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Barstow, California: Where Fun Meets the Desert – The Best Places to Visit and Things to Do!

Barstow was named after William Barstow Strong, president of the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway, and the town has been about moving through ever since. The rail yard is still working. Route 66 still runs through the middle. Interstate 15 puts the town halfway between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, which is why most people arrive by accident. The museums, the desert and the ghost town are the reasons to stay longer than the fuel stop.

Barstow, California sits in the desert halfway between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, which makes it a standard pit stop for anyone driving between them. It is more than a place to fill the tank. There is enough here to justify staying.

History readers, people who eat well and outdoor enthusiasts are all covered in Barstow. The Route 66 Mother Road Museum and the Barstow Harvey House, a historic railroad depot now a museum and restaurant, both hold the city’s past. For eating, Idle Spurs Steakhouse and Peggy Sue’s 50s Diner are the local names. The Mojave Desert covers the rest.

Pack the bags and drive to Barstow. The road is most of the point.

Key Takeaways

• Barstow, California is a must-visit destination for road trippers and travelers alike.
• History buffs can explore the city’s past at the Route 66 Mother Road Museum and the Barstow Harvey House.
• Foodies will love local favorites like Idle Spurs Steakhouse and Peggy Sue’s 50s Diner, while outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy activities like hiking, camping, and off-roading in the nearby Mojave Desert.

A Brief History of Barstow

Barstow is sun and sand and a longer history than the drive-through impression suggests. What follows is the short version of it.

Barstow was a mining town first, working silver, copper and borax. It was named after William Barstow Strong, president of the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway. The railroad did most of the growing, and the Harvey House, part of the restaurant and hotel chain along the line, is still standing.

Barstow was also the site of a major rail yard, a hub for trains moving goods between Los Angeles and San Francisco. The yard still operates, quieter than it once was.

In the early 1900s Walter Knott, who later founded Knott’s Berry Farm, opened a general store in Barstow. It sold groceries through to hardware and became the stop for locals and travelers alike.

The town had harder years too. The Great Depression cost people their jobs and their homes here. Barstow came back in the 1940s when the military established a training base nearby, which brought people and money with it.

Mining town, railroad hub, military base: Barstow has been all three. Next time you are in town, look at what is still standing from each.

Top Attractions in Barstow

Barstow is small and it is not short of things to do. These are the top attractions during a visit:

Museums Galore

Barstow keeps several museums worth the stop. The Western America Railroad Museum is the one for train enthusiasts. The Route 66 Mother Road Museum is the one for history readers. The Mojave River Valley Museum covers the natural and cultural history of the region.

Outdoor Adventures

For outdoor time, Barstow has the desert. The Rainbow Basin Natural Area is a landscape of colorful rock formations built for hiking or photography. The nearby Mojave National Preserve goes further, covering camping, hiking, off-roading and some of the best stargazing anywhere in the region.

Retail Therapy

For shopping, Barstow has real options. The Outlets at Barstow run from high-end designer brands to affordable fashion and home goods. For a souvenir with the town on it, the California Welcome Center carries local gifts and products.

Whatever the interest, Barstow has it. Museums, the desert or shopping, the city holds up. Pack the bags.

Foodie’s Guide to Barstow

You have made it to Barstow and it is time to eat. Mexican cooking or classic American food are both properly covered. What follows is where to go:

Los Domingo’s Mexican Restaurant

Los Domingo’s Mexican Restaurant comes first. The family-owned kitchen has been serving Mexican cooking for over 30 years. The carne asada tacos are the famous order and the chile rellenos run them close. The margaritas finish it.

Food Court

For variety, the Barstow Station Food Court. The range runs from Chinese to Italian to burgers and fries. Eat in the indoor dining area or take it outside to the seating there.

Restaurants

Barstow also carries the chains, including Denny’s, In-N-Out Burger and McDonald’s. They are not the interesting end of this list and they are the right answer when you want classic American food in a hurry.

That is the guide to eating in Barstow. Go and indulge.

Barstow sits in the Mojave Desert where Interstate 15 meets Route 66. The Barstow Harvey House holds the Route 66 Mother Road Museum and the Western America Railroad Museum in one building near the rail yard. The Mojave River Valley Museum is close by, with Barstow Station and the Outlets at Barstow on the commercial strip. The Mojave Riverwalk runs along the river. Rainbow Basin Natural Area is north of town, Calico Ghost Town is northeast, and the Mojave National Preserve is east toward Nevada.

Outdoor Activities in Barstow

Barstow is built for time outdoors, with hiking, biking and camping on the doorstep. Nature lovers and adventure seekers both do well. These are the best outdoor activities in the area:

Hiking Trails

Barstow is ringed with hiking trails, from easy walks to hard climbs. The Mojave Riverwalk is the popular one, giving you the Mojave River and the desert around it. For something harder, the Castle Mountains National Preserve runs trails out to rock formations and canyons.

Biking Routes

Mountain biking is popular in Barstow and there are trails enough for it. The Joshua Tree Forest is where to start, with miles of routes through the forest and the mountains behind them. For a gentler ride, the old Route 66 runs a scenic line through the heart of Barstow.

