Overview
Mojave is a city of 4,200 people (2010) in Kern County in the Desert region of California. Mojave has a rich aerospace history because of nearby Edwards Air Force Base, Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, and Palmdale Regional Airport.
6 sights · 2 places to eat · 3 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Mojave
Mojave Spaceport
The huge airstrip at Mojave is used by research companies for test flights, and is most famous as the home of Burt Rutan's company Scaled Composites which in 2004 became the first private company to put a human into spac…
Edwards Air Force Base
NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center
Known as the Dryden Flight Research Center until the name was changed in 2014, this center has played an important role in the history of flight. Before NASA, NACA ("National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics") operated…
Air Force Rocket Research Laboratory
Home to the test rockets, they test rockets to research the rockets.
Retired aircraft
There are a lot of military aircraft, such as Balls 8, a B-52 Stratofortress, on display near the gate. Take a lot of pictures of these planes statues when you are driving or walking in Edwards AFB.
Rogers Dry Lake
Dry most of the year, the hard surface of the lakebed provides an extension for runways at Edwards, and is home to approximately 16 runways. Many notable aeronautic achievements have taken place here
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.
- BUR Hollywood Burbank/Bob Hope Airport, Burbank — 57 mi away (major hub). Directions
- BFL Meadows Field, Bakersfield — 57 mi away. Directions
California State Route 14 passes on the west side of Mojave, providing access to Mojave from the Antelope Valley to the south and US Highway 395 to the north. California State Route 58 loops around Mojave to the east and north, providing access from Bakersfield to the west and Barstow to the east. More distant cities include Los Angeles (95 miles south on SR-14), Las Vegas (225 miles east on SR-58), San Francisco (345 miles west on SR-58), and Reno (375 miles north on SR-14).
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Edwards Air Force Base, NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center
- Lunch Voyager Restaurant
- Afternoon Retired aircraft, Rogers Dry Lake
- Dinner Anthony's Grill
Day 2
- Morning Mojave Spaceport
- Afternoon Air Force Rocket Research Laboratory
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.
Get in
By car
California State Route 14 passes on the west side of Mojave, providing access to Mojave from the Antelope Valley to the south and US Highway 395 to the north. California State Route 58 loops around Mojave to the east and north, providing access from Bakersfield to the west and Barstow to the east. More distant cities include Los Angeles (95 miles south on SR-14), Las Vegas (225 miles east on SR-58), San Francisco (345 miles west on SR-58), and Reno (375 miles north on SR-14).
By taxi
Mojave has no local taxicab service, however of you are willing to pay a $25-50 minimum fare, you can call for taxicab service from:
California City Yellow Cab (California City), +1 760-338-3494.
By plane
Get around
The town center section of Mojave is relatively small, and easily navigable by bicycle or foot. Automobile traffic is the most common, as sidewalks and bike lanes are not as common as in the average town. Also, several people use golf carts, 4-wheelers, and off-road motorbikes, as the nearby desert is an off-road motor sports haven.
See
See Mojave Spaceport
The huge airstrip at Mojave is used by research companies for test flights, and is most famous as the home of Burt Rutan's company Scaled Composites which in 2004 became the first private company to put a human into space. In addition the airlines park many older planes here, either because the planes are not required for service or because the plane has reached its end-of-life. In any case, seeing dozens of huge airplanes parked next to futuristic flight vehicles makes this airstrip in the desert a worthwhile stop. The airport flightline is open to the public, and many aircraft are typically on display during the monthly "Plane Crazy Saturday" event, held on the 3rd Saturday of each month, and sponsored by the Mojave Transportation Museum. A tram tour of the flightline is often available during the event. Admission to the flightline, display aircraft, and featured event speakers is free.
Edwards Air Force Base
Edwards AFB is a massive testing and training ground for the Air Force and NASA southeast of Mojave. There is a museum on the base and tours are available. See the website for details. Note that this is an active military base so ID will be required and visitors may be required to submit to a search.
