Interstate 15 - California Travel Information

Interstate 15 Southbound - Nevada to Barstow

Interstate 15 South
	Interstate 15 crosses into San Bernardino County, California, the largest county within the Golden State. There are no state line or welcome signs posted at the crossing from Nevada, only a seatbelt warning sign and a mileage sign pictured here. The desert town of Baker lies along the drive between the Clark County, Nevada and Barstow (junction Interstate 40). Photo taken 10/19/04.
	The sandy flats in and around Primm, Nevada provide recreational opportunities for this land based parasailer. Rising north of the dry lake bed are the Clark Mountains. Photo taken 10/19/04.
	Sweeping views of the freeway such as this are common throughout the deserts of Southern California. Interstate 15 continues southwest to Mountain Pass (el. 4,731 ft). Photo taken 10/19/04.
	The first California exit of Interstate 15 southbound serves Yates Well Road, a local ranch road near the state line. Photo taken 10/19/04.
	Southbound at the Exit 291 diamond interchange with Yates Well Road. Yates Well Road serves a settlement nearby and a newly carved golf course in the desert. Photo taken 10/19/04.
	A look at the first southbound reassurance shield posted in California. Interstate 15 crosses a local wash and begins its ascent toward Mountain Pass. A truck climbing lane joins the southbound carriageway. Truck lanes are commonly found between Barstow and the Nevada state line. Photo taken 10/19/04.
	The distance to Los Angeles joins Baker and Barstow on this mileage sign found along Interstate 15 south between Yates Well Road (Exit 291) and Mountain Pass. Photo taken 10/19/04.

Site Navigation

	Interstate 15 skims the outskirts of the Mojave National Preserve at Exit 286 (Nipton Road). The preserve is home to a colorful mountain and desert landscape including rose-colored sand dunes, volcanic cinder cones and Joshua tree forests. Photo taken 10/19/04.
	Travel interests to the Nevada town of Searchlight should use Nipton Road east from Exit 286 to Clark County. The desert road upgrades to Nevada 164 on the 31.5-mile between Interstate 15 and U.S. 95. Photo taken 10/19/04.
	Another in a series of truck lane overheads resides within the Exit 286 diamond interchange with Nipton Road. Nipton Road skirts the northern reaches of the Mojave National Preserve between the freeway and the state line. Nipton itself lies ten miles to the east at the Nipton Road intersection with Nipton Moore Road. Photo taken 10/19/04.
	Interstate 15 southbound ascends toward Mountain Pass and the Exit 281 diamond interchange with Bailey Road. Photo taken 10/19/04.
	Bailey Road serves the settlement of Mountain Pass with connections to Clark Mountain Road. There are no outlets from the Exit 281 interchange other than Interstate 15. A blue sign indicates the lack of services at Mountain Pass. Photo taken 10/19/04.
	A large overhead warns truckers and vehicles carrying trailers of the long downgrade from Mountain Pass to Baker (el. 930 ft). Photo taken 10/19/04.
	Continuing the descend toward Baker and Barstow from Mountain Pass within the Clark Mountains. Photo taken 10/19/04.

	Interstate 15 leaves the Clark Mountains and recurves toward the southwest on the approach to Windmill Station and Baker. A second overhead reminds truckers and the like of the continued down grade. Photo taken 10/19/04.
	Interstate 15 crosses the northern tip of the Mojave National Preserve between Mountain Pass and Windmill Station. A scattering of Joshua Trees dot the landscape such as the one pictured here. Photo taken 10/19/04.
	The upcoming interchange (Exit 272) with Cima Road ahead provides a second gateway into the Mojave National Preserve from Interstate 15 southbound. A rest area lies beyond the upcoming diamond interchange. Photo taken 10/19/04.
	Exit 272 departs Interstate 15 southbound for Cima Road at Windmill Station. Cima Road flows southeast 18 miles into the Mojave National Preserve to Cima itself. The road cuts a swath between Teutonia and Kessler Peaks. Excelsior Mine Road stems north from the freeway toward Kingston Peak in the Shadow Mountains. Photo taken 10/19/04.
	Interstate 15 sees a rest area between Windmill Station (Exit 272) and Yucca Grove (Exit 265). Intersecting the freeway ahead is Halloran Summit Road, a local ranch road spurring north-south from the freeway. Photo taken 10/19/04.
	A diamond interchange joins Halloran Summit Road with Interstate 15 at Exit 265. A third truck lane commences at Halloran Summit and travels southward 17 miles to Baker. Photo taken 10/19/04.

