east on Route 66 — a popular tourst attraction since the Route 66 days; at 6,000 years old, the cinder cone volcano is one of the youngest volcanic fields in the US.
- Mojave National Preserve, northeast — Sand dunes, mountain ranges, and mesas with three types of deserts: the Mojave, Great Basin, and Sonoran.
Nearby
Amboy
City / town · 2 listings · 27 mi away
Baker
City / town · 7 listings · 36 mi away
Twentynine Palms
City / town · 18 listings · 43 mi away
Mojave National Preserve
Park · 17 listings · 43 mi away
Joshua Tree
City / town · 12 listings · 43 mi away
Yucca Valley
City / town · 8 listings · 45 mi away
Barstow
City / town · 29 listings · 50 mi away
Big Bear Lake
City / town · 29 listings · 55 mi away
My experience
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