Camping Sites

Camping is the best way to see the country around Barstow. The campgrounds run from basic sites to more comfortable ones. The Mojave Desert is the popular choice, with several campgrounds and a landscape worth waking up to. For something more remote, the Castle Mountains National Preserve has primitive campsites and genuine wilderness.

Grab the boots, the bike and the camping gear. Barstow’s landscape, landmarks and monuments are all waiting.

Travel Tips for Barstow Visitors

You are about to drive to Barstow, California. Coming from Los Angeles, Las Vegas or somewhere between, a few things are worth knowing before you set off.

Packing first. Barstow is in San Bernardino County and the weather is warm most of the year. The desert turns cold after dark, so bring a jacket. Bring sunscreen too.

Driving into Barstow, you will most likely take Interstate 15. There are a lot of trucks on that road, so leave them room. If you have not driven in the desert before, expect long stretches with no gas stations or rest stops.

On budget, Barstow is a cheap place to visit. The hotels are affordable and a good number of the best things to do here cost little or nothing.

Coming from out of state, note that Barstow sits close to the Nevada state line. If Las Vegas or anywhere else in Nevada is on the itinerary, bring ID and expect heavier traffic.

On phones, Barstow is in the United States, so no international plan is needed. If you are using the phone as a GPS, download a map of the area before the signal drops.

Barstow works as a cheap and unusual stop. Bring sunscreen, leave the trucks room, and download the map before you lose signal.

Unique Souvenirs to Bring Home

Do not leave Barstow without a souvenir. These are the odder options:

Snacks

Barstow does snacks worth carrying home. Barstow Station has the beef jerky from Alien Fresh Jerky and the fudge from Auntie’s Fudge Factory. Both travel well and both make decent gifts.

Silver

For jewelry or silverware, Barstow is well placed. The Silver Mine Trading Post carries the silver pieces. The Route 66 Mother Road Museum has silver artifacts of its own.

Artifacts

On artifacts, the Route 66 Mother Road Museum is the place in Barstow. Vintage license plates and old road signs are the sort of thing you find, and they carry the trip better than a postcard.

Maps

Map people should look at the Barstow Chamber of Commerce. The selection covers Barstow and the area around it. The Mojave River Valley Museum has more.

Railways

Barstow is a railway hub and the souvenirs follow. The Pacific Southwest Railroads Museum carries model trains and books on the history of the railways.

California State Route 58

If you drove in on the California State Route 58, mark the journey. The Barstow Chamber of Commerce has t-shirts and keychains for it.

Barstow’s souvenirs are better than most. Snacks, silver, artifacts, maps, railways or the California State Route 58, the town covers all of them.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Barstow stand out from other small towns in California?

Barstow is not a big city and it is not trying to be one. What it has instead is a mix of history, desert landscape and genuinely odd attractions that makes it worth stopping for on any drive through California.

What are some offbeat attractions to check out in Barstow?

For something off the usual route, Barstow has options. The Route 66 Mother Road Museum covers the history of the highway. The Bottle Tree Ranch is the other one, where the artist Elmer Long built a forest of bottle trees and found objects.

What are the must-try dishes at Barstow’s local restaurants?

Barstow is not known for its cooking and there are still a couple of dishes worth ordering. Peggy Sue’s 50’s Diner does the classic burger and fries. Los Domingos Mexican Restaurant does the carne asada fries.

What are some fun outdoor activities to do in and around Barstow?

Outdoor enthusiasts have plenty around Barstow. Hike the Mojave National Preserve, or take the Calico Mountains on horseback. For something slower, the nearby Calico Ghost Town lets you pan for gold.

What’s the best time of year to visit Barstow, and why?

Barstow gets very hot in summer, so spring and fall are the comfortable months. If the heat does not bother you, summer works too: many of the town’s attractions run special events and activities through those months.

What are some interesting historical facts about Barstow and its surrounding areas?

Barstow was once a major stop on the Santa Fe Railroad, and the nearby Calico Ghost Town was a working silver mining town. The area carries more history than the drive-through view suggests. Take some time with it.

Frequently asked questions about Barstow, California

Which museum should you visit in Barstow, California?

The Route 66 Mother Road Museum, for the history of the highway that explains the whole town. The Western America Railroad Museum shares the same building and is the pick for train enthusiasts. The Mojave River Valley Museum covers the natural and cultural history of the region instead. All three sit close enough together that you can pick by interest rather than by distance.

Which trail is best for hiking near Barstow?

The Mojave Riverwalk for an easy walk with views over the Mojave River and the desert stretching out behind it. For something harder, the Castle Mountains National Preserve runs trails out to rock formations and canyons that will take most of a morning to reach and come back from. Go early. Carry more water than you think you need.

What can you see at the Calico Ghost Town silver mining site?

A former silver mining town you can walk through, with gold panning available on site for anyone who wants to try it. It pairs well with a horseback ride in the nearby Calico Mountains if you want a full day out of Barstow rather than a stop on the way somewhere else. Go in spring or fall, because the summer heat here is not a joke.

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