		Scenes along Interstate 15 southbound between Yucca Grove (Exit 265) and Arrowhead (Exit 259). The five-lane freeway sinks toward the dry Silver Lake and the Soda Mountains. Photos taken 10/19/04.

	Interstate 15 next meets Halloran Springs Road at the Exit 259 diamond interchange. Halloran Springs Road arcs 15 miles west from Arrowhead to junction California 127 at Silver Lake. Photo taken 10/19/04.
	Exit 259 leaves Interstate 15 southbound for Halloran Springs Road. Halloran Springs Road ends at the Mojave National Preserve south of the freeway. Services along Halloran Springs Road west lie 14 miles ahead near the junction with California 127. Photo taken 10/19/04.

		Continuing the descent toward Baker and Silver Lake. A metric/English unit mileage sign resides along the stretch between Arrowhead (Exit 259) and Baker (Exit 248). South of Baker is the dry Soda Lake, west of Baker are the Soda Mountains. Photos taken 10/19/04.

	A second mileage sign placed six miles east of Baker includes the distance to junction Interstate 10 in lieu of Los Angeles. Photo taken 10/19/04.
	Interstate 15 finally reaches the town of Baker at Exit 248. Traveling through the city from Interstate 15 is Baker Boulevard, the former alignment of U.S. 91 & 466. Photo taken 10/19/04.
	Baker Boulevard (old U.S. 91 & 466) leaves Interstate 15 south from Exit 248. A partial "Y" interchange constitutes the east end of the Baker loop. Home of the World's Tallest Thermometer, Baker provides travelers with the first travel amenities since Interstate 15 left Primm. Photo taken 10/19/04.
	Baker lies at the crossroads of former U.S. 91 & 466 with California 127 (Kelbaker Road). California 127 travels 84 miles north from Interstate 15 to Death Valley Junction to the east Death Valley National Park. Kelbaker Road leads south 57 miles through Mojave Natural Preserve to junction Interstate 40. Photo taken 10/19/04.
	Southbound at the Exit 246 ramp departure to California 127 (Kelbaker Road). California 127 meets California 178 in 57 miles at Shoshone and crosses the state line and transitions to Nevada 373 in 91 miles. Kelbaker Road intersects Park Avenue south of Interstate 15 and Baker Boulevard (old U.S. 91 & 466) north of the freeway. Photo taken 10/19/04.
	Baker Boulevard (old U.S. 91 & 466) returns to Interstate 15 via a partial "Y" interchange (Exit 245). The freeway continues 49 miles to Yermo and 60 miles to Barstow. Photo taken 10/19/04.
	Nearing the Exit 239 diamond interchange with Zzyzx Road on Interstate 15 south. Zzyzx Road leads 4.5 miles to Zzyzx Springs. Zzyzx Springs began in 1944 on a 12,800 acre tract of land by entrepreneur Curtis Howe Springer. There Springer constructed a small hotel, castle, church, radio station, and health spa. The builder established himself as both a preacher and physician, and in the years that followed, broadcasted a national health and religious radio program from his station at Zzyzx Springs. His programs lasted until 1974, when he was arrested for food and drug violations and unauthorized use of federal land. In 1976 the Bureau of Land Management ceased the land and now it functions as the home for the California State University system Desert Studies Center. Read more about Zzyzx Springs at http://wordways.com/zzyzx.htm. Photo taken 10/19/04.
	Interstate 15 southbound at the Exit 239 diamond interchange with Zzyzx Road. Pronounced "Zeye-zix", the word was the brainchild of Springer, who claimed it was the last word alphabetically in the English language. The United States Board on Geographic Names approved Zzyzx Springs as a place name on June 14, 1984. The hydrologic feature lies along the shore of the dry Soda Lake at the western edge of the Mojave National Preserve. Photo taken 10/19/04.
	Nearing the Exit 233 diamond interchange with Rasor Road. Rasor Road spurs 6.4 miles southeast from Arrowhead Trail (old U.S. 91 & 466) & Interstate 15 to the settlement of Rasor at the Devil's Playground sand dunes. Photo taken 10/19/04.
	Southbound at the Exit 233 off-ramp to Rasor Road. Rasor Road heads south and Arrowhead Trail (old U.S. 91 & 466) branches westward toward the Cronise Valley. Photo taken 10/19/04.
	The Cronise Mountains (north) and Cave Mountain (south) come into view between Exit 233 (Rasor Road) and Exit 230 (Basin Road). Interstate 15 passes through the Cronise Valley between the two peaks. Photo taken 10/19/04.
	Next in line is the Exit 230 diamond interchange with Basin Road. Bason Road travels southward from Interstate 15 to the Mojave River Wash and Afton Canyon. The road ends at the Union Pacific Railroad line along the wash. Photo taken 10/19/04.
	Interstate 15 southbound at the Exit 230 off-ramp to Basin Road south and Cronise Lake Road north. Cronise Lake Road meanders northwest to Arrowhead Trail and the dry East and West Cronise Lake beds. Photo taken 10/19/04.
	Victorville joins Barstow and San Bernardino on this Interstate 15 southbound mileage sign posted ascent through the Cronise Valley. Victorville is a rapidly growing suburban type community with a historic downtown emphasizing historic U.S. 66. Photo taken 10/19/04.
	Continuing west of the Cronise and Cave Mountains toward the Afton Road interchange at Exit 221. Another drivable segment of the Arrowhead Trail appears next to Interstate 15 nearby. Afton Road otherwise travels south, becoming Afton Canyon Road, on the drive toward both the Afton Canyon and Cady Mountains. Photo taken 10/19/04.
	Use Afton Canyon Road south to Dunn Road west for the settlement of Dunn. Dunn lies along the Union Pacific Railroad corridor northwest of the Cady Mountains. Photo taken 10/19/04.
	Exit 221 departs Interstate 15 southbound for Afton Road. Afton Road ends north end of the diamond interchange at Arrowhead Trail. Afton Canyon Road heads southeast four miles to the railroad settlement of Afton otherwise. Photo taken 10/19/04.

Interstate 15 continues southwest from Afton Road (Exit 221) toward the Midway Rest Area (Exit 217) and Field (Exit 213). Photos taken 10/19/04.

	Interstate 15 crosses another local wash one mile northeast of the Field Road diamond interchange (Exit 213). Field Road spurs south a short distance from the freeway to the railroad settlement of Field. Photo taken 10/19/04.
	Exit 213 departs Interstate 15 south at the Field Road diamond interchange. Yermo Road parallels the freeway southwest from Field Road to Manix, Toomey, and Yermo. The Union Pacific Railroad travels west alongside Yermo Road and Interstate 15 closely. Photo taken 10/19/04.

Interstate 15 enters a flat plain west of Field Road (Exit 213). The Calico Mountains lie to the northwest near Yermo. The Newberry Mountains encompass the southern horizon from south of Interstate 40 and Daggett. Photos taken 10/19/04.

	Harvard Road intersects Interstate 15 at the Exit 206 diamond interchange. Harvard Road flows south three miles from Interstate 15 across the Mojave Rive to Cady Springs Road. From there travelers can continue along Harvard Road south of take Cady Springs Road south to Newberry Road to Newberry Springs. Newberry Springs lies 12 miles south of Exit 206 along the Interstate 40 (former U.S. 66) corridor west of Newberry Road. Photo taken 10/19/04.
	Interstate 15 southbound at the Harvard Road off-ramp (Exit 206). Harvard Road peters out in desert lands to the north. The settlement of Harvard lies west along Yermo Road and the Union Pacific Railroad. Hacienda Drive travels along the Interstate 15 southbound side frontage within the area. Photo taken 10/19/04.
	A major power corridor passes over Interstate 15 between Harvard and Yermo. The corridor (Los Angeles Department of Water and Power) joins the Los Angeles Basin with southern Nevada. Ahead is the Exit 198 diamond interchange with Minneola Drive. Minneola Drive, in conjunction with Paradise Springs Road, provides access to the Calico Early Man Archaeological Site. Read about the site at http://www.americanwest.com/namarch/calico99.htm. Photo taken 10/19/04.
	Southbound at the Exit 198 off-ramp to Minneola Drive. Minneola Drive continues south into the Mojave Valley five miles to Minneola (junction former U.S. 66) near Barstow-Daggett Airport. Use Minneola Drive south to the adjacent Yermo Road east for Toomey. Photo taken 10/19/04.

Unlike Interstates 8, 10, and 40, the California Agricultural Inspection Station lies well south of the Nevada state line near Yermo. The facility provides for the inspection of all incoming agricultural goods into the state of California and doubles as a truck weigh station. However due to funding cuts, the inspections are limited to just commercial trucks and vehicles carrying livestock. Despite that, all passenger vehicles must slow down to 5 mph or less to pass between the booths. Photo taken 10/19/04.

	A trumpet interchange joins Interstate 15 with Yermo Road (old U.S. 91 & 466) through the town of Yermo via Exit 196. Yermo Road travels through downtown south of the freeway between Exits 196 and 191. The Mitchell Range lies along the western horizon. Photo taken 10/19/04.
	Interstate 15 southbound at the Exit 196 ramp departure for the Yermo Road connector. Yermo Road (old U.S. 91 & 466). Yermo Road travels 1.5 miles west through Yermo to Marine Road. Marine Road and the Union Pacific Railroad branch southwest into the Marine Corps Supply Center - Yermo Area. Yermo Road otherwise comprises what should be a business loop for Interstate 15. Photo taken 10/19/04.
	Calico Road stems north from Yermo Road (old U.S. 91 & 466) 3.5 miles to Calico Ghost Town Regional Park. Calico existed as a mining town between 1881 and 1907 with a population of 1,200 at one time. The town was abandoned after a drop in the price of silver and the relocation of nearby mining operations to Death Valley. Photo taken 10/19/04.
	Southbound at the Exit 194 diamond interchange with Calico Road. Calico Road serves downtown Yermo to the south and transitions to Ghost Town Road northwest of Interstate 15. Ghost Town Road continues the loop back south to Interstate 15 at Exit 191. Photo taken 10/19/04.
	Continuing westbound toward the Exit 191 diamond interchange with Ghost Town Road. Ghost Town Road derives its name from the connections to Calico to the north. The road becomes Daggett-Yermo Road south of its nearby intersection with Yermo Road. Photo taken 10/19/04.

Drawing to within one half mile of the Ghost Town Road interchange on Interstate 15 south. Use Daggett-Yermo Road south from Ghost Town Road for the USMC Logistics Base - Yermo Annex. The north-south road provides a direct connection between Yermo Road (old U.S. 91 & 466) and old U.S. 66 (National Trails Highway) at Daggett. Photos taken 10/19/04.

