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Major city · United States

Slab City

Go for one night, not a base: a self-contained off-grid camp with no water, power or services, 3 h from San Diego and 1 h from the Salton Sea.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
Nov–Mar
avoid Jun–Sep (extreme heat, 40–48 °C)
Airports
SAN · PSP · LAX
Nights
1
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
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.

Slab City is a squatter settlement on the concrete foundations of a WWII Marine camp near the Salton Sea, in Imperial County, California. There is no running water, electricity, sewer or trash pickup, and no potable water on site. Most visitors come for one night to see Salvation Mountain and East Jesus, then leave. Winter (November–March) is the only comfortable season; summer heat is dangerous.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Slab City, 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.

  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week$10–30
  • Budget bedFree squat plot (own tent or RV), a night, per personUS$0
  • Mid-range bedPaid camp site (California Ponderosa), a night, per roomUS$60
  • High-end bedPaid camp site (California Ponderosa), a night, per roomUS$90

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$20 · Mid US$50 · High US$90

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.

Salvation MountainEast JesusThe Range open-air nightclubOff-grid desert living
Airports
SAN San Diego International (About 3 h by car via I-8 and CA-111; the closest large airport.) · PSP Palm Springs International (About 1 h 30 min by car via CA-111 south.) · LAX Los Angeles International (About 3 h 30 min by car; long drive, no direct transit.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Slab City: 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

21°C

6°C

3 rd

Feb

23°C

8°C

3 rd

Mar

27°C

11°C

2 rd

Apr

31°C

14°C

1 rd

May

36°C

18°C

0 rd

Jun

41°C

22°C

0 rd

Jul

43°C

26°C

1 rd

Aug

43°C

26°C

1 rd

Sep

40°C

23°C

1 rd

Oct

34°C

17°C

1 rd

Nov

26°C

10°C

2 rd

Dec

21°C

6°C

3 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

Bicycles are the best way to move between camps. If you drive, go very slowly — dogs and loose sand. Walking into Niland for basic amenities takes a little over an hour; do not walk the Slabs at night. Some residents organise carpool runs to Niland, Brawley or Indio for gas money.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Niland

go

Door to door: About 15 min by car

Beal Road west, then CA-111

Closest gas station, basic amenities and the paved approach road.

Salton City

go

Door to door: About 1 h

CA-111 north along the west shore

Fuel, food and a look at the shrinking Salton Sea.

Brawley

go

Door to door: About 1 h

CA-111 south, then CA-78 east

Supermarkets and hardware — stock up before you camp.

Calipatria

caution

Door to door: About 45 min

CA-111 south

Small town; useful for fuel and a break, little else.

El Centrogo

Door to door: About 1 h 15 min

CA-111 south

Full services, hospital and the county seat.

Joshua Tree National Park

overnight

Door to door: About 1 h 15 min

CA-111 north, then I-10 east

Too far to combine with a Slab City night; sleep nearby.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

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

Free squat plot

Most people camp on an unoccupied slab. No water, power or toilets; leave no trace and carry out all trash.

California Ponderosa

Paid camp on Coachella Canal Rd with breakfast; chili night and jam session on Tuesdays. Book ahead.

Slab City Hostel

Paid hostel bed; reported good cell reception. Check availability before you drive out.

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
$20–40 excl. bed (own water, own food, free squat)
Mid
$40–80 excl. bed (paid camp, meals on site)
High
$80+ excl. bed (paid camp, meals out in Niland or Brawley)

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Paid camp site (California Ponderosa)1 × 1 night × US$60US$60
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × US$50US$100
Water, 5 gallons per person per day2 × US$5US$10
Fuel, Niland to Slab City and back1 × US$10US$10
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$15US$30
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$21
Trip total≈ US$116 per person per day, bed includedUS$231

2026 estimate in US dollars; fuel and flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Water, 5 gallons per person per day$3–8
Cheeseburger and an ice cream float at The Wranglers Roost$10–18
Frozen dessert at the Dome and Welcome Center$5–10
Fuel, per gallon in Niland$4–6
eSIM or data SIM, about a week$10–30

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Not a normal tourist destination. No water, power or services; police patrol regularly; some residents are armed or unstable. Do not walk at night, do not enter a squat you do not know, and carry more water than you need.
  • No potable water on site: bring 5 gallons (19 L) per person per day, more in summer.
  • Do not take water from either canal — it is agricultural run-off, high in pesticides, and the north canal is fenced and dangerous.
  • Do not walk around at night, and do not knock on or enter a squat you do not know.
  • Police drive through regularly; a locked RV door is safer than a fence.
  • Cell and internet service is poor — radio-link ISPs with high packet loss.
  • Summer heat is a genuine hazard; 48 °C is possible.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911
Poison control
1-800-222-1222

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.

Slab CitySlab City

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

Take me to this address, pleaseTake me to this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911
  • Poison control1-800-222-1222

Embassy

No consulates in the area; nearest are in San Diego and Los Angeles. Check your country's embassy list.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Drive, San Diego to Slab City: about 3 h via I-8 and CA-111
  • Drive, Palm Springs to Slab City: about 1 h 30 min via CA-111 south
  • Walk, Slab City to Niland: a little over 1 h

Say or show

  • Where is the nearest water? — Where is the nearest water?
  • Is there a fee? — Is there a fee?
  • Can I camp here? — Can I camp here?
  • Where is the nearest gas station? — Where is the nearest gas station?
  • I need help — I need help
  • Thank you — Thank you

No potable water, power or phone signal on site. Bring 5 gallons (19 L) of water per person per day and a paper map.

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 Slab City. 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: Nov–Mar · avoid Jun–Sep (extreme heat, 40–48 °C) · 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. 6 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for SAN and PSP: last-mile drive times, fuel stops in Niland and Brawley, and a no-signal fallback.
  2. Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Salvation Mountain, East Jesus, The Range and the hot springs.
  3. Place pages with verified access rules (Salvation Mountain, East Jesus, The Range) and eat pages with opening days.
  4. Heat and water fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources