Barstow, CA Road Trips

Barstow is in the desert. Barstow has always been a transportation hub, dating back to the days of the Mojave Road. By the late 19th century, the Santa Fe Railroad came to town, which was named for Santa Fe executive William Barstow Strong. By the 1920s, Route 66, Route 91 and Route 466 intersected in the town. City of Barstow website

Main Street Murals (See website for a map of locations). 24 hours. A series of 16 murals depicting the history of Barstow are painted on the sides of buildings along Main Street. All of the murals have jackrabbit painted into them, some obvious, some require searching. Free. 1 Mojave River Valley Museum, 270 E. Virginia Way (Exit I-15 at Barstow Road, go north two blocks then turn left.), ☏ +1 760 256-5452, [email protected]. Daily 11AM-4PM except Christmas Day. Presents the history of the Mojave River Valley from the arrival of Father Garces in 1776 through the space program. Free. (updated Jun 2015) 2 Barstow Harvey House, 681 N. First Ave, ☏ +1 760 256-8617. The "Casa Del Desierto" is one of the hotels built by Fred Harvey during the effort to build his vision of "3,000 Miles of Hospitality" along the Santa Fe Railways. No longer in operation as a hotel, the Harvey House houses the Barstow Route 66 Museum, the Western America Railroad Museum, the Barstow Chamber of Commerce and the Barstow Visitor's Bureau. (updated Jul 2015)

1 Rainbow Basin Natural Area, Fossil Bed Rd (north on Irwin Road for 6 miles, turn left onto Fossil Bed Road, then follow the signs to Fossil Canyon Loop Road), ☏ +1 760 252-6000, fax: +1 760 252-6098. Rainbow Basin is a natural basin that features fantastic and beautiful shapes in its rock formations. The road is one-way narrow dirt road is best driven with a high clearance or four-wheel drive vehicles. Free. (updated Jun 2015) 2 Skyline Drive-In Theater, 31175 Old Hwy 58 (heading north, it's about 3/10 of a miles (500 m) west from the "Old Highway 58" exit on the I-15, just before Soap Mine Rd), ☏ +1 760-256-3333. Open seven days a week, first showing at sundown (8PM summer, 6PM winter). As one of the last drive-ins in San Bernardino County, this is a chance to experience the classical drive-in cinema under the dark desert sky, while seeing the newest blockbusters. It frequently has packed nights on new movie openings and even has a small (but fully functional diner) attached to the projector house. Bring your own car (obviously). If you wonder why you are not hearing any sound, it is broadcast on FM that you can tune into using your car or a personal stereo. The entry kiosk and diner staff can help you to find the frequencies for each screen. There are two separate screens each showing two new movies per night, allowing visitors to watch two movies for one price (with "theater hopping" allowed between pictures if you don't like the one you picked.) Entrance fee is $6/person. (updated Jul 2015)

1 Jenny's Grill Steak & Mariscos, 1231 E. Main St. (exit I-15 at E. Main Street, head west for 1 mile; restaurant is on right hand side in front of Comfort Inn), ☏ +1 760 255-1500, fax: +1 760 256-8020. M-Sa 7:30AM-10PM, Su 7:30AM-9PM. A family-run Mexican restaurant with Sonoran, Continental, and Seafood entrees. Good food, and reasonable prices with dinner entrees starting around $6. $8-12 a plate. (updated Jul 2015) 2 McDonald's Barstow Station, 1611 E. Main St., ☏ +1 760 256-0812. Lobby - daily 5AM-11PM, drive-thru - daily 24 hours. If not the largest McDonald's in the world, it is certainly the most unique. Barstow Station is a McDonald's with an ice cream shop, candy store, gas station and the home of several radio stations that broadcast to travelers crossing the Mojave Desert. The most unique aspect of Barstow Station is the eating area. You can dine in old train cars and enjoy the view of travelers passing through this town. There is also a stand inside that sells homemade fudge. (updated Jun 2015) 3 Lola's Kitchen, 1244 E. Main St., ☏ +1 760 255-1007. M-F 4AM-7:30PM, Sa 4AM-4:30PM. Excellent Mexican food in the Von's shopping center. Cash only. (updated Jun 2015) 4 Del Taco (Del Taco #1), 2871 Lenwood Rd. (exit I-15 at Lenwood Rd., restaurant is on the east side toward Barstow Outlet Center), ☏ +1 760 253-2641. 6AM - midnight. Opened in 1964, this is one of the first Del Tacos (the chain started in Barstow) and has an extensive menu, serving otherwise long discontinued offerings.

1 Baymont by Wyndahm Barstow Historic 66, 1861 Main St, ☏ +1 760 256-1300. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. (updated Apr 2023) 2 Best Western Desert Villa Inn, 1984 E. Main St, ☏ +1 760 256-1781, fax: +1 760 256-9265, [email protected]. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 11AM. Swimming pool, complimentary continental breakfast and Internet access. Pet friendly. $65-130 (doubles). (updated Jun 2015) 3 Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites, 2700 Lenwood Rd, ☏ +1 760 253-9200. $100–220 (doubles). (updated Jun 2015) 4 Motel 6, 150 Yucca Ave, ☏ +1 760 256-1752, fax: +1 760-256-9110. $45–55 (doubles). (updated Jun 2015) 5 Rodeway Inn, 1261 East Main St, ☏ +1 760 256-7581. $40–60 (doubles). (updated Jun 2015) 6 Stardust Inn, 901 E Main St, ☏ +1 760 256-7116. $35–60 (doubles). (updated Jun 2015)

Barstow does not have commercial airline service. The closest commercial airport is LA/Ontario International Airport (ONT IATA) about a 1-hour 14 minute (77 mi (124 km)) drive south of Barstow on Interstate 15, passing through Victorville, Cajon Pass, and Rancho Cucamonga en route. The next nearest commercial airport is Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport about 2 hour 15 minutes (153 mi (246 km)) drive, northeast, on Interstate 15. 1 Barstow-Daggett Airport (DAG IATA). General aviation but no commercial flights. & , both major cross-country highways, intersect in Barstow. I-15 (Mojave Freeway) comes from San Diego in Southern California to the south and to Las Vegas in the north. I-40 (Blue Star Memorial/Needles Freeway) comes from Northern Arizona and the Grand Canyon ends at its junction with I-15 in Barstow (exit 184A from NB lanes of I-15 only) while WB traffic on I-40 merges into I-15 SB only. Travelers going between Las Vegas (I-15) and northern Arizona (I-40) would have to get onto Main St (exit 184 from I-15 or exit 1 from I-40) as there are no direct onramps from I-40 WB to I-15NB or from I-15SB to I-40EB. Bakersfield-Barstow Hwy (exit 179 of I-15) connects I-15/40 in Barstow to CA-99/I-5 in Bakersfield. Travelers going towards I-5 can get off CA-58 at Bear Mountain Springs and continue west on CA-223 to exit 239 of I-5, to bypass local traffic in Bakersfield.

The downtown area of Barstow is small enough to easily get around by walking. Main Street, L Street, Rimrock Road, and Montera Road encircle Barstow, while Barstow Road bisects the city. Barstow is a small town with no traffic problems. Victor Valley Transit Authority, ☏ +1 760 948-3030. M-F 7AM-7PM, Sa 9AM-5PM, Su 8AM-4PM. VVTA provides service on three bus lines that run hourly. For areas not covered by the routes, dial-a-ride service (☏ +1 760 256-0311) is available. $1.25, senior or disabled $0.65, child 6-17 $1, under 5 free.