Drive From Las Vegas to Palm Springs: Routes, Stops and a 4-Day Campervan Itinerary

When road-tripping to Palm Springs from Las Vegas, you have the option of putting your foot on it and arriving quickly or taking the slow way around over a few days and appreciating the desertscape along the way.

For the most direct option, take the I-15 south past Baker, Barstow and Cajon Pass. This will have you arriving in about four-and-a-half hours covering around 280 miles.

But if you’re keen on the scenic route that winds by Mojave National Preserve and Joshua Tree, you’ll take the I-15 to Baker, then Kelbaker Road through Mojave National Preserve, National Trails Highway to Amboy, Amboy Road to Twentynine Palms, Joshua Tree via Park Boulevard, before continuing onto Palm Springs.

If you’re adding stops on the scenic route, you’ll also want to add a few extra days to take your time and enjoy the scenery and quirky stops along the way. If you can slow it down, be sure to hit these must-sees on the road.

Just 35 minutes south of Las Vegas, your first stop deserves to be Seven Magic Mountains. This sculptural installation is a photogenic pause in the trip with seven boldly painted and stacked boulders more than 30 feet high. The large-format artwork is from Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone and is free to visit with no reservation required.

About 68 miles on from Seven Magic Mountains will see you arriving at Baker. This desert community is located in San Bernardino County and is a popular pull over on desert road trips. The town has a playful focus on aliens, but while you’re here refuelling, the one attraction you can’t miss is the World’s Tallest Thermometer. This 134-foot roadside landmark is an icon of Baker and is credited with commemorating the record-setting 134-degree temperature at nearby Death Valley.

From Baker, take Kelbaker Road through the Mojave National Preserve for about 40 minutes to the historic Kelso Depot. This 1924-era train station appears like a mirage in the desert. These days, no trains pull in here. Instead ,the only arrivals are tourists coming to explore the depot, which now houses the Visitor Center for Mojave National Preserve. Currently the depot is closed for rehabilitation, so check the website before making this detour.

Stay on Kelbaker Road for another 35-or-so miles before turning onto the historic Route 66 and making your way to Amboy. Settled in 1883, Amboy is a classic Route 66 town, despite being bypassed by the I-40 in 1973. From town, you can see the volcanic cinder cone of Amboy Crater rising above the desert. But most people passing through this tiny outpost park up at Roy’s Motel & Café to refuel, take a picture of the iconic signage and grab a bite.

If you’re keen to go further on this famous road, check out our Route 66 itineraries from Las Vegas, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Take Amboy Road for another 50 miles to Twentynine Palms. This San Bernardino city is the northern gateway to Joshua Tree National Park. It’s a good spot to refuel and grab supplies if you’re planning to explore the park, which is less than 10 minutes out of town via the Utah Trail. If you’re not up for a hike, take the Park Boulevard drive through the park to marvel at the arid beauty.

Follow the Pinto Basin Road about 20 miles south to the Cholla Cactus Garden in Joshua Tree National park to admire this spiked area from the flat, quarter-mile loop trail. The garden is festooned with fuzzy teddy bear cacti backdropped by soaring mountains. For longer treks in the park, check out our guide.

To make the most of the spectacular desert scenery, this road trip really deserves four days. This gives you time to explore Joshua Tree National Park, Mojave National Preserve, and have time in Palm Springs, before returning to Las Vegas. Follow this basic itinerary and fill it in with the sights and activities that excite you.

Day 1: Pick up your campervan in Las Vegas

Today is the day. Pick up your campervan rental from our Las Vegas depot and stock up on food, water and other supplies before setting off into the desert. Seven Magic Mountains is a perfect sunset stop before bunking down for the night nearby.

Day 2: Las Vegas to Joshua Tree via Mojave National Preserve and Amboy

Today you’ll cover around 220 miles with a drive time of a little under four hours as you head for Joshua Tree via Baker, Mojave National Preserve and Amboy. Swing into Twentynine Palms if you have time, otherwise, save it for the return.

Day 3: Joshua Tree National Park to Palm Springs

Spend the morning exploring the Cholla Cactus Garden before heading into Palm Springs after a less-than-two-hour drive.

Day 4: Palm Springs, then onward

Spend the day exploring Palm Springs. Don’t miss wandering the old town, plentiful art galleries and museums and riding the Aerial Tramway for stunning vistas and a surprisingly frosty breath of fresh air. If you’re not ready to return just yet, consider extending the trip to discover more of Southern California on our desert road trip itinerary.

As we don’t have any depots in Palm Springs, this incredible desert drive lends itself to a loop back to Las Vegas, which gives you the opportunity to retrace your favorite spots or see the places you missed. Alternatively, just keep going and follow the road to our Los Angeles depot. Check out our Los Angeles to Palm Springs itinerary for tips on where to stop along the way.

October to April is best to tackle this drive as you’ll find the temperatures are moderate and there’s no ice on the mountain roads. Summer sees temperatures soar above 100°F in the Mojave with things starting to heat up from May. This can make both hiking and sleeping in a campervan somewhat unpleasant.

In winter, the days are shorter, so plan to explore the Mojave and Joshua Tree in daylight hours.

When you’re taking a drive through desert terrain, it’s important to remember that it can be a place of extremes. So plan carefully, always carry more water than you think you need and refuel whenever you have the opportunity. Here are more good-to-know tips for this trip.

Have a GPS app: Carrying a GPS app is essential. It will alert you if a route is closed or there are any hazards in the area. It’s also a good idea to download offline maps in case cell service is patchy.

Fill up in Baker: There’s no fuel inside Mojave National Preserve or at Kelbaker Road and I-40. Be sure to fill up in Baker, before venturing further as the next fuel stop isn’t until Amboy or Twentynine Palms.

Carry extra water: Always carry a minimum of one gallon of water per person, per day. If you plan to do any hiking or walking, double that amount.

Skip unsealed roads: Damage to your campervan by traveling on unsealed roads isn’t covered, so always plan your route to avoid dirt roads.

Renting a campervan for this drive is such an incredible way to immerse in the landscape. With your bed in the back, you can wake up and sip a coffee in some of the country’s most breathtaking spots. With free unlimited miles, no young driver fee and
24/7 roadside assistance, traveling by campervan is one of the most budget-friendly ways to chase adventure.

With rental locations in Las Vegas, San Francisco and Los Angeles, you can choose to loop back to Vegas or carry onto LA or San Fran.

This fantastic itinerary just covers one direction, but from Las Vegas, there’s so much of America to explore. Take a look at these great road trips and get inspired for your next campervan adventure.

• Las Vegas to Yosemite road trip
• Las Vegas to Sedona road trip
• Las Vegas to Phoenix road trip
• Las Vegas to San Francisco road trip

DISCLAIMER: All information provided, including prices, availability, and site details, is correct when published. We recommend contacting campsites or caravan parks directly to confirm the latest details before planning your visit. Please review our Terms and Conditions for additional information.