RV Rental Saddleback Butte State Park, CA

An invigorating two-and-a-half-mile trail leads to the summit of Saddleback Butte and rewards you with sweeping views over the Antelope Valley and the Mojave Desert. Be prepared to gain 1,000 feet of elevation and pack plenty of water and sunscreen. For an easier hike and great views of the park's Joshua tree, enjoy the Richard Dowen Nature Trail at a leisurely pace.

Saddleback Butte offers a unique chance to spot desert fauna, including coyotes, kit foxes, jackrabbits, ground squirrels, and kangaroo rats. The park is also a sanctuary for desert reptiles, including beautiful but venomous Mojave Green rattlesnakes. You're also likely to spot the rare desert tortoise, an ancient reptile that's now on the endangered species list. For more information on the local ecology of the park, head to the visitors' center, where you can check out displays on flora, fauna, geology, and cultural history.

Spring is the best time to enjoy an RV camping getaway to Saddleback Butte State Park, with cooler weather and gorgeous wildflowers. Fall is also a fantastic time to visit, though the weather can be unpredictable. Summer temperatures can often climb well above 100 degrees, which makes hiking strenuous. That said, you'll enjoy balmy evenings and star-spangled skies. Winters can get chilly, with temperatures dropping into the freezing range overnight, with the chance of snow.

RV camping at Saddleback Butte State Park offers a unique chance to sleep under the stars in the high desert. The family-friendly campground offers 37 first-come, first-served sites with picnic tables, shade ramadas, and fire rings. There are no hookups, which makes Saddleback Butte a great option for self-sufficient campers in search of an off-the-grid experience. You'll love watching the golden desert sunsets and sitting around a crackling campfire under a canopy of stars.

Sites are spacious and can accommodate RV rentals of up to 30 feet in length, making Saddleback Butte State Park a good option for small to medium-sized rigs. Potable water spigots are dotted throughout the campground. Like most developed state park RV campgrounds, Saddleback Butte offers access to modern bathrooms blocks with flush toilets and sinks. There's also a dump station for RVs.

Camping at Saddleback Butte State Park puts you in the heart of the Antelope Valley. Nature lovers flock to the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve during the spring, when the valley is carpeted in kaleidoscopic wildflowers. As well as vivid orange California poppies, you can also admire beavertail cactus, owl's clover, goldfields, and cream cups. A 60-mile drive north, Red Rock Canyon State Park will wow you with dramatic cliffs, towering buttes, and rugged badlands. If you can't get enough of the desert scenery, drive two hours southeast to Joshua Tree National Park.

For gas, snacks, and other RV camping supplies, head 15 miles west to Lancaster. Most of the action is centered along Lancaster Boulevard, where you'll find a desert oasis of cafes, restaurants, and wine bars. An hour and a half southwest, Los Angeles is a great place to rent a camper near Saddleback Butte State Park. Spend a few days in the City of Angels and you can tick off attractions like the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Universal Studios, Griffith Observatory, and Santa Monica Pier. Further down the coast, San Diego is another great base for renting an RV near Saddleback Butte State Park and kickstarting a California road trip.