Are you the owner for this park? Make it a featured listing and be seen in the top search results!
Calico Ghost Town Campground
Overview
Calico Ghost Town Campground offers a unique opportunity to camp within a piece of California history. Located in the Mojave Desert, this San Bernardino County Park is situated at the base of a restored 1880s silver mining town. It blends the rugged charm of desert camping with the convenience of staying at a popular historical landmark. Visitors enjoy easy access to the town’s shops and exhibits while surrounded by the colorful Calico Mountains.
Location & Surroundings
Situated in Yermo, CA, the park is tucked into the rugged canyons and colorful hills of the Mojave. The landscape is characterized by stark, beautiful desert vistas and striking geological formations. Its proximity to Interstate 15 makes it a convenient stopover for those traveling between Southern California and Las Vegas. Despite being near a major highway, the park feels secluded, offering clear night skies and a quiet, authentic desert atmosphere.
Amenities & Park Features
The campground provides a range of options for every type of traveler, accommodating both large rigs and tent campers. Key features include:
- Full hookup RV sites providing water, sewer, and electricity
- Partial hookup and dry camping areas for a more rustic experience
- Clean restrooms with hot showers
- A central dump station and individual fire rings
Families and larger groups can utilize the designated group areas, and those without an RV can opt for the park's on-site cabins or the large bunkhouse.
Nearby Attractions & Things to Do
The primary draw is the Calico Ghost Town, where visitors can explore the Maggie Mine, ride the Calico & Odessa Railroad, or pan for gold. Beyond the town limits, the area is a haven for off-highway vehicle (OHV) enthusiasts, with numerous trails winding through the nearby canyons. Travelers often stop at the famous Peggy Sue’s 50’s Diner nearby for a nostalgic meal or hike the surrounding trails to enjoy panoramic desert views.
Who This Park Is Best For
This park is ideal for history buffs and families looking for an educational yet adventurous camping trip. Its direct access to OHV trails also makes it a favorite for off-road enthusiasts looking for a desert basecamp. If you appreciate a rustic, themed environment rather than a polished luxury resort, Calico is a perfect fit. It is best suited for travelers who enjoy exploring local lore and the stark beauty of the California desert.
Amenities
- Recreational Facilities
- Policies
- Rentals
- Other Amenities & Services
- Recreation Nearby (within 10 miles)
- Facility
- On-Site Rentals
- Sites
User Reviews
Tangii Crain
Such a nice day! We looked online before stopping here on our way to visit family in OC, but we were still very pleasantly surprised by this place! The walking was nice, the shops were fun with very friendly people working inside. We ate at the Burger place at the top of the walk, the burgers were pretty good but the view was fantastic! There was a great, light breeze... Perfect lunch! Exploring was nice too. We didn't do the mine or the train because we were running low on time, but we spent a leasurely 3 hours walking, exploring, shopping and lunching. What a great little place!!!
Sandy Awerkamp
Calico is such a fun little town with lots to see and do for the whole family. I've never been to a town where dogs are more welcome than people. Dog rode on train ride, walk through the mine, to even was allowed in the mystery shack which confused her so much but it was so fun! Camping in Calico was a great experience, Ranger Corey was super friendly and helpful since their website is down until Feb 3rd. We took a chance going with no reservations but Ranger Corey was super helpful and just told us to pick a site out and he would come collect the payment later. With no reservations this time of year ( late January) you have a better chance getting a spot with no hookups. Restrooms were super clean. We did not use the showers but thats a bonus. No drones are allowed in the campground. Calico House Resteraunt we ordered fried pickles, wings, and fried mac n cheese. The mac n cheese, we did not care for, but the fried pickles and chicken wings were great! We moved inside when a group arrived and sat near us, lit up cigarettes when were eating on the back patio enjoying the great view. We just took it quietly inside but was hesitant to go back. The next day we went back for more of the yummy pickles and a beer, there were lots of people and luckily nobody lighting up out there. We will for sure go back to camp.
ShangHsuan Lin
Town is good but the campground is bad, if you’re looking for nature and peace. We stayed at cabin 2 and the cabin itself isn’t bad. It’s not fancy but just like a basic cabin with heater and 2 outlets. There are picnic tables, fire pit outside. Also each cabin comes with its own water faucet. That’s why I still give it 2 stars. BUT almost everyone there brought their own quad/motorcycle/some kind of off road vehicles. It’s loud (as early as 7am), annoying (nonstop all day), dangerous (kids like 5 year old riding super fast on road in campground), and smelly (really had to turn the engine on for nothing just for the fume and sound). If you’re not into this kind of things, don’t come. As a regular camper, it’s by far the worst experience. Go to a state park and you’ll get better experience.
Alex Garcia
Sites are smaller than advertised, completely unlevel with hug boulders in the middle of most sites. The people that camp here seem to not clean up after their dogs as there is dog poo everywhere. Definitely not able to fit large trailers over 35 feet comfortably. Best of luck using auto level if you have it.
Vanessa Machuca
We stopped on our way to Laughlin and we had so much fun. We spent maybe two and a half hours there. We paid 8$ per person to go in. They have free little museums as well as guided tours. We got tickets for the train (4.50$) which was maybe about 5-8 min long. Definitely worth a stop if you are on your way to Vegas.