	Interstate 15 southbound at the Ghost Town Road off-ramp (Exit 191). Ghost Town Road meets Calico Boulevard 0.4 miles to the north and the Yermo Cutoff in 2.3 miles. Daggett-Yermo Road becomes A Street and ends at Interstate 40 3.2 miles south at Daggett. Photo taken 10/19/04.
	Next in line for southbound travelers is the Fort Irwin Road diamond interchange (Exit 189). Fort Irwin Road heads north 7.4 miles the Calico Mountains and Irwin Road. From there Irwin Road heads northeast to Fort Irwin. Photo taken 10/19/04.
	Yermo Road ends at Fort Irwin Road south of the Interstate 15 Exit 189 interchange. Meridian Road spurs into the nearby hillside from Fort Irwin Road South. Pictured here is the Fort Irwin Road off-ramp from the freeway southbound. Photo taken 10/19/04.
	Interstate 15 travels west another four miles from Fort Irwin Road into the city of Barstow. Photo taken 10/19/04.
	Old U.S. 466 departs Interstate 15 at the Exit 186 trumpet interchange. Now known simply as Old Highway 58, old U.S. 466 ventured west from Barstow to Bakersfield. Modern California 58 provides a direct route between Barstow and Bakersfield via a freeway bypass to the west. Old Highway 58 serves northern reaches of Barstow otherwise. Photo taken 10/19/04.
	A button copy guide sign directs through traffic motorists bound for California 58 to remain on Interstate 15 south to Exit 179. California 58 bypasses Barstow to the west along a short freeway between the original California 58 (Barstow Bakersfield Highway) and Interstate 15. Photo taken 10/19/04.
	A look at the Barstow city limit sign on Interstate 15 southbound. A second sign indicates that the next seven interchanges serve Barstow. Photo taken 10/19/04.
	Old California 58 departs Interstate 15 southbound via the Exit 186 trumpet interchange. Old California 58 travels west 2.5 miles to 1st Avenue, 3.1 miles to Irwin Road, and ten miles to California 58 (Barstow Bakersfield Highway). Old California 58 stays north of the Mojave River and downtown. Interstate 15 crosses the Mojave River on the southwest turn toward the merge with Interstate 40. Photo taken 10/19/04.
	Turning southwest toward downtown Barstow on Interstate 15. Intersecting the freeway next is Main Street (old U.S. 66) at Exit 184. Main Street travels west from Nebo and the Barstow Marine Core Logistics Base along Interstate 40 into Barstow alongside the dry Mojave River. The surface street interchanges with Interstate 40 one half mile to the east. Photo taken 10/19/04.
	A small brown guide sign indicates the historic designation of Main Street as U.S. 66. U.S. 66 followed Main Street west to 1st Avenue where the highway merged with U.S. 91. From there U.S. 66 & 91 continued west along Main Street to Lenwood. Photo taken 10/19/04.
	A partial-cloverleaf interchange facilitates the movements between Interstate 15 and Main Street (former U.S. 66). The exit lies just south of the Mojave River crossing. Photo taken 10/19/04.
	Exit 184 connects Interstate 15 to Main Street, the Barstow Business Loop. Since there is no direct freeway to freeway connection from Interstate 15 south to Interstate 40 east, motorists making that connection must use Main Street/Business Loop I-15 north/Historic U.S. 66 east to reach Interstate 40. In addition, this exit also provides access to southbound Business Loop I-15/westbound Historic U.S. 66 into downtown Barstow. Notably, the northern end of Business Loop I-15 is at its junction with Interstate 40, and its southern terminus is at Exit 181 (three miles south of this interchange). Photo taken 10/19/04.
	Southbound Interstate 15 at Exit 184, Junction Interstate 40 east to Needles, Kingman, and Flagstaff; Business Loop I-15/Main Street; and the first Historic U.S. 66 exit along southbound. The transition ramp from westbound Interstate 40 onto southbound Interstate 15 is located a little less than a mile south of here. Photo taken 10/19/04.

Page Updated October 23, 2005.