Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area

Have you always wanted to visit the Sahara Desert? Now you can...but not in Sahara...just in California!!

This place is just fantastic and unbelievably deserted!!! Rare cactus plants can be seen at the area, the scenery is fantastic and I would never regret visiting this place!

So different from the rest..you almost feel you are in another planet!!

Fantastic for all the family members...you can all play in the sand..just grab some water with you!

The scenery itself makes this place a must see if you are in the area. We stayed at the dunes for a few nights in January while on a roadtrip. It wasn't too crowded, but I could see this place getting packed in the warmer months. Some of the folks were quiets and kept to themselves. Others were very loud with little regard for their fellow neighbors. (Revving their OHVs in the early morning and late at night, setting off fireworks and an excessive amount of littering)

Regardless, for a FREE (yes free) place to park and camp overnight, it was one of our favorite locations. Truly stunning and otherworldly.

The area itself is really cool but be warned that there are a ton of Trump supporters here that are hostile and aggressive to outsiders. Definitely disappointing.

This place is incredible, and makes you feel like you are on an entire different planet!