Edwards AFB is best known for being similar to Area 51, but test and experimental aircraft will come out of the hangar to experiment. From 1876 there was an unsettled water stop at this point, for the Southern Pacific Railroad. The air base was built in 1933 and opened for use in 1948, for the military and NACA; and in 1958, NACA became NASA. Ever since, Edwards is a NASA base as well. The Space Shuttles that didn't land on the Shuttle Landing Facility at Kennedy Space Center in Florida did it on Edwards AFB's dry lakebed runways.
That is the only civilian gateway to enter Edwards. So, if you are driving from Rosamond, or driving on the Antelope Valley Freeway from Los Angeles, Mojave, or Palmdale, you shall take exit 55, and if from Palmdale, take a right, and if from Mojave, take a left. And leave Rosamond, and never take any turn and enter the base by a gate, and continue to enter the base. This is called the West Gate, If you are on Route 58, take Exit 186, then get on the road, and you will enter via the North Gate. South Gate is Lancaster but it is closed.
See NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center (Dryden Flight Research Center)
Known as the Dryden Flight Research Center until the name was changed in 2014, this center has played an important role in the history of flight. Before NASA, NACA ("National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics") operated and tested the transsonic Douglas Skyrocket. The center also conducted the Controlled Impact Demonstration in 1984, a test in which a Boeing 720 aircraft was remotely piloted and intentionally crashed in order to study fuel additives meant to reduce fires in the case of a crash. Other experiments have included "aerospike" engines and supersonic rockets. Five lunar landing research vehicles were tested at the base, one of which is available for viewing.
See Air Force Rocket Research Laboratory
Home to the test rockets, they test rockets to research the rockets.
See Retired aircraft
There are a lot of military aircraft, such as Balls 8, a B-52 Stratofortress, on display near the gate. Take a lot of pictures of these planes statues when you are driving or walking in Edwards AFB.
See Rogers Dry Lake
Dry most of the year, the hard surface of the lakebed provides an extension for runways at Edwards, and is home to approximately 16 runways. Many notable aeronautic achievements have taken place here
Eat
Eat Voyager Restaurant
Located on the flight line of the Mojave Air and Space Port, this restaurant provides a diner-like atmosphere, with many visitors famous to the Aerospace industry. One of the more expensive restaurants in Mojave, but excellent food. Free wi-fi and views of the runway.
Eat Anthony's Grill
Great Mexican food, cooked fresh to order. Specials everyday.
Sleep
Go next
- Tehachapi - Located to the west on Highway 58, Tehachapi is home to a massive wind farm.
- Ridgecrest - 60 miles north of Mojave via Highway 14, Ridgecrest is a desert town that is adjacent to China Lake Naval Weapons Station. Many visitors pass through this area on the way to Death Valley or sites further north along the Eastern Sierra.
- Barstow - 70 miles east of Mojave on Highway 58, Barstow is located on the former Route 66 and offers visitors several historic and natural attractions ranging from the 200,000 year old Calico early man site to the Western America Railroad museum.
- Rosamond - Located south of Mojave on Highway 14, Rosamond is primarily a bedroom community in the desert of the Antelope Valley, although it does have food and lodging options for tourists, and is home to a non-profit center dedicated to feline protection where visitors can see cats ranging in size from the tiny fishing cat up to the Siberian tiger.
Nearby
Rosamond
City / town · 9 listings · 10 mi away
California City
City / town · 7 listings · 13 mi away
Tehachapi
City / town · 9 listings · 17 mi away
Lancaster
City / town · 27 listings · 23 mi away
Keene
City / town · 2 listings · 26 mi away
Palmdale
City / town · 59 listings · 30 mi away
The Grapevine
City / town · 9 listings · 43 mi away
Castaic
City / town · 3 listings · 44 mi away
My experience
Write about your trip here. Notes save automatically in this browser as you type; back them up from My journal.