Needles, CA Road Trips
Needles, CA serves as a quiet starting point in the Pacific Coast, connecting drivers to 2 outbound routes across the area. Routes from here tend to cover serious ground — the average trip runs 405 miles, so plan for multi-day adventures. Most routes from Needles, CA head west, giving the route network a clear directional lean.
Photo: Nic Wood
Trip Routes
5
Longest Drive
554.5 mi
San Francisco, CA
Quickest Drive
4h 40m
Santa Ana, CA
Plan Around Needles, CA
Popular Incoming Routes
Useful if Needles, CA is the arrival point and you want the strongest routes into the city first.
Continue From Needles, CA
Good next legs if this city is only one stop in a longer road trip.
Trips from Needles, CA
Driving from Needles, CA
Expect an average of 405 miles and about 7h 29m behind the wheel when leaving Needles, CA. This is long-haul territory. Most routes stretch past the 250-mile mark, so pack snacks and plan fuel stops. The longest mapped route runs 555 miles (10h 18m), while the shortest is just 255 miles.
Popular Destinations
The most popular drives from Needles, CA include San Francisco, CA (554.5 mi, 10h 18m) and Santa Ana, CA (254.5 mi, 4h 40m). Most destinations stay within the same state, perfect for exploring the local region thoroughly.
Planning & Costs
For the average 405-mile drive from Needles, CA, expect to burn about 15.9 gallons of fuel one way at 25 MPG. Check local pump prices before you go to lock in your budget.
These are full-day drives. Start by 7 or 8 AM if you want to arrive at a reasonable hour without rushing. Most routes head west — leaving in the morning keeps the sun behind you for a more comfortable drive.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are 2 mapped routes leaving Needles, CA and 3 routes heading into Needles, CA, covering 5 total connections. Distances range from 255 to 555 miles.
The longest mapped route from Needles, CA covers 555 miles and takes approximately 10h 18m. Shorter options start at just 255 miles.
The average route from Needles, CA runs about 405 miles with a drive time of roughly 7h 29m. This includes both short day trips and longer multi-day drives.
The most popular road trip destinations from Needles, CA include San Francisco, CA and Santa Ana, CA. Each route page has detailed drive times, fuel estimates, stop suggestions, and turn-by-turn directions.
Needles, CA by the Numbers
Recent demographic snapshot from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
Population
4,882
Median Income
$39,876
Median Home Value
$134,400
Median Age
49.6
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-year (public domain). See our methodology for details.
Notable People from Needles, CA
A sampling of people born in Needles, CA.
Natalie Diaz
1978
Mojave poet, writer and basketball player
Jim Thomas
1953
American screenwriter
John Thomas
1953
American screenwriter
Landmarks & Historic Sites
Attractions and heritage-registered places located in Needles, CA.
El Garces Intermodal Transportation Facility
railway station in Needles, California
City data from Wikidata (Q846591), available under CC0. Photos from Wikimedia Commons under their respective licenses. See our methodology for details.
Traveler Guide to Needles, CA
Needles is a city in California on the border with Arizona near the Colorado River.
1 Needles Regional Museum, 929 Front St, ☏ +1 760 326-5678. M-Sa 10AM-2PM (Closed August).
1 Rivers Edge Golf Course, 144 Marina Dr, toll-free: +1-866-808-9136. 18 holes, par 70, 6,515 yards.
River City Pizza Co., 1901 Needles Hwy, ☏ +1 760-326-9191. 10AM-10PM. (updated Dec 2021)
1 Best Western Colorado River Inn, 2371 Needles Hwy, ☏ +1 760 326-4552. $83. Rio Del Sol Inn, Needles, 1111 Pashard St, ☏ +1 760 326-5660. $70. Budget Inn of Needles, 2104 Needles Hwy, ☏ +1 760 326-2212. Days Inn And Suites, 1215 Hospitality Ln, ☏ +1 760 326-5836. $50-$60. Desert View RV Resort, 5300 National Old Trails Hwy, ☏ +1 760 326-4000, [email protected]. Offers campsites and RV sites. Free Wifi. $27.50. Fender's River Road Resort, 3396 Needles Hwy, ☏ +1 760 326-3423, [email protected]. $12/25/40/65-85 (Tent/RV/Riverfront RV/Rooms). Motel 6 Needles, 1420 J St, ☏ +1 760 326-3399. Pet friendly. Rainbo Beach Resort, 3520 Needles Hwy, ☏ +1 760 326-3101, fax: +1 760 326-5085. RV sites and mobile home rentals. Rodeway Inn & Suites, 1195 3rd St, ☏ +1 760-326-4900. $50–$85. Needles KOA Journey, 5400 National Old Trails Hwy, ☏ +1 760-326-4207. Check-in: 1PM, check-out: 11AM. Pull-through RV and tent sites, with a year-round outdoor pool and WiFi. (updated May 2021)
I-40 passes to the south of the city before crossing the Colorado River and entering Arizona. Needles is a stop along Amtrak's daily Southwest Chief line between Los Angeles and Chicago. The westbound train arrives at 12:49AM and the eastbound train arrives at 12:56AM.
Travel tips adapted from Needles on Wikivoyage, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Content summarized; visit the source for the full article. See our methodology for how we use it.
Trips to Needles, CA
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