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Major city · United States

Barstow

Stop for one night, not a base: see the Route 66 museum and murals in 2–3 hours, sleep near Lenwood Road, then drive on at dawn.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
Mar–May, Oct–Nov
avoid Jun–Sep (over 38°C most afternoons)
Airports
ONT · LAS · DAG
Nights
1
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
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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.

Barstow sits where Interstate 15 meets Interstate 40, in the Mojave between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Almost nobody comes for the town itself; it is a fuel, food and bed stop on a long desert drive. Two or three hours covers the Route 66 museum, the Main Street murals and the railroad depot, and one night is enough unless you use it as a base for Calico or Rainbow Basin.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Barstow, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee$3–6
  • Sit-down mealItalian dinner main$15–25
  • Street or quick mealDiner breakfast$10–18
  • Beerdraught in a bar$6–9
  • Metro or bus rideLocal bus ride (VVTA)check$1.25
  • Budget bedBudget motel double, a night, per roomUS$55
  • Mid-range bedBudget motel double, a night, per roomUS$75
  • High-end bedBudget motel double, a night, per roomUS$95

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$70 · Mid US$120 · High US$220

Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →

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.

Route 66 and the Harvey House depotMain Street muralsRainbow Basin rock formationsCalico Ghost Town nearbyLast big services before the desert
Airports
ONT LA/Ontario International (About 77 mi (124 km) south on I-15, roughly 1 h 15 min by car.) · LAS Harry Reid International, Las Vegas (About 153 mi (246 km) northeast on I-15, roughly 2 h 15 min by car.) · DAG Barstow-Daggett Airport (General aviation only; no commercial flights.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Barstow: 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

15°C

2°C

4 rd

Feb

17°C

4°C

4 rd

Mar

21°C

6°C

3 rd

Apr

24°C

9°C

2 rd

May

30°C

13°C

1 rd

Jun

35°C

18°C

1 rd

Jul

38°C

21°C

2 rd

Aug

38°C

21°C

2 rd

Sep

33°C

17°C

2 rd

Oct

27°C

11°C

2 rd

Nov

19°C

6°C

3 rd

Dec

14°C

1°C

4 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

You need a car. Main Street, L Street, Rimrock Road and Montera Road ring the centre and Barstow Road cuts through it; downtown itself is small enough to walk in about 20 minutes. Victor Valley Transit Authority runs three hourly local bus lines (Mon–Fri 7:00–19:00, Sat 9:00–17:00, Sun 8:00–16:00; $1.25, seniors $0.65, ages 6–17 $1, under 5 free — check).

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Calico Ghost Town

go

Door to door: About 30 min each way

I-15 east 13 mi (21 km) to Yermo, then Ghost Town Road

Open daily 9:00–17:00 except Christmas Day; adult $6, ages 6–15 $6, under 5 free (check). Go at opening before the heat.

Rainbow Basin Natural Area

caution

Door to door: About 30 min each way

Irwin Road north 6 mi, left on Fossil Bed Road, then follow signs to the Fossil Canyon loop

Free. One-way dirt loop; high-clearance or 4WD only, and no shade.

Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex

caution

Door to door: About 1 h each way

35 mi (56 km) north via Fort Irwin

Free guided tours, advance booking only; entry to the army base needs photo ID and vehicles may be searched.

Baker, California

go

Door to door: About 1 h each way

I-15 northeast about 60 mi (97 km)

Fuel, food and the tall thermometer; the turn-off for Death Valley.

Big Bear Lake

overnight

Door to door: About 2 h each way

I-15 south, then CA-18 or CA-38 into the San Bernardino Mountains

Mountain roads and cool air; too far for a comfortable return day.

Lake Arrowhead

overnight

Door to door: About 2 h each way

I-15 south to CA-138, then CA-173

Pair with Big Bear rather than driving back the same night.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Lenwood Road (I-15 exit 178)

Chain motels and the outlets; easiest with a car and bags, quietest at night.

East Main Street

Walkable to the murals, museums and diners; some budget motels, more road noise.

Downtown / First Avenue

Closest to the Harvey House and Amtrak platform; thin choice of beds.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
$60–95 excl. bed
Mid
$95–160 excl. bed
High
$160+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Chain hotel double (Lenwood Road)1 × 1 night × US$120US$120
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × US$120US$240
Fuel, one full tank1 × US$55 · checkUS$55
Calico Ghost Town entry2 × US$6 · checkUS$12
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$20US$40
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$47
Trip total≈ US$257 per person per day, bed includedUS$514

2026 estimate in US dollars; sales tax is added at the till. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee$3–6
Diner breakfast$10–18
Burger or taco plate$8–16
Italian dinner main$15–25
Beer, draught in a bar$6–9
Local bus ride (VVTA)check$1.25
Fuel, per US galloncheck$4–6

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Barstow is a normal highway town, not a dangerous one, but it is a desert stop: the real risks are summer heat, long empty stretches between services and motel car parks after dark. Keep water in the car, park under lights and lock up.
  • Summer heat: over 38°C most July and August afternoons. Carry water on every desert leg.
  • Services between the Inland Empire and Las Vegas are sparse. Fill the tank and check the A/C before you leave.
  • Amtrak's Southwest Chief calls at Barstow around 03:40 westbound and 21:55 eastbound — plan the transfer, not the nap.
  • I-40 westbound merges only into I-15 southbound, and I-15 southbound cannot reach I-40 eastbound directly: use Main Street (I-15 exit 184 / I-40 exit 1).
  • Rainbow Basin's loop road is one-way, narrow dirt; high-clearance or 4WD only.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

BarstowBarstow

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

Can you take me to this address?To this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911

Embassy

No consulates in Barstow. Nearest consulates-general are in Los Angeles; embassies are in Washington, DC.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Amtrak Southwest Chief, Barstow → Los Angeles: about $35–60, roughly 3 h (check)
  • Greyhound Barstow → Las Vegas: about $30–55, roughly 3 h (check)
  • Drive Barstow → Las Vegas, I-15: about 153 mi (246 km), roughly 2 h 15 min plus fuel (check)

Say or show

  • Where's the nearest gas station? — Where is the gas station?
  • Table for two, please — A table for two, please
  • Do you take card? — Can I pay by card?
  • Can I get some water? — Is there water here?
  • How far to the next town? — How far to the next town?
  • Thanks a lot — Thank you

Tipping is expected: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink, 15–20% for taxis.

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 Barstow. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Mar–May, Oct–Nov · avoid Jun–Sep (over 38°C most afternoons) · month by month →
  2. 3 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 6 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contracts for ONT and LAS: last sensible departure times, taxi and rideshare fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Three walking clusters with rescue anchors: Main Street murals, the Harvey House and museums, Lenwood Road outlets.
  3. Place pages with verified hours and cutoffs (Mojave River Valley Museum, Route 66 Museum, Western America Railroad Museum, Skyline Drive-In) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Desert-leg fixtures: fuel, water and heat rules for the I-15 and I-40 corridors so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources