Barstow

Barstow is a city of 24,000 people (2018) in the southern desert of the state of California. The city's location at the junction of Interstate 15 and Interstate 40, as well as its position on the old Route 66, make it a frequent pit stop for travelers passing through on their way to more exotic destinations.

By plane
Barstow does not have commercial airline service. The closest commercial airport is LA/Ontario International Airport about a 1-hour 14 minute  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 drive, northeast, on Interstate 15.

By car

 * I-15.svg & I-40.svg, 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.
 * California 58.svg 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. This route serves as a northern bypass of the Los Angeles metropolitan area for travelers coming from Northern California and the San Joaquin Valley in the north & west, and going to Las Vegas, Northern Arizona or the Inland Empire in the east (and vice-versa).
 * San_Bernardino_County_66.svg & US 66 (historic).svg The Historic Route 66 goes alongside I-15 & 40 as County Road (CR) 66, through town as Main St and becomes National Trails Highway west of town.
 * California 247.svg S Barstow Rd (exit 183 of I-15) winds its way south towards CA-62 in the Yucca Valley (via Lucerne Valley), at the northwestern edge of the Joshua Tree National Park. It is another way to go towards Joshua Tree and Palm Springs without going through the busier San Bernardino. Going north, it goes into downtown as Barstow Rd. and ends at its intersection with E Main St (CR-66).

By bus
The on 1611 E Main St is a mini-mall (Baja Taco, Dunkin Doughnuts, McDonald's, Panda Express, Subway, etc) built in a historic train station that serves as a de-facto bus station for:
 * Other buses traveling between Southern California and Las Vegas tend to take a break here to allow passengers to buy something to eat, buy souvenirs, use the restrooms, and/or smoke.
 * Other buses traveling between Southern California and Las Vegas tend to take a break here to allow passengers to buy something to eat, buy souvenirs, use the restrooms, and/or smoke.
 * Other buses traveling between Southern California and Las Vegas tend to take a break here to allow passengers to buy something to eat, buy souvenirs, use the restrooms, and/or smoke.
 * Other buses traveling between Southern California and Las Vegas tend to take a break here to allow passengers to buy something to eat, buy souvenirs, use the restrooms, and/or smoke.

The following are local public transportation routed through Barstow in other parts town:

By foot
The downtown area of Barstow is small enough to easily get around by walking.

By car
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.

Eat




Go next

 * Mojave - 70 miles west of Barstow on Highway 58, Mojave is a hotbed of aerospace activity, with the Mojave Spaceport the headquarters of Scaled Composites, the first private company to launch a human into space. Edwards Air Force base, a landing site for the space shuttle and a center for the development of experimental aircraft, is next to the town.
 * Baker - About 60 miles to the northeast of Barstow on I-15, Baker is the only significant town on the interstate in the remote desert stretch between Barstow and the Nevada border. It offers food, fuel and lodging, is home to the world's tallest thermometer, and is the starting point for those journeying north to Death Valley.
 * Mojave - 70 miles west of Barstow on Highway 58, Mojave is a hotbed of aerospace activity, with the Mojave Spaceport the headquarters of Scaled Composites, the first private company to launch a human into space. Edwards Air Force base, a landing site for the space shuttle and a center for the development of experimental aircraft, is next to the town.
 * Baker - About 60 miles to the northeast of Barstow on I-15, Baker is the only significant town on the interstate in the remote desert stretch between Barstow and the Nevada border. It offers food, fuel and lodging, is home to the world's tallest thermometer, and is the starting point for those journeying north to Death Valley.
 * Baker - About 60 miles to the northeast of Barstow on I-15, Baker is the only significant town on the interstate in the remote desert stretch between Barstow and the Nevada border. It offers food, fuel and lodging, is home to the world's tallest thermometer, and is the starting point for those journeying north to Death Valley.