Major city · United States
BakerBaker, California
Stop for 1–2 hours to fuel up and eat, or sleep one night if you arrive late; there is no reason to plan a full day here.
Baker is a tiny Mojave Desert town on I-15, roughly midway between Barstow and the Nevada line, and the turnoff for Death Valley via State Route 127. Almost everyone passes through on the way to Las Vegas, Death Valley or the Mojave National Preserve. Its one landmark is the 134 ft thermometer tower; the rest is fuel, food and motels.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- USD
- Best months
- Mar–Apr, Oct–Nov
- avoid Jun–Aug (extreme heat, 40 °C (104 °F)+ afternoons)avoid Jun–Aug (extreme heat, 104 °F (40 °C)+ afternoons)
- Airport
- 0O2
- Nights
- 1
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
- United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
- United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
- United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Baker911 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Baker, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the US dollar (USD, $).United States-wide
- SIM or eSIMAT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.United States-wide
- Tap waterTap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.United States-wide
- TippingSit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.United States-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 120 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.United States-wide
- SafetyBaker is a small, low-crime highway town; the real risks are desert heat, long empty drives and patchy phone signal.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsFree public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations.United States-wide
- Emergency numbers911 police, fire, ambulance · 511 California Highway Patrol (road conditions)
- Sundays & holidaysFederal holidays close offices, banks and post offices; national parks stay open.United States-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- Airport0O2 Baker Airport (Small general-aviation field; no scheduled passenger service.
- Getting aroundA car is effectively required: Baker Boulevard is the single main street and I-15 meets it at both ends.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Coffee$2–4
- Budget bedMotel family room (up to 4), a night, per roomUS$90
- Mid-range bedMotel double room, a night, per roomUS$90
- High-end bedMotel double room, a night, per roomUS$150
A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$40 · Mid US$80 · High US$160
Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- 0O2 Baker Airport (Small general-aviation field; no scheduled passenger service. Commercial flights: Las Vegas (LAS) about 2 h by car, Ontario (ONT) about 2 h 30 min.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
not flagged
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
Feb
not flagged
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
Mar
Best
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
Apr
Best
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
May
not flagged
35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)
Jun
Avoid
40°C (104°F)104°F (40°C)
Jul
Avoid
43°C (109°F)109°F (43°C)
Aug
Avoid
42°C (108°F)108°F (42°C)
Sep
not flagged
38°C (100°F)100°F (38°C)
Oct
Best
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Nov
Best
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
Dec
not flagged
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
Best: Mar–Apr, Oct–Nov. Avoid: Jun–Aug. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (43°C (109°F)109°F (43°C)), coolest Jan (1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C) low), wettest Jan (3 rain days), driest May (1). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Baker: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C)
3 rd
Feb
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
3 rd
Mar
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
3 rd
Apr
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
2 rd
May
35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
1 rd
Jun
40°C (104°F)104°F (40°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
1 rd
Jul
43°C (109°F)109°F (43°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
2 rd
Aug
42°C (108°F)108°F (42°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
2 rd
Sep
38°C (100°F)100°F (38°C)
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
2 rd
Oct
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
2 rd
Nov
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
2 rd
Dec
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C)
3 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
A car is effectively required: Baker Boulevard is the single main street and I-15 meets it at both ends. Fuel up here before any desert leg — the next services are far in every direction.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: About 1 h to the Kelso area
Drive I-15 south, then Kelbaker Road north into the preserve
Kelso Depot visitor centre and the dunes; carry water and fuel.
Door to door: About 2 h to Furnace Creek
SR 127 north to Death Valley Junction, then SR 190
Too far for a comfortable return day; sleep in the park or at Furnace Creek.
Door to door: About 1 h
I-15 south-west, about 60 mi
Route 66 museums and a wider choice of motels and food.
Primm and the Nevada line
cautionDoor to door: About 40 min
I-15 north-east, about 40 mi
Casinos and outlet shopping; only worth it if you are heading to Las Vegas anyway.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Baker Boulevard (the only street)
Motels, gas stations and diners line the main road between the two I-15 junctions; everything is walkable.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- $40–70 excl. bed
- Mid
- $70–130 excl. bed
- High
- $130+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Motel double room1 × 1 night × US$90 | US$90 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × US$80 | US$160 |
| Fuel, one tank1 × US$60 · check | US$60 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$20 | US$40 |
| Sit-down meal for two1 × US$40 | US$40 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | US$39 |
| Trip total≈ US$215 per person per day, bed included | US$429 |
2026 estimate in US dollars; sales tax added at the till. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | $2–4 |
| Gyro or diner plate | $10–18 |
| Beef jerky at Alien Fresh Jerkycheck | $8–15 |
| Gallon of fuelcheck; higher in remote desert stations | $4–6 |
| Motel double room, one nightcheck | $60–150 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Summer heat is dangerous: carry water, never leave anyone in a parked car, and check the forecast before any desert walk.
- Cell coverage is patchy outside town; download offline maps before you leave I-15.
- Do not count on fuel between Baker and Death Valley or across the Mojave National Preserve — fill the tank in Baker.
- Motel quality here is mixed; read recent reviews before booking and keep a backup in Barstow.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance
- 911
- California Highway Patrol (road conditions)
- 511
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
BakerBaker, California
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
To this address, pleaseTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance911
- California Highway Patrol (road conditions)511
Embassy
No consulates in Baker; nearest are in Los Angeles. US embassies and consulates handle foreign nationals' emergencies.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Baker → Barstow, I-15: about 60 mi, roughly 1 h
- Baker → Las Vegas, I-15: about 100 mi, roughly 1 h 30 min
- Baker → Furnace Creek, Death Valley: about 2 h via SR 127 and SR 190
Say or show
- Where is the gas station? — Where is the gas station?
- How much is it? — How much is it?
- I need water. — I need water.
- Is there a motel with a room tonight? — Is there a motel with a room tonight?
Baker has one main street; most services are open long hours because of highway traffic.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Baker. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Mar–Apr, Oct–Nov · avoid Jun–Aug (extreme heat, 40 °C+ afternoons) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 1 area to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for LAS and ONT: last sensible departure times, taxi and rideshare fallback, overnight rung in Barstow.
- Two walking clusters with rescue anchors: the thermometer and Country Store, the Mad Greek and Alien Fresh Jerky.
- Place pages with verified hours (thermometer, Country Store, Alien Fresh Jerky) and eat pages with last orders.
- Heat and hostile-arrival fixtures so gates A–D can go green.