Needles KOA Campground: Enjoy Warm Desert Nights On California’s Route 66

Welcome to Needles KOA, a campground on Route 66 in California’s Mojave Desert. This campground is the perfect base for exploring historic Needles and other cities along the Colorado River.

Needles, nestled on the banks of the Colorado River, is a landmark city on historic Route 66. It is the first city in California that travelers will encounter coming from Route 66 in Arizona, and the last stop on Route 66 in California for motorists heading east.

Although at first glance it might seem like Needles is in the middle of nowhere, the city is actually situated in the middle of many wonderful places and popular tourist destinations.

Lake Havasu City, Laughlin, Oatman, and the Mojave National Preserve are all within thirty minutes drive of Needles. Even Joshua Tree National Park, Kingman in Arizona, and Las Vegas in Nevada, are under two hours drive away.

The Needles KOA Journey Campground is located right on National Trails Highway, otherwise known as U.S. Route 66. Therefore it’s the perfect place to park your RV or campervan for a night or two while you explore attractions along “The Main Street of America”.

And since Needles is so close to many other top destinations, this campground makes a great base for anyone traveling on a budget.

The amenities offered at this campground make it a terrific spot to enjoy the desert landscape with a few creature comforts thrown in.

So, whether you’re looking for a desert escape on a budget, or just a place to rest and break up your drive, this place has you covered!

We stumbled upon this campground when we jumped off I-40 to continue following National Trails Highway into Needles. It was the last stop on our California Route 66 road trip before heading into Arizona.

Since it was late afternoon and we were already tired and hungry from hiking to Kelso Sand Dunes in Mojave National Preserve earlier in the day, we decided we had earned a break. And this campground in particular looked like a little oasis in the sparsely vegetated landscape.

Additionally, the empty tent camping area was all too alluring to pass by. A piece of real estate in the Mojave with vast desert views all to ourselves? Sign me up!

The Needles KOA Journey Campground is a beautiful campground that has been landscaped with native California fan palms, eucalyptus trees, bougainvillea, and colorful shrubs.

It is conveniently located just off I-40 making it an easy stop over for roadtrippers. The Colorado River is within walking distance, and it’s only two miles to Wagon Wheel Restaurant, a popular diner on Route 66.

Here is everything you need to know about camping at Needles KOA Campground.

Needles KOA Campground Amenities

Needles KOA Journey Campground offers pull-thru RV sites with full hookups (50 and 30 amp) and tent camping sites. All campsites are gravel which is nice because it helps to keep sand and dust to a minimum on windy days.

Most campsites have trees and shrubs separating them to provide privacy for guests. Each site has picnic tables.

Amenities include clean restrooms with showers, laundry room, and a clubhouse where you can watch tv or have a game of pool. There is also a communal fireplace area on the patio where you can gather with friends or family.

There are also several cabins available to rent which is good news if you don’t have an RV or campervan! Cabins can sleep four or six people depending on which cabin you choose.

Now keep in mind these are very basic cabins. They don’t have kitchens or bathrooms. They don’t even have linen, so you’ll have to bring your own bedding. But you will have a bbq and picnic table.

One of the standout features here is the swimming pool. It’s the perfect place to end a day of exploring on a hot summer’s day. Just a heads up, the pool is not heated! Other features include a childrens playground with swingset and a large dog park.

If you need camping supplies there is a small well-stocked store with food, sodas, and alcoholic beverages. I highly recommend trying the different flavored root beer!

Also inside the store is a gift shop with a variety of Route 66 merchandise. I found some cute coffee mugs and the lady behind the counter was so nice, she helped me hide my purchase from my husband by wrapping the mugs in brown paper.

In conclusion, Needles KOA Campground is a really cool place to stay! So if you’re looking for a comfortable place to camp with plenty of amenities and a friendly atmosphere, this campground is worth checking out.

On top of that, nightly rates are very affordable! Just be prepared for the desert heat — temperatures in the summer can soar in the Mojave Desert!!

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